Predictions and thoughts on D3-D5 sectional finals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some thoughts and my predictions for the boys' basketball sectional final games at the Divisions 1-2 levels set for Saturday across the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Predictions Results To Date</strong><br>Division 1 -- 55-9 (86 percent)<br>Division 2 -- 66-15 (81 percent)<br>Division 3 -- 72-20 (78 percent)<br>Division 4 -- 71-21 (77 percent)<br>Division 5 -- 102-16 (86 percent)<br><strong>TOTAL -- 366-79 (82 percent)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DIVISION 3<br><br>Sectional 1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#1 Saint Croix Central (18-9) vs. #2 Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau (23-4), 5 p.m. Saturday at Eau Claire North</strong><br>Saint Croix Central tied Prescott and Osceola for the Middle Border Conference title and yet the Panthers did not have a single player voted to the seven-member first-team all-league squad. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2809654' first='Tanner' last='Grinnell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1561922' first='Matyas' last='Larson'] were both second-team picks for coach Matt Bailey's squad. G-E-T posted a 53-43 victory over Saint Croix Central at the Midwest Players Classic in La Crosse in January behind 17 points from sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2434283' first='Talon' last='Fabian']. The Redhawks' star player, senior [player_tooltip player_id='1561902' first='Mason' last='Brone'], came off the bench to score seven points in that game as he was just coming back from an injury. Brone has been on a tear of late, netting 33 points in the sectional semifinal win over Stanley-Boyd.<br><br><strong>My Pick:</strong> G-E-T<br><br><strong>Sectional 2<br><br>#2 Seymour (26-1) vs. #3 Xavier (20-7), 6:00 p.m. Saturday at Neenah</strong><br>These two Bay Conference teams are exceptionally familiar with each other with Seymour winning both league outings this season. The Thunder beat Freedom in an emotional sectional semifinal that featured perhaps the top two D3 teams in the state while Xavier handled top-seeded Brillion. Seymour has multiple weapons and is led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='2391083' first='Kyler' last='Marks'], a 6-foot-5 forward who can maneuver in and around defenders to score in the paint. Xavier has a pair of stellar backcourt players in senior [player_tooltip player_id='2616479' first='Kyler' last='Bleck'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2434543' first='Logan' last='Ramczyk']. It's hard to beat a good team three times in a season, but Seymour appears to have the firepower to do just that. <br><br><strong>My Pick:</strong> Seymour<br><br><strong>Sectional 3<br><br>#4 Lancaster (19-9) vs. #1 Lake Mills (23-2), 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Oregon</strong><br>Lancaster certainly has some impressive talent with seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2121317' first='Taylor' last='Williams'], Dane Kaufman and [player_tooltip player_id='2358023' first='Zach' last='Hermsen'] leading the way. That trio will have to play their A-plus games in order to get past a rock-solid Lake Mills squad that has won 23 of 25 outings and got 17 p[oints from both [player_tooltip player_id='2346694' first='Tyler' last='Wollin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2505500' first='Collin' last='Christian'] in the sectional semifinal win over Watertown Luther Prep. Lake Mills is just so solid in terms of playing strong defense and sharing the ball and working for the best shot on offense. <br><br>My Pick: Lake Mills<br><br><strong>Sectional 4<br><br>#1 Oostburg (24-3) vs. #2 Racine St. Catherine's (22-4), 12:00 p.m. Saturday at Whitefish Bay</strong><br>Oostburg got a three-point basket from [player_tooltip player_id='3021613' first='Cade' last='Jaeger'] in the closing seconds of Wednesday's sectional semifinal game to register a 56-53 win over Kettle Moraine Lutheran while St. Catherine's won the rubber match with city rival Racine Lutheran 65-62 on Thursday. This is an intriguing matchup as it pits the quickness and defensive prowess of St. Catherine's against the strong play of seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1970502' first='Cade' last='Dirkse'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2117025' first='JJ' last='Zavatchin'] of Oostburg. Dirkse, one of the state's more talented and intelligent lead guards, likely will square off with St. Catherine's point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1959723' first='LaMont' last='Hamilton'], a four-year starter headed to Minnesota on a football scholarship.<br><br><strong>My Pick:</strong> St. Catherine's<br><br><strong>DIVISION 4<br><br>Sectional 1<br><br>#2 Clear Lake (20-7) vs. #2 Regis (22-5), 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Osseo-Fairchild</strong><br>If Regis is hitting long-distance shots, the Ramblers will be tough to beat. Taking away the clean looks for [player_tooltip player_id='2615520' first='DJ' last='Cooper'], [player_tooltip player_id='2375323' first='Blake' last='Risler'], [player_tooltip player_id='3102261' first='Bennett' last='Risler'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2623256' first='Joey' last='Brahmer'] is the key for Clear Lake, which beat one of Regis' top rivals, McDonell Central Catholic, in a sectional semifinal. Regis downed one of Clear Lake's counterparts in the sectional semifinals, Durand-Arkansaw, in its sectional semifinal win as Cooper netted 24 points. <br><br><strong>My Pick:</strong> Regis<br><br><strong>Sectional 2</strong><br><br><strong>#1 Marathon (25-2) vs. #2 Bonduel (24-3), 1:00 p.m. Saturday at D.C. Everest</strong><br>Two of the best teams in Division 4 square off at D.C. Everest after Marathon handled Hurley and Bonduel came from behind to beat previously undefeated Kewaunee in sectional semifinals. Bonduel is the defending sectional champion and is led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='2391085' first='Ryan' last='Westrich'] along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2386363' first='Carter' last='Moesch'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2387960' first='Quinn' last='Wesenberg']. Bonduel has won 52 of its last 57 outings dating back to last season. Marathon's 1-3-1 zone defense is always a puzzle to figure out for opponents.<br><br><strong>My Pick:</strong> Bonduel<br><br><strong>Sectional 3<br><br>#2 Cambridge (18-9) vs. #1 Lomira (26-1), 7:00 p.m. Saturday at Verona</strong><br>Cambridge upset Darlington in the sectional semis while Lomira beat Pardeeville on Wednesday. Cambridge relies on a balanced approach and has won 15 of 18 outings since early January. Lomira is led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='1561934' first='Jake' last='Broeske'] (6-10), the Player of the Year in the Wisconsin Flyway Conference. Lomira's lone loss came at the hands of Oostburg, which advanced to the Division 3 sectional finals.<br><br><strong>My Pick:</strong> Lomira<br><br><strong>Sectional 4<br><br>#1 Howards Grove (21-6) vs. #1 Milwaukee Juneau (25-1), 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Hartford</strong><br>Howards Grove will attempt to slow the freight train of Milwaukee Juneau, which is led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2045272' first='Takis' last='Tyler'], senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2400094' first='Jaden' last='Hardiman'] and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2194315' first='Dooney' last='Johnson'], a Gonzaga recruit and one of the top 50 players in the nation in the 2027 class. Howards Grove, which does an excellent job of taking away opponent's strengths, came from behind to beat Roncalli in the sectional semifinal behind 16 points from [player_tooltip player_id='2891620' first='Keaton' last='Milbrath'].<br><br><strong>My Pick:</strong> Milwaukee Juneau<br><br><strong>DIVISION 5<br><br>Sectional 1<br><br>#1 Turtle Lake (24-4) vs. #3 Prentice (24-3), 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Altoona</strong><br>Prentice coach Adam Blomberg has a pair of big scorers in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2412829' first='Evan' last='Lord'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2629213' first='Aidan' last='Hause']. The Buccaneers won the Marawood North Conference title and then beat runner-up Rib Lake in the sectional semifinals. Turtle Lake won the sectional a year ago and is led by versatile senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2406762' first='Brandon' last='Wagner'], a 6-foot-6 strongman who can rebound while also scoring inside and outside. Wagner is the son of Turtle Lake coach Angie Wagner and has committed to Minnesota State Mankato for football.<br><br><strong>My Pick:</strong> Prentice<br><br><strong>Sectional 2<br><br>#1 Tigerton (28-0) vs. #1 Reedsville (25-3), 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Oconto Falls</strong><br>First off, let's give Tigerton some well-deserved props. Coach Dan Hoffa's squad has passed 28 tests without a setback and yet couldn't get into the top five in the state rankings among Division 5 schools. Tigerton is led by massive 6-foot-10 junior [player_tooltip player_id='2382317' first='James' last='Brady'], who does an excellent job of finishing around the basket while also becoming a facilitator in the half court with his passing skills. Brady also can be a release valve against full-court pressure defense ... just throw the ball high near midcourt and he will catch it and help Tigerton get into its offense. Reedsville has a quicker team and a stellar senior point guard in [player_tooltip player_id='1561897' first='Ben' last='Prochnow'], the son of coach Ron Prochnow and the Player of the Year in the very competitive Big East North Conference.<br><br><strong>My Pick:</strong> Reedsville<br><br><strong><br>Sectional 3<br><br>#4 Assumption (18-10) vs. #3 Southwestern (22-6), 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Westby</strong><br>Southwestern might have a bit more firepower on the offensive end of the court, but both of these teams like to grind it out and make it a half-court game. And both excel in that regard while each also can push the ball and score in transition if opportunities presents itself. Assumption beat defending Division 5 state champion Cochrane-Fountain City in the sectional semifinals while Southwestern topped North Crawford. These figures to be a very close game that comes down to the final minute or so of the contest. [player_tooltip player_id='2551616' first='Aiden' last='Keleher'] of Southwestern and [player_tooltip player_id='1561916' first='JT' last='Schlaefer'] of Assumption are the guys to watch at crunch time. <br><br><strong>My Pick: </strong>Assumption<br><br><strong>Sectional 4<br><br>#2 Barneveld (22-5) vs. #2 Sheboygan Lutheran (22-6), 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Watertown</strong><br>It looked like Oakfield was going to get past Sheboygan Lutheran on Thursday as the Oaks held a 50-47 lead before Zach Leonard hit a three-point shot with six seconds left that tied the game. Leonard's shot hit the rim, bounded high in the air and then fell through to send the game into overtime. Sheboygan Lutheran then dominated the extra session to advance. The Crusaders now take on Barneveld, which beat Abundant Life Christian in the other semifinal. Barneveld won the Six Rivers East championship and now must slow down a Sheboygan Lutheran team that has played a rigorous schedule and is led by St. Norbert College recruit [player_tooltip player_id='2224503' first='Brennen' last='Hackbarth'].<br><br><strong>My Pick:</strong> Sheboygan Lutheran</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->