WIAA Playoffs Preview: Division 1 Sectional 1

Breaking down the race to advance to the state tournament in Division 1 Sectional 1...   <h5>THE FAVORITE</h5> De Pere (17-3) The Redbirds have grinded their way through a tough Fox River Classic schedule and have one of the top resumes in all of Division 1. De Pere can boast wins over Ashwaubenon, Wrightstown, Bay Port, Notre Dame, West De Pere, Seymour, and Stevens Point. De Pere can also turn to arguably the best player in the sectional, sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id="953943" first="John" last="Kinziger"], who’s putting up 23 points and four assists per game.   <h4>TOP CHALLENGERS</h4> River Falls (15-2) Augustana commit [player_tooltip player_id="804899" first="Zac" last="Johnson"] is one of the most lethal shooters in the state. Paired with twin towers [player_tooltip player_id="880013" first="Liam" last="Dougherty"] and [player_tooltip player_id="879999" first="Jameson" last="Dougherty"], an Army commit, the Wildcats have a dangerous trio that could lead them to state. Currently leading the Big Rivers Conference, River Falls is playing some of their best ball, having won eight games in a row. Stevens Point (11-2) This team is going to be a very tough out with the way they share the ball, take high quality shots, and play team defense. SPASH’s lone two losses came to De Pere in the season opener and a one-point hiccup to D.C. Everest. Since then, the Panthers have ripped off 10-straight wins and shown the ability to grind out tight, contested wins.   <h4>DARK HORSE CONTENDERS</h4> Eau Claire Memorial (12-5) One of the more surprising teams in the state, Memorial has gotten things going after beginning the year 0-2. The Old Abes have beaten the likes of Hudson, Tomah, River Falls, Eau Claire North, and Chippewa Falls. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1129309" first="Will" last="Boser"] is also having a breakout season, averaging nearly 23 points per game. D.C. Everest (9-5) Everest split a pair of one-point games against Wisconsin Valley Conference leader SPASH. Four of their five losses have been decided by 10 points or less, including four defeats by six points or less. Hudson (12-5) This team will go as far as Sioux Falls commit [player_tooltip player_id="880011" first="Luke" last="Healy"] will take them. The senior guard is having a monster year, posting 25 points and four assists per game. In second place in the always tough Big Rivers Conference, the Raiders have won 12 of their last 14 games. La Crosse Central (7-1) The Red Raiders haven’t gotten many games in, which is unfortunate considering they are rebuilding after losing four starters from last season’s squad, three of which are now playing Division 1 basketball. However, Central has done quite a bit in a short amount of time, defeating Tomah (twice), Sun Prairie, and Beaver Dam. This team is young, but definitely talented behind the trio of [player_tooltip player_id="990740" first="Devon" last="Fielding"], [player_tooltip player_id="865862" first="Noah" last="Compan"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1022499" first="Bennett" last="Fried"]. Bay Port (13-5) [player_tooltip player_id="994507" first="Gunnar" last="DeCleene"] and [player_tooltip player_id="865865" first="Nate" last="Forystek"] form one of the more underrated 1-2 punches in the state. The Pirates are certainly battled tested having played Neenah, Seymour, DePere (2), Ashwaubenon (2), West De Pere, and Notre Dame. Chippewa Falls (13-6) Hillsdale commit [player_tooltip player_id="880014" first="Joe" last="Reuter"] is making a strong case for first-team All-State honors. The Cardinals have resume-building wins over the likes of Hudson, Medford, Tomah, and Eau Claire North. Eau Claire North (10-6) The Huskies might be in the bottom half of the Big Rivers Conference, but North isn’t a cakewalk by any means. Showing how deep this sectional is, the Huskies have wins over Eau Claire Memorial, D.C. Everest, and Chippewa Falls with close losses coming against Hudson (twice) and Chippewa Falls.   <h4>PREDICTIONS</h4> Sectional Semifinals River Falls over Eau Claire Memorial Stevens Point over De Pere Sectional Final River Falls over Stevens Point   <h4>PLAYERS TO WATCH</h4> [player_tooltip player_id="1018019" first="Amillion" last="Buggs"] - Wausau West Top 35 prospect in the class of 2022. Buggs is a strong, athletic wing who glides around the rim. Buggs is averaging 17 points per game as a junior. Outside shot needs work, but Buggs can live in the paint and do some exciting things in transition. [player_tooltip player_id="1129309" first="Will" last="Boser"] - Eau Claire Memorial Boser is having one of the bigger breakout seasons in the state, averaging just shy of 23 points per game. The junior guard has been lighting opponents up from 3-point range and showing supreme confidence from well beyond the arc. [player_tooltip player_id="988983" first="Noah" last="Feddersen"] - Menomonie An emerging post prospect in the 2022 class, Feddersen is an athletic, bouncy forward with a budding perimeter skillset. Feddersen is averaging 13.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game as a junior. [player_tooltip player_id="804903" first="Grant" last="Flory"] - Wisconsin Rapids Flory has been producing big for the past three seasons. Now in his senior year, Flory is averaging 24 points, eight rebounds, and three assists per game. A strong and skilled combo forward who can score inside and out, Flory is one of the tougher matchups in the 2021 class. [player_tooltip player_id="880011" first="Luke" last="Healy"] - Hudson Healy is putting up 25 points and four assists per game. The Sioux Falls commit is a fast and dynamic guard who can score efficiently on the ball. Hudson needs him to score points, but he’s also a quality decision maker that gets his teammates involved. [player_tooltip player_id="804899" first="Zac" last="Johnson"] - River Falls Johnson is averaging 24 points, six rebounds, and four assists per game this season. The Augustana commit is one of the most lethal shooters in the state. Through 17 games, he’s shooting above 40 percent from downtown. [player_tooltip player_id="953943" first="John" last="Kinziger"] - De Pere A top 5-6 prospect in the 2023 class, Kinziger has a knack for scoring the basketball. A highly skilled and quick guard on the ball with in-the-gym range, Kinziger is averaging 23 points per game and already holds an offer from Toledo. [player_tooltip player_id="938201" first="Parker" last="Lawrence"] - Hortonville Lawrence is averaging 21 points and four assists per game this season. Committed to St. Norbert, Lawrence is an outstanding perimeter shooter with the athleticism to attack the rim and play in transition. [player_tooltip player_id="801136" first="Maximus" last="Nelson"] - Appleton North Nelson holds Division 1 offers from Toledo, SIUE, and UW-Milwaukee. The 6-foot-8 forward is a deadly outside shooter that’s more athletic than he looks. Nelson spaces the floor as well as any forward in the 2022 class and has an advanced rise and fire game for his size. [player_tooltip player_id="880014" first="Joe" last="Reuter"] - Chippewa Falls Smooth 3-point shooter with excellent positional size. The Hillsdale commit is a legit 6-foot-5 and putting up 26 points, eight rebounds, and six assists per game. The shooting grabs the headlines, but Reuter is much more well-rounded of a prospect than he gets credit for. [player_tooltip player_id="990559" first="Nate" last="Streveler"] - Stevens Point High-IQ, skilled two-guard that plays within himself as well as any player in the 2022 class. Can score effectively from all three levels and generates a ton of high percentage looks through the flow of the offense. Streveler is averaging 14 points and five rebounds per game this season.   Others to Watch: J.T. Dougherty (River Falls), Kaden Kimmes (Superior), [player_tooltip player_id="994424" first="Jacob" last="Walczak"] (Chippewa Falls), [player_tooltip player_id="804911" first="Dylan" last="Lisitza"] (Wisconsin Rapids), [player_tooltip player_id="1072735" first="Cole" last="Kalander"] (Holmen), [player_tooltip player_id="990740" first="Devon" last="Fielding"] (La Crosse Central), [player_tooltip player_id="761416" first="James" last="Jacobs"] (Stevens Point), Colton Hall (D.C. Everest), [player_tooltip player_id="1028771" first="Ryan" last="Sweeney"] (Green Bay East), Connor Pytleski (Green Bay Southwest), [player_tooltip player_id="994507" first="Gunnar" last="DeCleene"] (Bay Port), [player_tooltip player_id="865865" first="Nate" last="Forystek"] (Bay Port), [player_tooltip player_id="880022" first="Chad" last="Kron"] (Eau Claire North)