Four Potential Upsets in Saturday’s Sectional Finals

Four Potential Upsets in Saturday&#8217;s Sectional Finals

Evan Flood

March 11, 2023 @ 09:58 AM

Bradley commit Demarion Burch Demarion Burch 6'3" | SG Milwaukee Hamilton | 2023 State WI (27.5 ppg) is about as tough of a defensive assignment as there is in the state. Hamilton also has a dominant interior presence in Simeon Murchison Simeon Murchison 6'9" | PF Milwaukee Bay View | 2023 State WI (19.1 ppg) and a sharpshooter in Ky’Moni Hunt Ky’Moni Hunt 5'10" | PG Milwaukee Hamilton | 2024 State WI (16.4 ppg).

Arrowhead is likely the one team capable of taking down De Pere in the state tournament. At 25-2, the Warhawks have lived up to high expectations all year, winning the Classic Eight Conference by three games. The trio of Austin Villareal Austin Villareal 6'1" | SG Arrowhead | 2023 State WI (18.1 ppg), Mac Wrecke Mac Wrecke 6'5" | SG Arrowhead | 2023 State #272 Nation WI (17.7. ppg), and Bennett Basich Bennett Basich 6'3" | SG Arrowhead | 2024 State WI (15.8 ppg) may even overwhelm a Hamilton squad that's put up 100 or more points eight times this year.

(1) Wisconsin Lutheran vs. (1) Pewaukee

Is this finally the year Wisconsin Lutheran gets over the hump?

While technically both teams are 1-seeds, most expect Pewaukee to keep marching on toward a third-straight Division 2 state championship. However, it's very hard to beat a team like Wisconsin Lutheran three times and these two squads are more evenly matched than they have been during Pewaukee's dynasty.

The Pirates have won both meetings, the most recent being an 87-70 decision in February. Pewaukee has only lost one game all year when at full strength behind Iowa State commit Milan Momcilovic Milan Momcilovic 6'8" | SF Pewaukee | 2023 State #44 Nation WI (24.2 ppg) and Nick Janowski Nick Janowski 6'3" | SG Pewaukee | 2024 State #126 Nation WI (23.0 ppg).

The state's No. 1 ranked player Kon II Knueppel Kon II Knueppel 6'6" | SG Wisconsin Lutheran | 2024 State #15 Nation WI (19.9 ppg) needs to be special on Saturday. He'll also need some help from the likes of Jamiir Allen Jamiir Allen 6'0" | CG Wisconsin Lutheran | 2023 State WI (13.3 ppg), Prentice Young Prentice Young 6'4" | CG Wisconsin Lutheran | 2023 State #273 Nation WI (12.5 ppg), and others.

(2) Franklin vs. (1) Kettle Moraine

This bracket has been considered up for grabs from the jump. There's not one dominant team in Sectional 4.

That being said, Franklin has been about as consistent of a team as there's been in the state for quite some time. They've knocked on the door in the past and have some players still around from their last sectional final run. At 19-8 overall, the Sabers won the Southeast Conference and have come out victorious in 10 of their last 11 games. Senior Will Gardner Will Gardner 6'2" | CG Franklin | 2023 State WI (19.2 ppg, 4.1 apg) is quietly having one of the best seasons that people aren't talking about.

Kettle Moraine has been a pleasant surprise in this state, but there's no way to slice it, the Lasers benefited from a very weak region, getting a 1-seed after finishing 14-10 during the regular season. Junior guard Drew Wagner Drew Wagner 5'7" | PG Kettle Moraine | 2024 WI (18.4 ppg) will have to be big in this one to penetrate what's typically a very good Franklin defense.

(2) Whitnall vs. (1) McFarland

Not sure I'd call this one an upset, but on paper and per the seedings, it is.

Thought the winner of this sectional would come from the Whitnall-Westosha Central game. The Falcons are a top five team in Division 2, while McFarland has been sitting on honorable mention honors. Whitnall was supposed to be in rebuilding mode a bit after losing their top two scorers from last season, including a Miami (FL) bound forward, but the Falcons won the Woodland East Conference and have only lost one game all year while at full strength.

At 24-3 overall, McFarland won the Rock Valley Conference by two games. The Spartans haven't played a great schedule, but avenged a prior loss to Stoughton in the semifinals. This group is pretty deep with three players averaging at least 15 points per game and that doesn't include arguably their best college prospect.