Predicted Division 4 regional champions

The WIAA Division 4 playoffs get underway next Tuesday with regional quarterfinal games all across Wisconsin. The regional semifinals are set for Friday, March 7, and the regional finals will be played on Saturday, March 8. Here's a quick look at my predicted regional champions in each sectional.   SECTIONAL 1 No. 4 seed (top half) Ladysmith (17-6) -- Ladysmith is one of five teams within one game of each other in the Heart O'North Conference standings. Competing against so many quality teams will pay off for coach Jason Lehman's squad in March. No. 2 seed (top half) Cumberland (17-5) -- With recent victories over Cameron (twice) and Ladysmith, the Beavers appear to be playing their best basketball of the season. Coach Brian Dutton has one of the elite players in the state to call upon for a needed basket in 6-foot-10 Wyoming recruit [player_tooltip player_id='1853648' first='Gavin' last='Gores']. No. 1 seed (bottom half) Aquinas (20-2) -- Blugolds lack a big man in the post, but they have stellar guard play and lots of different players who can score. Those assets helped Aquinas to no less than a share of the Mississippi Valley Conference championship. No. 2 seed (bottom half) Regis (17-6) -- Ramblers are on a seven-game winning streak heading into their Cloverbelt Conference crossover contest with Columbus Catholic on Saturday. Coach Connor Miller can space the floor with multiple players who can knock down three-point shots, led by junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2375323' first='Blake' last='Risler'] (6-3), who leads the team in scoring at 22.0 ppg. SECTIONAL 2 No. 1 seed (top half) Auburndale (21-2) -- Auburndale is looking at another meeting with defending sectional champion Marathon in a potential regional final matchup. If that game would occur, it would be the second meeting in just over a week between the two Marawood South Conference opponents. No. 2 seed (top half) Stratford (21-2) -- The Tigers soundly defeated Auburndale last week, 56-33, to create a deadlock with the Eagles atop the Marawood South Conference. Stratford can get at least a share of the league crown with a win at Assumption tonight. No. 1 seed (bottom half) Bonduel (22-1) -- Bears possess a very good inside/outside game with junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2391085' first='Ryan' last='Westrich'] (6-6) controlling things in the lane while senior [player_tooltip player_id='2542523' first='Race' last='Anvelink'] (6-0), sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2387960' first='Quinn' last='Wesenberg'] (6-3) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2386363' first='Carter' last='Moesch'] (6-2) can all make perimeter shots. No. 2 seed (bottom half) Southern Door (20-3) -- Prolific scoring senior [player_tooltip player_id='1418511' first='Drew' last='Daoust'] (6-2), No. 2 at the state's all-time scoring list, is a tough player to contain as he can score from downtown, off the dribble and with pull-up jump shots. Daoust is averaging a robust 32.7 ppg for the Packerland Conference champions. SECTIONAL 3 No. 1 seed (top half) Mineral Point (22-1) -- The Pointers would love nothing better than to win back-to-back state championships, and coach Dan Burreson has a squad capable of doing just that. The SWAL champions are led by versatile senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1289076' first='Eli' last='Lindsey'] (6-5), who is averaging 16.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg and 3.3 apg. No. 2 seed (top half) Darlington (18-5) -- Lots of chalk predictions in Division 4 and Darlington is another in that realm as the Redbirds possess one of the better players in the entire sectional in junior [player_tooltip player_id='2045300' first='Broker' last='Buschor'] (6-3), who is averaging 19.9 ppg and 8.5 rpg for coach Tom Uppena's squad. No. 1 seed (bottom half) Pardeeville (22-1) -- The Bulldogs' unbeaten string ended at 22 earlier this week as visiting Watertown Luther Prep earned a 76-70 victory over the Trailways West Conference champions. Still, this is a balanced team with good experience, skill and physical strength. No. 2 seed (botton half) Marshall (18-5) -- Marshall can get a share of the Capitol South Conference title by beating front-running Cambridge on the road tonight. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1883464' first='Kenyon' last='Miggins'] (5-10) is the top player for the Cardinals, a four-year varsity performer and a 1,000-point career scorer for first-year coach TJ Zweifel. SECTIONAL 4 No. 1 seed (top half) Roncalli (21-2) -- The Jets won the Eastern Wisconsin Conference title and are looking at a potential regional final against Wisconsin Flyway Conference champion Saint Mary's Springs (19-4), a team Roncalli handled during the Christmas break. In addition, Manitowoc Lutheran (14-9) has a quality team and also will compete one of the state's top Division 4 regionals. No. 3 seed (top half) Howards Grove (20-3) -- The Tigers are on top of their game with impressive recent victories over Sheboygan Lutheran and Roncalli. The Big East North champs are led by senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2403253' first='Trent' last='Grunewald'] (6-4), who is averaging 20.8 ppg and 8.3 rpg. No. 1 seed (bottom half) Cambridge (20-3) -- A regional final in the Cambridge gym with Milwaukee Juneau (13-8) and its star sophomore, Donney Johnson (6-5), or with Living Word Lutheran (16-8), and its standout freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2509457' first='Jordan' last='Evans'] (6-2), would be a challenge, to be sure. But the Bluejays have a quality squad led by Hillsdale College recruit [player_tooltip player_id='1598980' first='Matthew' last='Buckman'] (6-5). No. 6 seed (bottom half) The Prairie School (9-14) -- My upset special. The Hawks compete in the Metro Classic Conference with the likes of Dominican, Racine Lutheran and Racine St. Catherine's, among others, so their record may not elicit immediate fear. But coach Jason Atanasoff's squad recently welcomed back talented sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2140901' first='Chandler' last='Perry'] (6-3) and his presence in the lineup, coupled with the Hawks' rigorous schedule, could lead to March success.

The WIAA Division 4 playoffs get underway next Tuesday with regional quarterfinal games all across Wisconsin. The regional semifinals are set for Friday, March 7, and the regional finals will be played on Saturday, March 8. Here's a quick look at my predicted regional champions in each sectional.