State Tournament Preview: 5 storylines to monitor

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every game, heck every possession, at the WIAA State Tournament this weekend figures to have plenty of storylines, things you are watching on the sidelines and on the floor while teams battle for the right to win a state championships.<br><br>Here is a breakdown of five things to monitor, one for each division.<br><br><strong>DIVISION 1 </strong><br><br><strong><em>Can Wisconsin Lutheran's frontline of [player_tooltip player_id='2140949' first='Kager' last='Knueppel'] (6-8), [player_tooltip player_id='1552512' first='Zavier' last='Zens'] (6-7) and Ben Langebartels (6-8) slow down the scoring of Oshkosh North's [player_tooltip player_id='1282617' first='Xzavion' last='Mitchell']?</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach Ryan Walz intentionally puts together one of the more difficult schedules in the state each season so his players have played against some top-flight frontline players. [player_tooltip player_id='1282617' first='Xzavion' last='Mitchell'], obviously, is on a different level than almost every other forward in the state, but the fact Wisconsin Lutheran has faced talented bigs and done well against the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='1561913' first='Henry' last='Gruetzmacher'] (6-9) of Brookfield Central, Kevin Pittmann (6-10) of West Allis Central, [player_tooltip player_id='1412882' first='Luka' last='Momcilovic'] (6-8) of Pewaukee, [player_tooltip player_id='1908410' first='Pryce' last='Gregoire'] (6-7) of De Pere, [player_tooltip player_id='2388792' first='AJ' last='Ohrmundt'] (6-7) of Arrowhead and [player_tooltip player_id='2140983' first='Tref' last='Rademaker'] (6-9) of West De Pere. In the nine games the Vikings played against the previously mentioned players, Wisconsin Lutheran finished 8-1 and held those players to a combined average of 13.6 ppg. Mitchell, though, is a different animal, so to speak. He had 47 points in Oshkosh North's sectional-final win over De Pere, is averaging 35.0 ppg and is just 21 points shy of 1,000 for the season. His ability to score from the mid range, outside the arc, in the paint, in transition and, especially, from the foul line are second to none. He is averaging nearly 10 foul shots per game and he is connecting on 82 percent of his charity tosses. Knueppel, Zens and Langebartels give Walz tremendous length near the basket, and senior [player_tooltip player_id='1973108' first='Alex' last='Greene'] (6-4) can also help to defend Mitchell due to Green's strength and physicality. But I'd wager if you asked Walz which Division 1 team he'd prefer to play in the semifinals, Oshkosh North would not have been the first name out of his mouth. The Spartans enter the game on a roll, having won nine straight, including playoff wins over Bay Port, Homestead, Fond du Lac and De Pere.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DIVISION 2<br><br><em>Is it possible for Wausau East to somehow slow down the run-away offensive train from Wauwatosa West?</em></strong><br><br>Wausau East has had a very good season and the Lumberjacks qualified for the WIAA State Tournament for the first time since 2007. Still, it's safe to say coach Dan Garrett's squad has not faced the type of in-your-face pressure he will see from Wauwatosa West in the Division 2 state semifinals. The speed, quickness and aggressiveness of the Trojans must be dealt with and handled or else the game could turn into a runaway. Such was the case for Milwaukee Lutheran in its regional-final against Wauwatosa West as coach Chris Newbauer's Trojans hung up 101 points on the Red Knights en route to a 101-69 triumph. Wauwatosa West, which shared the Greater Metro Conference crown with Brookfield Central and then beat the Lancers in a sectional semifinal, are averaging almost 80 ppg and boast three prolific scorers in vastly improved junior [player_tooltip player_id='1561869' first='Matthew' last='Kloskey'] (22.4 ppg), whirlwind sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2288469' first='Jalen' last='Brown'] (22.0 ppg) and sharpshooting senior [player_tooltip player_id='1240337' first='Jake' last='Hansen'] (19.1 ppg). The Trojans have 290 steals on the campaign compared to just 174 for Wausau East. The Lumberjacks face a red-hot Wauwatosa West squad that is brimming with confidence and riding a 12-game winning streak. If the Lumberjacks can make it a half-court game and use the ability of senior wing and Mary recruit [player_tooltip player_id='2111727' first='Jesse' last='Napgezek'] to get downhill on drives to the basket, and if point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2415737' first='Jaydan' last='Garrett'] can handle the intense defensive pressure he will face from [player_tooltip player_id='1558479' first='DJ' last='Hennings'] and others, and if [player_tooltip player_id='2415337' first='Charlie' last='Cayley'] can match or surpass his season average of 10.6 rpg, the Lumberjacks can make things interesting. But that is a lot of ifs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DIVISION 3<br><br><em>Will Milwaukee Academy of Science be challenged in Division 3?</em></strong><br><br>Short answer, yes. Even though you could make a very strong case for coach Agape Keys Sr.'s squad being the most talented and perhaps best team in the state, regardless of division, winning a state championship is rarely easy and the Novas figure to encounter some difficulty at the Kohl Center. Right out of the gate, Academy of Science plays Lake Mills in a Thursday afternoon contest that could end up being one of the best in the entire tournament. Lake Mills is a very good team with plenty of experience and players who will go on to play at the next level such as Minnesota State-Mankato recruit [player_tooltip player_id='1412881' first='AJ' last='Bender']. The L-Cats might not have a player the caliber of Iowa State recruit [player_tooltip player_id='1447228' first='Jamarion' last='Batemon'] or Coastal Carolina recruit [player_tooltip player_id='1390441' first='Devin' last='Brown'], but coach Steve Hicklin's squad has been tested all winter and will not be intimidated by the size or speed of Academy of Science. Forcing the Novas to make perimeter shots and somehow keeping Brown off the offensive glass are among the keys for Lake Mills. Should Academy of Science get past Lake Mills, they would face the winner of the Freedom vs. Elk Mound state semifinal. Freedom, behind the strong play of senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2492814' first='Drew' last='Kortz'] and superlative play of versatile sophomore big man [player_tooltip player_id='1847792' first='Donovan' last='Davis'], split two games with Slinger, which won the North Shore Conference. The Irish come in with just one loss on the season and breezed through regional and sectional competition. Elk Mound finished third in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference and has a player who could hold his own near the rim in senior [player_tooltip player_id='2441467' first='Logan' last='Jerome'], a 6-foot-6 forward who is averaging 16.9 ppg and 8.6 rpg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DIVISION 4<br><br><em>Mineral Point vs. Aquinas state semifinal Part Duex. Who wins?</em></strong><br><br>Second-seeded Mineral Point takes on third-seeded Aquinas in an anticipated Division 4 state semifinal Thursday evening. These two meet at the same point a year ago, with Mineral Point using an 8-0 run to end the game to notch a 62-61 victory. Aquinas had led 61-54 with just 1:09 left before some missed foul shots and turnovers spelled doom for the Blugolds. Interestingly, just two players from Aquinas who played in that contest will be on the floor this time around, but both are very good players. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1890447' first='Logan' last='Becker'] had a game-high 27 points in that game while senior [player_tooltip player_id='2632136' first='Trey' last='Bahr'] came off the bench to score eight. Mineral Point has a bit more experience from that outing back as [player_tooltip player_id='1289076' first='Eli' last='Lindsey'] (14 points), [player_tooltip player_id='1874969' first='Drew' last='Aschliman'] (17 points) and [player_tooltip player_id='2399607' first='Jaxson' last='Wendhausen'] (2 points) all played big minutes. Mineral Point won the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League title behind the stellar play of Lindsey, a versatile 6-foot-5 guard/forward who was chosen as Player of the Year in the league. Becker, Bahr and Co. led Aquinas to a share of the Mississippi Valley Conference title with Holmen. It promises to be one of the more competitive and intense games of the entire tournament and may hinge on Aquinas keeping Lindsey and Wendhausen off the glass. I'll go with Mineral Point in a tight one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DIVISION 5<br><br><em>Abundant Life Christian is back in the state tournament for the second year in a row. A lot has happened at Madison's far eastside school in the last 12 months. Can the Challengers parlay their plight into a state title?</em></strong><br><br>Abundant Life Christian held off a late rally to beat Almond-Bancroft 42-37 in a state semifinal a year ago before falling to Columbus Catholic 81-75 in a memorable Division 5 title game that featured 26 made three-point field goals. With twins [player_tooltip player_id='2551628' first='Jonah' last='Koon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2551622' first='Jacob' last='Koon'] returning along with key reserves [player_tooltip player_id='1640462' first='Conner' last='Whitaker'] and Brayden Breezer, Abundant Life Christian entered the 2024-25 season with hopes of repeating as Trailways South Conference champions along with earning the school's second trip to the state tournament. The Challengers met those two challenges. But a far bigger challenge faced the Abundant Life community last December when a school shooting by one of its students resulted in three deaths and gained nation-wide media coverage. School shootings are awful, horrendous, mind boggling, you name it. It's the last thing any school ever wants to encounter. Understandably, the basketball team took some time off while dealing with the tragedy. A few months later, coach Mike Thies' squad is back at the Kohl Center. The team has kept those who lost their lives last December in their prayers and thoughts, as has the entire school and greater Madison area. So when watching the Challengers compete this weekend -- they open with a Division 5 semifinal against Sheboygan Lutheran on Friday -- remember what these young people have had to endure. And say a prayer for the victims. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->