THE STATE TOURNAMENT: The 102nd Annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys Basketball State Tournament will take place Thursday-Saturday, March 16-18, at the Kohl Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wis.
STATE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE: The single elimination tournament features a five division format with four teams qualifying in each of the five divisions.
Thursday, March 16
Division 3
Prescott (23-3) vs. Lake Mills (24-2) - 1:35 p.m.
Xavier (26-0) vs. Ripon (26-0)*
Division 4
Cameron (23-3) vs. Darlington (26-0) - 6:35 p.m.
Roncalli (13-13) vs. Destiny (23-1)*
Friday, March 17
Division 5
McDonell Central Catholic (24-3) vs. Shullsburg (25-2) - 9:05 a.m.
Columbus Catholic (25-2) vs. Barneveld (24-3)*
Division 2
La Crosse Central (24-2) vs. Waunakee (24-2) - 1:35 p.m.
Cedarburg (24-2) vs. Milwaukee Washington (22-4)*
Division 1
Stevens Point (22-4) vs. Madison Memorial (23-3) - 6:35 p.m.
Arrowhead (21-5) vs. Brookfield Central (24-2)*
Saturday, March 18
3-Point Challenge - 9:30 a.m.
Division 5 Championship Game - 11:05 a.m.
Division 4 Championship Game*
Division 3 Championship Game*
Division 2 Championship Game - 6:35 p.m.
Division 1 Championship Game*
*Note: Subsequent games of each session will begin approximately 15 minutes following the previous game.
Madison Memorial makes its 10th appearance at State and its first since 2012. The Spartans had an impressive string of nine consecutive trips to the State Tournament. They won State titles in 2005, 2009 and 2011, and added runner-up finishes in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010. They defeated Madison East 50-35 in the sectional final played at Sun Prairie to advance to the State semifinals. The Spartans are co-champions of the Big Eight Conference with Sun Prairie this season.
HS Basketball: Madison Memorial punches its ticket to state, winning 50-35 over Madison East
By Jimmie Kaska
Last year’s runner-up Waunakee is making its second straight appearance in the State Tournament and its third overall. The Warriors’ other experience in the final four resulted in a loss in the semifinals in 2011. This season, they are the champions of the North Division of the Badger Conference, and they are the representatives from the Middleton Sectional following their 57-39 win over Westosha Central in the final.
Lake Mills is celebrating its first-ever appearance in the State Tournament. After their first-place finish in the Capitol Conference this season, the L-Cats navigated through the Waunakee Sectional, which culminated with a 50-47 win over Adams-Friendship in the final.
Darlington advances to State for the second time in program history. The Redbirds only other experience in the State Tournament resulted in the Class C championship in 1990. They won the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League title this season, and they are the champions of the Baraboo Sectional after downing Cochrane-Fountain City 67-55 in the final.
Barneveld will be making its second appearance in the State Tournament after qualifying for the first time last season. The Golden Eagles fell by two points in their semifinal loss in 2016. They earn their return to the tournament following their 62-42 win over Hilbert in the Watertown Sectional final. The Golden Eagles are the champions in the East Division of the Six Rivers Conference this season.
Shullsburg also advances to State for the second time in program history. The Miners’ only other involvement in the State Tournament resulted in a Division 4 championship in 1991. They won the title in the West Division of the Six Rivers Conference this season, and they are the representatives out of the La Crosse Logan Sectional after edging Bangor 60-58 in the final.
Full preview available at the WIAA website
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