CMH's T.J. Bray and the Arrowhead Boys Basketball Team
Mr. Basketball proved exactly why he earned the distinction Friday and Saturday, as Catholic Memorial senior T.J. Bray averaged a double-double over the weekend by recording 45 points and 24 rebounds in the tournament to earn a share of this week's Splash of the Week. 
Bray, who will be headed to Princeton next fall, received the honor after the Crusaders' gutty performance in a 60-48 victory over Northwestern in the Division 2 state final.
“It’s one of the best days of my life, winning a state title and winning Mr. Basketball,” Bray said in the post-championship news conference Saturday.
Bray, a Division 2 WBCA All-State nominee, was also named Most Valuable Player of the entire state tournament by the media.
“What can you say? It’s icing on the cake,” CMH head coach Dean Bellanti said. “He’s a basketball player in every facet of the game.”
Perhaps the most impressive performance of this past WIAA boys state basketball tournament came in the nightcap, pitting Madison Memorial's seven straight tourney appearances against an Arrowhead team that was just inches from not getting past Marquette in the semifinals. 
Yet a banked-in three pointer with just seconds left on the clock sent the Warhawks into the title game with momentum, which they used to trounce the Spartans 72-51 to earn its first ever hardware from the state tournament in the form of a gold ball.
Clutch performances from guard Andy Fox and 7-footer Ben Mills in the third quarter sent Madison Memorial reeling, as the two combined for 33 points in the title game.
“I told Ben I needed him to take at least four shots in the third quarter and four more in the fourth,” Arrowhead head coach Craig Haase said. “We were going east and west too much in the first half. When teams pressure you, you have to go north and south and attack the basket.”
Honorable Mention
Randolph Boys Basketball: The machine that is Randolph secured yet another state title Saturday afternoon, posting a 58-40 victory over state newcomer N.E.W. Lutheran. Kyle Kelm, a UW-Milwaukee recruit, led the way with 23 points in the title game, with T.J. Huizenga and Ben Syvertson adding 11 apiece for the Division 4 powerhouse. The victory marked a record eight state titles for the Rockets.
St. Catherine's Boys Baketball: The Angels were able to pull away from a pesky Regis squad in the second half, as St. Catherine's secured its fifth WIAA state title in as many tries. Sophomore Jordan Fouse led the way with 18 points, while senior Steve McWhorter added 17 for the repeat D3 champs.
Winneconne Girls Basketball: After earning the 2-seed in its regional, Winneconne took out top-seeded New London in the regional finals and beat Xavier and Luxemburg-Casco to earn its first ever girls state tournament berth. The trio of Kat Koeck, Maggie Peerenboom and Hailey Breister were integral to the sectional success, tallying 20, 23 and 22 points respectively to give the Wolves their first ever chance at some state hardware. Winneconne will take on preseason favorite Monroe Friday afternoon.
Altoona Girls Basketball: Very few would have predicted a regional 4-seed earning a state berth, yet the Lady Rails are on a mission to silence those critics. Altoona beat a pair of top-five teams in sectional play in #5 Hayward and #3 Wittenberg-Birnamwood to earn the surprising bid from the Division 2 Chippewa Falls sectional. The Rails, who finished in fourth place in the tough Western Cloverbelt, will take their 18-9 record on the state stage against New Berlin Eisenhower Friday afternoon.
The Splash of the Week is sponsored by PlayInTheDells.com. It highlights the player, coach or team that has "made a splash" in the world of high school sports. Coming out of nowhere to do something great, going above and beyond the call of duty, etc. Basically making something big happen and having the ripples of the accomplishment resonate throughout your sport. Please contact us to nominate your hometown heroes today.
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