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WSN15: Boys Basketball Top Teams #12 -- 2004 Randolph Rockets

02/21/2018, 12:00pm CST
By Mark Miller

The WSN15 series will celebrate the 15th Anniversary of WisSports.net by looking back at the top players, teams, and moments of the past 15 years (2003-2017). 

The WSN15 boys' basketball series continues with the Top 15 Teams of the WSN Era.

With Greg Stiemsma, Ryan Tillema and Tyler Fischer manning the frontline, the Randolph Rockets went undefeated in 26 games during the 2003-04 season. 

Randolph, a WIAA Division 4 school with just 197 students, ran roughshod over the competition in the Trailways Conference and posted some impressive non-league victories, including beating perennial powers Madison Edgewood and Cuba City.

Coach Bob Haffele and his troops had to survive a physical battle in the 2004 Division 4 state-title game against Hilbert, but with the 6-foot-11 Stiemsma, the 6-foot-7 Tillema and the 6-foot-5 Fischer patrolling things along the baseline, Randolph was able to tough out a 52-50 victory over the Wolves. 

That contest marked the third Division 4 state championship in a row for Randolph, which beat Wisconsin Rapids Assumption in 2002 and Seneca in 2003 in state-title games.

Few high school teams at any level, much less programs at the Division 4 level, could match the incredible size and talent Randolph boasted in 2003-04. 

Stiemsma was a senior that season and missed eight games with a right knee injury, but he still managed to average 11.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.1 blocked shots. He went on to play four years at the University of Wisconsin and spent portions of four seasons with the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans and Toronto Raptors in the National Basketball Association. 

Tillema led Randolph in scoring at 19.3 ppg while also contributing 8.1 rpg. A year later, he would become the first player in WIAA history to play on four consecutive state-championship teams when the Rockets downed Oshkosh Lourdes to win the 2005 Division 4 state crown.

Tillema went on to enjoy a productive four-year career at UW-Green Bay, scoring 1,326 points during his collegiate days.

Fischer had six points and five assists in the triumph over Hilbert and went on to play four seasons at NCAA Division III Ripon College. He is currently in his fifth season as the head coach at Randolph after replacing Haffele, who won a state-record 10 WIAA boys' basketball state championships during his remarkable coaching career at the school. 

The starting guards for the Randolph squad in 2003-04 were juniors Mike Biel (5-10) and Nick Gorr (5-6).

WSN15 Top Moments Countdown:

#15 - Tiny Benton bucked the odds to win 2009 Division 4 state title
#14 - Catholic Memorial's 'Iron Five' led to 2004 Division 2 state championship
#13 - Xavier completes unbeaten 2017 season with resounding state-title game victory
#12 - Two NCAA Division I players at one WIAA Division 4 school yields state title for Randolph
#11 - Coming Soon...
#10 - Coming Soon...
#9 - Coming Soon...
#8 - Coming Soon...
#7 - Coming Soon...
#6 - Coming Soon...
#5 - Coming Soon...
#4 - Coming Soon...
#3 - Coming Soon...
#2 - Coming Soon...
#1 - Coming Soon...

For the latest and most up to date boys' basketball news and recruiting information, follow Mark on Twitter @wisbbyearbook. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Mark at wbnews@yahoo.com.

Tag(s): News Archive  BBB News  Mark Miller  WSN15