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This season, we are going to preview the best matchups, storylines, etc twice a week for the entirety of the boys basketball season. Sunday we will preview the games played Monday-Wednesday, then on Wednesday we'll preview Thursday-Saturday's slate.

See below the best matchups for Thursday, February 13 through Saturday, February 15.

Don't forget to use the hashtag #wisbb when talking about any Wisconsin high school basketball stories, scores, and big performances this season.

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Fall Creek (11-7; 6-3 in Cloverbet-West) at Bloomer (13-4; 7-2 in Cloverbelt-West)
We've made mention before the wild race that is the Cloverbelt-West. It has continued into the back half of this week. Bloomer sits atop the standings alone while three teams are just a game behind, including Fall Creek. The Crickets won the first matchup by three back in early January, and if that outcome is repeated, it will force the conference into a possible four-way tie.

Spring Valley (15-4; 9-1 in Dunn-St. Croix) at Elk Mound (14-3; 7-2 in Dunn-St. Croix
Spring Valley is looking to keep pace with Durand-Arkansaw in the Dunn-St. Croix standings, while Elk Mound is trying work its way into a tie for second and stay one game back of Durand. Spring Valley won the first matchup by four points behind 28 points and 10 rebounds from Cade Stasiek. If Spring Valley comes out victorious, next Tuesday's matchup with Durand-Arkansaw could very well serve as the championship determining game.

D2 #8 Waterford (17-3; 10-1 in Southern Lakes) at Elkhorn (14-5; 6-4 in Southern Lakes)
Elkhorn has been great outside of Southern Lakes league play, going 8-1. The Elks have been competitive with the top of the conference though in previous matchups, including a win over Beloit Memorial. For Waterford, the Wolverines are looking for its first conference title, or share of the conference title, since the 2009-10 season. A win here is the first step in that direction.

La Crosse Central (11-7; 6-3 in MVC) at Holmen (15-4; 7-2 in MVC)
Holmen is looking to avenge an earlier season loss to the Riverhawks and stay tied atop the Mississippi Valley standings with Aquinas. Central is looking to butt its way into the title race. Back on January 16, Central won 66-50 and did a great job of containing Holmen's Kaiden Wilber and Keenan Eisermann.

Plymouth (14-5; 7-1 in East Central) at Kettle Moraine Lutheran (11-8; 6-2 in East Central)
These two teams played a thriller of a game in the first matchup, a 94-92 win for Plymouth. In that game, KML's Jake Bartelt and Plymouth's Kayden Schultz had 30 points each. The Chargers are one game back of both Plymouth and Waupun in the standings in the loss column, and a win makes the East Central a three-way race down the stretch.

Lomira (14-4; 8-2 in Flyway) at Laconia (16-3; 7-3 in Flyway)
A loss by either team ultimately may knock them out of contention for a conference title, as Springs has just one loss in the league. However, both have playoff aspirations. The first matchup was a Laconia win but was also the game Lomira junior big man Jake Broeske suffered his season ending injury. Both teams have progressed and adjusted since this matchup and will likely result in another competitive game.

Hillsboro (15-3) at Luther (14-5)
This may not be a conference matchup, but a win by either team looks good in the computer formula for strength of schedule of defeated opponents. Hillsboro is in one of the toughest sub-sectionals in the entire state and dependent on the next few weeks, could finish anywhere from a four to an eight seed.

Verona (15-5; 11-3 in Big Eight) at D1 #9 Madison Memorial (15-4; 11-3 in Big Eight)
These two teams are tied atop the Big Eight standings and a win puts that team in the drivers seat for a conference crown. The first matchup was a classic between these two that saw Madison Memorial battle back from double-digit points down late in the game to take a lead. Verona's Drew Murphy would make an eventual game-winning shot to give the Wildcats a 72-70 win. Not only does this game have conference race implications, but also for seeding purposes.

Marshfield (12-5; 8-0 in WVC) at Stevens Point (13-7; 6-3 in WVC)
Marshfield may have the conference title locked up, but this is still the marquee matchup in the Wisconsin Valley. The first time these two teams played, Jaydon Awe had just returned for SPASH while Chris Pohl had yet to make his season debut for Marshfield. Now both back to full strength, this game will have plenty of individual and team talent on both benches.

D4 #1 Bonduel (19-0; 11-0 in CWC-East) at Wittenberg-Birnamwood (16-3; 10-1 in CWC-East)
This matchup will determine whether Bonduel repeats as CWC-East champion or Wittenberg-Birnamwood has a chance at its first share of a league crown in more than 20 years. To do that, the Chargers need to avenge a 20-point loss from earlier in the year. Not an easy task against the top-ranked team in Division 4.

West De Pere (13-5; 11-0 in Bay) at Xavier (16-5; 10-1 in Bay)
The Bay conference title is on the line in this one, albeit without an upset loss by either team over the next two weeks. Xavier has won at least a share of 8 of the last 10 titles in the conference while West De Pere has just one share of a title in the past decade. A Hawks win forces a tie. A Phantoms win puts them two games up in the standings with three left. West De Pere won the first matchup 76-53 behind 29 points and 12 rebounds from Riley Kraft.

D1 #6 Fond du Lac (15-5; 12-2 in FVA) at D1 #10 Appleton North (13-5; 10-4 in FVA)
Back in November, I predicted Fond du Lac to finish seventh in the standings this season in the FVA and boy was a I wrong. The Cardinals have played hard nosed brand of basketball in one of the best conferences in the league and now sit tied atop the standings. Almost every night in the FVA is no slouch, and the Cardinals will need to take down another ranked opponent on the road. Fondy won the first matchup 69-51 and held nearly the entire Lightning roster well below their season averages in terms of scoring.

Mellen (17-2; 14-1 in Northern Lights) at Bayfield (14-5; 12-3 in Northern Lights)
A win by Mellen puts them up at least two games over the second place team in the conference with three games left in its league schedule. Bayfield however can close that gap to one game with a win and make the final two weeks of the season interesting in the Northern Lights.

D2 #6 Brookfield Central (15-5; 10-2 in Greater Metro) at Germantown (13-7; 9-4 in Greater Metro)
December 28, that's the last time Brookfield Central lost a game. Since it's been 11 straight wins, including a 76-61 win over Germantown where the Lancers out-rebounded the Warhawks 37-17. Germantown is looking to avenge that loss and close within one game atop the Greater Metro standings.

D5 #2 Sheboygan Lutheran (18-2; 10-1 in Big East-South) at D4 #6 Kohler (18-3; 9-2 in Big East-South)
Of all the games in the state Friday, this one is the best small school matchup. Kohler handed Lutheran its only loss of the season in the Big East-South back on January 16 in a two-point nail biter. The Blue Bombers did a good job of keeping the Crusaders from making shots from deep, holding them to 3 of 9 from beyond the arc. With a Kohler win, it could result in a three-way tie. If Sheboygan wins, they'll clinch the league title for the first outright win in the league since 2020-21.

Sheboygan North (16-5; 11-4 in FRCC) at D2 #6 Notre Dame (16-3; 12-2 in FRCC)
North knocked off Ashwaubenon earlier in the week and have a chance to get another high quality league win in this one. The first matchup between these two teams was a seven-point win by North behind 23 points from Logan Steffensmeier.

Kickapoo (14-6; 8-3 in Ridge & Valley) at Seneca (13-5; 8-3 in Ridge & Valley)
This game may not have conference title implications, but both teams are jockeying for position in the same loaded Division 5 sub-sectional. Kickapoo is coming off a 24 point win over Ithaca on Tuesday and looking to avenge a 13 point loss to the Royals from earlier in the year.

D2 #5 Nicolet (15-5; 12-3 in North Shore) at D2 #2 Slinger (19-2; 14-1 in North Shore)
A top five matchup in Division 2 between two teams from the North Shore makes this a nominee for game of the week in the state of Wisconsin. Slinger won the first matchup 88-85 behind 32 points from Jack Kohnen and 23 from Joey. David Bolden had 33 for Nicolet and Rashaad Davis had 24 for Nicolet in the loss. If Slinger sweeps the series, the Owls clinch at least a share of the conference title, its first in the North Shore.

Pacelli (14-4) at D4 #9 Auburndale (18-1)
Two very good small school teams in the north central part of the state will square off in this Saturday night non-con matchup. Blake Raab has led Auburndale to a stellar year during his senior campaign while Camden Schurk has done the same with Pacelli.

D4 #3 Roncalli (16-1) at D3 #10 Little Chute (15-4) at Little Chute in EWC/NEC Challenge
Two ranked teams will do battle in the EWC/NEC challenge on Saturday. A win by either team looks good come seeding time. This is a great matchup that serves as a tough challenge late in the year in preparation for the playoffs.

D4 #2 Mineral Point (18-1) at Marshall (15-4)
Two very good and guard-oriented Division 4 teams will do battle on this Saturday afternoon. Mineral Point is playing for a top seed in its sub-sectional and a win here will all but lock that up. Marshall on the other hand is vying for a top four seed and a bye in its bracket.

Class 4A #3 Tartan, MN (20-0) vs D1 #10 Appleton North (13-5) in WI v MN Border Battle at River Falls -- CANCELED
Appleton North will have a battle the night before this one against FVA foe Fond du Lac and then will have to face off with the powerhouse that is Tartan. Tartan is led by senior CJ Banks and freshman KJ Wilson and pose one of the tougher matchups for the Lightning this season.

Class 3A #5 Totino-Grace, MN (15-5) vs D1 #5 Eau Claire Memorial (15-3) in WI v MN Border Battle at River Falls
Two ranked teams on either side of the Mississippi square off in the final game of the border battle on Saturday night. Wofford commit Chace Watley leads Totino-Grace, averaging 21.5 points per game for a team that has four double-digit scorers. Cooper Jesperson, Julius Clark, and Wesley Mboga is the senior trio for the Old Abes that has led them to at least a share of the Big Rivers conference title for the third time in four years.