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Division 3 State Tournament Preview

Semifinals - Friday, March 18
Game-1:  Aquinas (25-1) vs. Lakeside Lutheran (25-1) - 9:05 a.m.
Game-2:  Little Chute (23-4) vs. Racine St. Catherine's (23-3) - approx. 20 min. following Game-1
 
Championship Game - Saturday, March 19
Game-3:  Winner of Game-1 vs. Winner of Game-2 - approx. 20 min. following Division 4 final

Division 3 Bracket

Aquinas, 25-1

Road to Madison – Aquinas received a #1 seed and a first round bye, then dispatched Arcadia 49-34 before knocking off Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau 54-45 in the regional final. They dominated Baldwin-Woodville 75-38 and continued their strong play with a 63-39 victory over Unity in the sectional final.

State Tourney History – Aquinas is making its fifth WIAA state tournament appearance. They’ve made the state finals each of the previous four trips, with championships in 2003 and 2008.

Notes – Aquinas won the Mississippi Valley Conference title with an 11-1 record…Sophomore Bronson Koenig has made headlines all year after receiving scholarship offers from Wisconsin, Marquette, Virginia and most recently North Carolina…Three players (Jimmy Ancius, Mike Conway, Quinn McCartney) that play significant minutes are listed at 6-5 or above…Five sophomores and one freshman are listed on the roster…Aquinas has the top RPI of any Division 3 team at .642.

"X" Factor – Evan Pederson. One of the state’s top perimeter defenders, Pederson can single-handedly harass and wear down opposing guards. As the lone player to play in the 2009 state tournament for Aquinas, he brings leadership and experience at an important position. His ability to handle the ball can also help relieve pressure from Koenig.

Why Aquinas Will Win the Title – With size, skill, speed, quickness, and the ability to play a number of different styles, Aquinas is well-suited to handle the pressures of the state tournament. Having outstanding length in the backcourt allows them to get into the passing lanes, pressure shooters, and contest the offense all the way through a possession. Bronson Koenig becomes even more of a household name in Wisconsin by taking advantage of the bigger court to get into space and create opportunities. Aquinas pushes when they have it available and play efficient half-court offense when needed while playing outstanding defense and putting it all together for a state title.

Audio from statewide coach conference call

Official WIAA Roster with team info, school facts, and game results

Lakeside Lutheran, 25-1

Road to Madison – Lakeside Lutheran was the top seed in Sectional 3, Regional C and received a first round bye. They defeated Evansville 68-55 and Poynette 65-58 in regional play, then knocked off Clinton 74-59 in the sectional semi-finals. In the sectional final, they jumped out early and closed down Prairie du Chien for a 56-42 win.

State Tourney History – This is the first WIAA state tournament appearance for Lakeside Lutheran.

Notes – Lakeside Lutheran was the regular season champion of the Capitol-North with a 9-1 record…They led Division 3 in scoring at just over 71 points per ballgame…Dynamic senior guard Jake Jarnigo leads the team in scoring at 17.8 points per game…The Warriors share the ball well in their high-octane offense; six players have accumulated 30 or more assists this year.

"X" Factor – Dictating tempo. Lakeside Lutheran loves to push the pace, even after made baskets by their opponent. If they can dictate the tempo and make it a fast-paced game, they can get into their comfort zone.

Why Lakeside Lutheran Will Win the Title – Lakeside plays faster than most teams are used to facing, and it can take a while for teams to adjust to that. The Warriors can jump out early and knock the opponent off-balance. By keeping their foot on the accelerator they don’t allow the other team to get back in the game. They surprise Aquinas and then score a state title on Saturday by doing what they’ve done all year – push tempo and attack the basket.

Audio from statewide coach conference call

Official WIAA Roster with team info, school facts, and game results

Little Chute, 23-4

Road to Madison – Little Chute was a #2 seed in the playoffs and knocked off Weyauwega-Fremont 60-37 in the opening round before dispatching Wautoma 54-31. They knocked off top-seed Omro 46-36 in the regional final then handled Oconto 70-61 before defeating Wrightstown 56-44 in the sectional final.

State Tourney History – This is the first state tournament appearance in Little Chute boys basketball history.

Notes – The Mustangs won the Eastern Valley title this year with a 15-1 record…Connor DeBruin was the only player to average in double figures at 11 points per game…Little Chute stepped up and played larger teams Ashwaubenon and Menasha at the Shawano Classic over the holiday break but came away with losses in each game...Assistant coaches include John Miron, who won two state titles at Kimberly, Shane Knudsen, who went to state as a coach at Appleton West, and Dan Valentyn, who coached varsity at Freedom.

"X" Factor – Nick Aman. He’s fourth on the team in scoring but is a factor in many other areas, including on defense where he has recorded 37 blocks on the year. The 6-6 senior will need to control the inside and the boards against a strong St. Cat’s squad.

Why Little Chute Will Win the Title – Stats may not stand out for Little Chute, but the Mustangs just do everything well and find a way to win. A tough Eastern Valley schedule prepares them for the rigors of the state tourney, where they pull a shocker over St. Cat’s by playing solid basketball and not allowing easy baskets or opportunities for the Angels. They go on to win the state title in a low-scoring affair on a hustle putback at the buzzer.

Audio from statewide coach conference call

Official WIAA Roster with team info, school facts, and game results

Racine St. Catherine’s, 23-3

Road to Madison – St. Cat’s was a #3 seed in Sectional 4, Sub-Sectional 2. They faced a rigorous road throughout, defeating Milwaukee Northwester 54-52 and East Troy 68-65 in overtime. They then enacted revenge on Dominican with a 50-44 win before knocking off Sheboygan Falls 43-29 in the sectional final.

State Tourney History – Racine St. Catherine’s is making its sixth WIAA state tournament appearance, having won titles each of the previous five times:  2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2010.

Notes – St. Cat’s finished tied for second with Racine Lutheran in the Midwest Classic-South with a 13-3 record, three games behind champion Dominican…Dominican defeated the Angels twice during the regular season, but St. Cat’s got the upper hand in the postseason…Junior Jordan Fouse is one of the state’s most versatile players, averaging 15.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks per game…Head coach Bob Letsch is 566-213 in 32 seasons coaching at St. Cat’s.

"X" Factor – Defense. St. Cat’s had been allowing fewer than 40 points per game much of the season, but Coach Letsch has not been happy with the results in the postseason, where they’ve allowed 52, 65, 44, and 29 points. If they can get back to playing tough, St. Cat’s defense, they stand a much better chance of three-peating.

Why Racine St. Catherine's Will Win the Title – St. Cat’s figures out its recent struggles defensively and uses its length and athleticism to lock it down on defense. Fouse continues his breakout performance from last year’s state tournament with a stat-stuffing run this year, averaging 18 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, and 3 blocked shots per game as St. Cat’s three-peats for the second time in seven years.
Audio from statewide coach conference call
Official WIAA Roster with team info, school facts, and game results