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Division 1 State Tournament Preview
Compiled by Travis Wilson and Jay Messar

Semifinals - Friday, March 18
Game-1:  Sectional #1 Winner vs. Sectional #3 Winner - 6:35 p.m.
Game-2:  Sectional #2 Winner vs. Sectional #4 Winner - 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 2 final

Division 1 Super Tuesday
WSN Staff member covering the game for our Live blog in parentheses

UW-Whitewater Super Tuesday (Nicholas Kartos)
Kachel Gymnasium, UW-Whitewater campus

Madison Memorial vs. Milwaukee Riverside

Al McGuire Center Super Tuesday (Rick Hamilton)
Al McGuire Center, Marquette University campus

Beloit Memorial vs. Milwaukee Hamilton

UW-Oshkosh Super Tuesday (Travis Wilson)
Kolf Fieldhouse, UW-Oshkosh campus

Appleton East vs. Germantown

UW-Stevens Point Super Tuesday (Jay Messar)
Quandt Fieldhouse, UW-Stevens Point campus

Superior vs. De Pere

Team Previews
 
Division 1 Bracket
Madison Memorial, 19-6

Road to Madison – Memorial received a 1 seed and first round bye before dispatching Madison La Follette 72-45 and Oconomowoc 64-51. In the sectional final they won a close one over Big Eight foe Sun Prairie 67-64.

State Tourney History – Memorial made seven straight state tournament trips from 2004 to 2010, taking home titles in 2005 and 2009. They lost to Arrowhead in last year’s Division 1 title game.

Notes – Memorial came back to tie for the Big Eight crown with Beloit at 15-3…Junior Lomomba is one of the top prospects in the state, with offers from Xavier, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Iowa, Tennessee, West Virginia, and others…Jamar “Popcorn” Morris has returned from a wrist injury suffered during football and given the Spartans a big lift late in the season, averaging 10.5 points and 6.5 rebounds since his return…Memorial likes to pressure defensively and push the ball on offense, resulting in a scoring average of 65.9 points per game.

"X" Factor – Jamar “Popcorn” Morris. The team has played much better since his return, as he gives them a high-energy guy inside who is explosive on the glass. With plenty of experience after starting last season, Morris could be the “glue guy” that gets Memorial back to the state title game.

Why Madison Memorial Will Win the Title – Despite a loss to Madison East in the regular season finale, the team is playing better later in the year, buoyed by the return of Morris. Their frenetic style and pace can be a bit boom or bust at times, but with Morris as the foundation in the middle, Lomomba, Ortiz, Chamberlain, and Burnette can now attack both offensively and defensively with more freedom. They have as much talent as anyone, and put it together when it matters to do what last year’s team couldn’t.

Audio from statewide coach conference call

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

Milwaukee Riverside, 23-2

Road to Madison – Riverside had to go through the Who’s Who of Milwaukee City Conference basketball to reach the Super Tuesday, defeating Vincent 80-47 and then Washington 51-49. They beat King for a second time this year, 60-48 to advance to Tuesday’s game.

State Tourney History – Milwaukee Riverside has not previously made a WIAA State Tournament.

Notes – Riverside won the Milwaukee City Conference title with a 13-0 league record…The Tigers’ only two losses this year came to out-of-state teams Chicago Farragut (IL) and Hopkins (MN)…Riverside’s high-scoring offense (68.8 points per game) features four players in double figures…Head coach Tyrone Lewis played his college basketball at UW-Whitewater, where the Tigers will head for Super Tuesday.

"X" Factor – Tempo. Riverside plays at a fast pace, as do most City Conference teams. Madison Memorial’s frenetic style shouldn’t surprise them. The key for the Super Tuesday game will be who can control their fast pace and not turn “up-tempo” into “sloppy”.

Why Milwaukee Riverside Will Win the Title – There is no doubt the Tigers have been tested this year, with games against the always strong City Conference and out of league tests as well. They’ll be ready for whatever is thrown at them, and with a young team (only two seniors and just one in the regular rotation) sometimes the ignorance of youth can be a good thing. You don’t know what you don’t know, and you just go out and play basketball. Senior Trinson White provides enough leadership to allow the Tigers to flourish on the big courts, and they show that there is a new power on the MPS block.

Audio from statewide state conference call

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

Beloit Memorial, 21-4

Road to Madison – Beloit was the #2 seed in the Kenosha Tremper Sectional, and bounced Janesville Parker 62-56 in the first game before knocking off Franklin 61-51 in the second game. The Knights held on to defeat Kenosha Bradford 49-45 in the Sectional Final.

State Tourney History – Beloit is second in state history with 26 state tournament appearances coming into this season, with the most recent in 2009. They also have the second most title with seven.

Notes – Beloit tied with Madison Memorial for the Big Eight Conference title at 15-3…Leading scorer Leketreius Broomfield is no longer with the team…Beloit averages 67 points per game, seventh best in Division 1.

"X" Factor – Balance. The Knights have relied on balanced scoring to get the job done, although several players are capable of having big games on any given night. They’ll need to continue to get solid contributions from everyone in the rotation.

Why Beloit Will Win the Title – Beloit has shown over the last several years that they are capable of beating any team in the state, but now they need to show they can do it at the next level. Led by Mike Weston and Jon Winston, who have both improved tremendously as the season has progressed, the Knights put it all together this year and tie Randolph (at least for now) for the most state titles in Wisconsin history.
Audio from statewide coach conference call

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

Milwaukee Hamilton, 19-6

Road to Madison – Hamilton defeated Racine Park 82-63 then followed it up with a 46-39 win over South. They defeated top-seeded Racine Case in the sectional final, 51-41.

State Tourney History – Hamilton made state tournament appearances in 1972 (state title), 1990, 1992, and 2010.

Notes – Hamilton finished third in the Milwaukee City conference with a 10-3 league mark…This is a much different team than what we expected to see, as Division 1 players Charles Lee and Darnell Harris left for prep schools before the year and standouts Kiwane Crowder, Jalonnie Park, and Elgin Cook (Iowa State signee) departed during the season…Haki Stampley has stepped up in his senior year and lead the team in scoring at 12.5 points per game…Outstanding freshmen Kevon Looney, Jerelle Savage, and David Burrell have been pressed into action earlier than expected, and responded very well, averaging nearly 25 points per game combined.

"X" Factor – Tom Diener. The veteran head coach led Milwaukee Vincent to five state titles and had several teams ranked among the best in the country, but this has to be one of his best coaching jobs considering as much turmoil and turnover as the program has faced in the last eight months. He expects a lot out of his players, and gets a lot out of them.

Why Milwaukee Hamilton Will Win the Title – Diener completes his best coaching job by guiding a young but talented team to the title with his trademark tough man to man defense and motion offense. The freshmen trio of Looney, Savage, and Burrell break out as stars in the making and senior Haki Stampley guides the youngsters with big play after big play on the way to a title.

Audio from statewide coach conference call

Official WIAA Roster with team info, school facts, and game results
Appleton East, 25-0

Road to Madison – The Patriots were the top seed in the Appleton North sectional, and defeated Fond du Lac 54-36 and Stevens Point 42-27 before knocking off rival Appleton West 47-42 in the sectional final.

State Tourney History – East made state tournament appearances in 1984, 1986, 1990, 1995, 1996, and 2010 but is still searching for its first title. The Patriots defeated Antigo last year before falling to Madison Memorial.

Notes – East won the Fox Valley Association title with an 18-0 record…Sam Mader, Johnny Coenen, and Trent Schmidt are returning starters while Eric Schultz was the top reserve last year…The Patriots allow just 42.5 points per game, second best in Division 1…While just 5-9 (listed height anyway), senior Johnny Coenen is one of the most entertaining players to watch, constantly challenging bigger players inside and all over the court; he’s a good one too, having earned FVA Most Valuable Player honors this year…Mader is the nephew of former Wisconsin Badger center Dave Mader; he holds scholarship offers from Green Bay and Milwaukee.

"X" Factor – Trent Schmidt. He is the team’s third-leading scorer at 9.9 points per game, and an outstanding defender. He teamed with Eric Schultz to harass Antigo standout Jordan Mach into a 6 for 22 shooting day in last year’s state tourney.

Why Appleton East Will Win the Title – They have big game experience from last year, and have dealt with the pressure of having a target on their back all year. With outstanding point guard play from Coenen, solid wings, and Mader inside, the team is well-equipped to handle whatever may come at them. While depth and size are concerns, their top five is as good as any, and the veteran group leads the Patriots to the title.

Audio from statewide coach conference call

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

Germantown, 24-1

Road to Madison – Germantown knocked off Waukesha North 87-52, Waukesha South 64-56, and completed the tour of Waukesha by beating Waukesha West 59-38 in the sectional final.

State Tourney History – Germantown made state tournament appearances in 2008 and 2009 but is still searching for its first tournament victory.

Notes – The Warhawks easily won the North Shore Conference with a 14-0 record, five games better than second place…Junior standout Zak Showalter is the son of head coach Steve Showalter…Zak leads a high-scoring group with 19.6 points per game and hit the 30-point mark three times this year…Germantown leads Division 1 with 75.4 points per game.

"X" Factor – Luke Fischer. The emerging 6-8 sophomore has shown flashes of being a dominant big man, including a 33-point game against Menomonee Falls earlier this year. He’s hit double figures 7 of the last 9 games. If he can establish a presence inside early on, and possibly get East’s Sam Mader in foul trouble, the Warhawks could begin to expose the depth issues the Patriots have.

Why Germantown Will Win the Title – Germantown has one of the state’s smartest guards in Zak Showalter, who runs the team to a “T”. They have good size up front, balance, and capable defenders. They use their depth to wear down Appleton East in the Super Tuesday game, then break out in the semi-finals and finals as the duo of Showalter and Fischer show college recruiters that G-Town is a place to visit on the recruiting trail. Zak plays masterfully, working the offense like a maestro as the Warhawks race up and down the court to convert easy baskets on the way to a state title.

Audio from statewide coach conference call

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

De Pere, 23-2

Road to Madison – De Pere received a #1 seed and subsequent first-round bye in the Brown County sub-sectional, and cruised past Green Bay Southwest 83-40 in the regional final. The Redbirds survived a 46-36 affair against Pulaski in the sectional semifinals, then beat fellow Fox River Classic co-champ Bay Port 60-47 to advance to the Super Tuesday showdown at UW-Stevens Point.

State Tourney History – De Pere will make just its second ever appearance in the state quarterfinal round. The Redbirds last reached the state tournament in 1977, losing in their first and only game.

Notes – De Pere, which has played only conference opponents in its first three playoff games, was crowned co-champ of the FRCC with Bay Port with a 14-2 record. Its only two losses came in league play to the Pirates and Sheboygan North... De Pere ranks No. 5 in Division 1 RPI at .623... Three players are averaging double-figure points for the Redbirds, senior guard Reece Zoelle (15.2), senior forward Chris Kading (14.4) and junior guard Brett Vanden Bergh (12.0). Kading also leads the team with 7.6 rebounds per contest... De Pere has no players shorter than 6-1 on its active roster.

“X” Factor – Athleticism. De Pere will look to really work its transition game Tuesday night against Superior's 1-2-2 zone and has the athleticism to keep the number of possessions high. The athleticism of the Redbirds' bench players are also something to watch, as De Pere tends to go eight or more deep on a given night.

Why De Pere Will Win the Title: The Redbirds show why they are one of just six Division 1 teams to average fewer than 46 points-against per game and lock down on its three remaining opponents. Zoelle and Kading prove solid by hitting their season scoring averages, but Vanden Bergh proves the difference-maker going for a game-high 18 points in the state final to earn the Redbirds' first-ever boys hoops state championship.

Audio from statewide coach conference call

Official WIAA Roster with team info, school facts and game results
Superior, 18-7

Road to Madison – Superior was named the #3-seed in the D.C. Everest sub-sectional but came through with a trio of gritty victories to earn a berth in the UW-Stevens Point Super Tuesday matchup. The Spartans knocked off Chippewa Falls 53-45 in the regional final, then upset #2-seed Marshfield 60-48 and upended the top-seeded and sectional host Evergreens 51-35.

State Tourney History – As if the Super Tuesday designation wasn't confusing enough, Superior's history at the state tournament is just as cloudy. Superior Senior High School is actually a consolidation of Central and East, which combined to make 33 trips to the state tournament and win four state championships-- yet neither made the trip since Central did so in 1974 when it won the gold ball.

Notes – Superior ran the table with a perfect 8-0 and 24-point conference record in the Lake Superior Conference... Superior ranks sixth in Division 1 scoring with just fewer than 68 points per game... The Spartans have plenty of experience with eight seniors on the roster... Guards Joel Lindberg and Rob Kraft lead the team with 17.0 and 16.3 points per game respectively. Center Josh Kimmes adds 9.2 points and seven boards a game... Head coach Dave Kontny earned his 200th career victory in a 73-66 win over Chippewa Falls in late February... Superior will have logged almost 1,500 miles of travel time this post season with two trips to Schofield on consecutive nights and a round-trip to Stevens Point Tuesday.

“X” Factor – Josh Kimmes. Lindberg and Kraft will most likely get their points, but the Spartans' play on the inside is what will take this Superior squad to the Kohl Center. Kimmes, who De Pere head coach Brian Winchester noted “was no stranger to the weight room,” has good touch around the rim and provides some size and strength inside for Superior's high-scoring and shooter-heavy offense.

Why Superior Will Win the Title – Much of Superior's victories have come on excellent shooting nights, and the Spartans come out hot in all three of their remaining matchups. Lindberg nears his season-high, scoring 32 points in the state final while going 15-for-17 from the charity stripe in the state final. Kraft chips in 20 points per game, much of his damage done from behind the arc, while Kimmes is a man among boys down low gobbling up almost 16 rebounds per game.

Audio from statewide coach conference call

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