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WSN15: Boys Basketball Top Moments #4 -- Diener nets more points than any player in state-tournament history to carry Cedarburg to victory

02/08/2018, 11:30am 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). 

We begin our WSN15 boys' basketball series with the Top 15 Moments of the WSN Era.


John Diener

In the second overtime of a very tense and emotional game against Milwaukee Washington, John Diener rose up for a mid-range jump shot.

It swished through the net to create the 12th tie of the contest and it also broke a WIAA State Tournament record for most points scored by an individual in a single game.

Diener's jumper gave him 46 points and Cedarburg teammate Jordan Johnson went on to score the Bulldogs' final seven points of the second overtime as Cedarburg registered a 73-70 victory over Milwaukee Washington in a memorable Division 2 state semifinal contest at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Diener's scoring output broke the previous state-tournament record of 45 points scored by Appleton West's Brian Butch in 2003.

The 6-foot-4 Diener had enjoyed a very productive junior season for Cedarburg, averaging 21.5 points and helping the Bulldogs to the North Shore Conference championship. 

But nobody saw a 46-point barrage forthcoming from the DePaul University recruit.

Diener, the son of Cedarburg coach Tom Diener, got off to a hot start as he scored his first basket just a minute, 30 seconds into the contest and ended the first half with 26 points as Cedarburg took a 40-38 lead into the locker room.  

Diener was a remarkable 9 of 12 from the floor, including 4 of 5 from three-point range, during the first 18 minutes.

Despite cooling off after intermission, Diener managed to score 14 points in the second half and then added six more in the two overtimes.

For the game, Diener made 16 of 29 shots from the floor, including 5 of 8 from three-point range. He also made 9 of 15 attempts from the foul line and contributed 5 rebounds.

A day later, Diener turned in more magic in the Division 2 title game against La Crosse Central. He scored 25 points and helped the Bulldogs rally from a 10-point deficit with 12:33 left by scoring 10 points the rest of the way in a 55-53 setback.

Diener took the game to the final horn, though, as his three-quarter court shot with under a second left glanced to the right of the rim.

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