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WSN15: Boys Basketball Top Teams #4 -- 2005 Madison Memorial

03/08/2018, 2:15pm 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.

It was billed as the battle within the battle.

Wesley Matthews and Madison Memorial against Marcus Landry and Milwaukee Vincent.

One player -- Matthews -- headed to Marquette and the other -- Landry -- going to Wisconsin.

The race for the Mr. Basketball award in 2004-05 was as heated as the run for the coveted WIAA Division 1 state championship.

The game pitting the Spartans (24-2) against the Vikings (20-6) drew a huge crowd to the Kohl Center in Madison and the title tilt lived up to the big expectations.

Vincent took a 28-27 lead into intermission, but Memorial used a 36-27 run in the second half to post a 63-55 victory and in the process earned the first state boys' basketball crown in the school's history.

Matthews finished the contest with 29 points, 10 rebounds and three steals while Landry had 21 points, eight rebounds and five steals. 

Matthews wound up winning the Mr. Basketball award and both he and Landry enjoyed stellar collegiate careers at their respective schools.

For Matthews, the title was earned while playing alongside some of the best players in Memorial history as coach Steve Collins' starting lineup in the title game included Matthews, Keaton Nankivil (6-9), Dan Brown (6-6), Kori Vernon (6-7) and Justin Dahmen (5-9). 

Reserves Jerard Ajami (6-0) and Tyler Boyd (6-5) also played key roles for the Big Eight Conference champions, who defeated Madison West 52-49 and Watertown 67-64 in a very competitive sectional before downing River Falls and Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln in state-tournament outings prior to the matchup with Vincent.

Matthews, of course, has gone on to become a solid player in the National Basketball Association and continues to make a living at basketball's highest level with the Dallas Mavericks. 

WSN15 Top Moments Countdown:

#15 - 2009 Benton
#14 - 2004 Catholic Memorial
#13 - 2017 Xavier
#12 - 2004 Randolph
#11 - 2011 Aquinas
#10 - 2016 Kaukauna
#9 - 2012 Onalaska
#8 - 2005 Dominican
#7 - 2009 Madison Memorial
#6 - 2006 Racine St. Catherine's
#5 - 2003 Milwaukee King
#4 - 2005 Madison Memorial
#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