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Now in it's ninth year, the Midwest Player's Classic, fueled by Muscle Milk, held at the La Crosse Center on Saturday, January 19th continues to grow, and once again features an incredible mix of team and individual talent from around the Midwest.

WisSports.net is happy to once again join the event as a statewide media sponsor, and we will have coverage leading up to and throughout the event.

Featuring eight games and 16 teams in a single-day format, it is a great opportunity to see outstanding teams and players in a single setting. Last year's event featured eventual WIAA girls basketball state champions Aquinas and Bangor, while La Crosse Central qualified on the boys side. Minnehaha Academy claimed a state title in Minnesota, defeating Midwest Player's Classic participant Calendonia for the championship.

Tickets will be sold at the door on the day of the event, with no pre-sale of tickets. All tickets are general admission seating and are good for all eight games of the event. Adult tickets are $10, Students are $5, and under age five is free. Floor seats are reserved for the corporate sponsors of the event. You must have a hand stamped to re-enter.

2019 Midwest Player's Classic Schedule
January 19, 2019

9:15am    Aquinas Blugolds   vs.    Hayward Hurricanes (Girls game)
10:50am    Aquinas Blugolds            vs.    La Crescent Lancers
12:25pm    La Crosse Logan Rangers                 vs.    Kaukauna Galloping Ghosts 
  2:00pm    Caledonia Warriors         vs.    Mineral Point Pointers
  3:35pm    La Crosse Central Red Raiders        vs.    Minnehaha Academy Redhawks
  5:10pm    DeLaSalle Islanders        vs.    Sun Prairie Cardinals
  6:45pm    Martin Luther Spartans  vs.    Minneapolis North Polars
  8:20pm    Onalaska Hilltoppers      vs.    Oconomowoc Raccoons

The day begins with an excellent girls hoops showdown between D4 top-ranked Aquinas, the defending state champion, and Hayward. Aquinas junior Lexi Donarski is committed to Iowa State, while classmate Courtney Becker has committed to Drake.

The host Aquinas Blugolds will play the first boys game of the day at 10:50 am, taking on La Crescent (MN). La Crosse Logan squares off with defending Division 2 state champion Kaukauna to follow.

A couple highly-talented yet still relatively young teams meet up in the 2 pm contest. Mineral Point features Division 1 prospects Brayden Dailey (sophomore) and Isaac Linsey (junior) and was ranked #1 before the season started by Mark Miller. Caledonia (MN) lost one King (Owen) from last year but returns two more, junior Noah and freshman Eli. They helped the football team to a fifth straight state title this fall. Noah is a D1 prospect on the hardwood, and Eli could be as well some day.

Arguably the marquee match-up of the event is the 3:35 matchup between La Crosse Central and Minnehaha Academy (MN), the top team in Minnesota's Class 2A. Central features the Davis twins, Johnny and Jordan, along with Terrance Thompson, all with multiple D1 offers. Minnehaha Academy features one of the country's top 2020 prospects in guard Jalen Suggs. Fast-developing 7-footer Chet Holmgren is a promising sophomore prospect, and 6-5 freshman Prince Aligbe is a sure-fire D1 prospect as well.

The following match-up isn't too bad either, as Class 3A number one team DeLaSalle (MN) faces Sun Prairie. DeLaSalle has a pair of Division 1 seniors in point guard Tyrell Terry (Stanford) and Jamison Battle (George Washington). Jalen Travis is a solid junior who doubles as a strong football prospect. Sun Prairie is off to a 5-2 start to the season.

Martin Luther has some impressive victories this year, including a win over D3 #2 Waupun earlier this week. The Spartans meet up with Minneapolis North, the second-ranked team in Minnesota's Class 2A.

Wisconsin teams Onalaska, unbeaten and ranked sixth in Division 2, and Oconomowoc square off in the final game of the day.