Wisconsin Lutheran has seemed like a team that is equally an irresistible force and immovable object. Appleton North gave the monster Vikings all it could handle and despite never leading in this one, the Lightning are the only team in the state of Wisconsin to lose by single digits to the Wisco.

Sophomore Kinston Knueppel, one of four starters standing 6-6 or taller, got it going early on for Wisco, scoring the first five for the Vikings. He’d score 14 in the half while his cousin and Northern Iowa commit Zavier Zens had 11 at the break.

For the last nine minutes of the half, Wisconsin led anywhere from seven to eleven points, and went into halftime with a 37-27 lead, thanks in large part to shooting 67% from the field and winning the rebounding battle 13-4.

Appleton North made a few runs in the second half, taking advantage when the Vikings went into their zone. Sophomore Matthew Rosplochowski and senior Nathan Ramus made some big time shots for the Lightning, including a transition three by Rosplochowski to cut the deficit to three with under 13 minutes to go.

The Lightning cut the lead to two after a pair of Rosplochowski free throws with 5:42 left, but never got it back to a one possession game.

As far as high school basketball games go, this was one of the better executed at the state tournament. There were just nine turnovers between the two teams for the entire game and both shot over 50% from the field. A few difference makers in Wisco’s favor were winning the rebounding battle 27-16 and points in the paint 38-28.

Ramus, a key member of a very talented Class of 2026, led the Lightning with 20 points while Rosplochowski added 18 and senior Will Sweeney chipped in 12.

For Wisconsin Lutheran, it was another family affair kind of night as Zens les all scorers with 21 points. Kinston Knueppel had 20 points on six of eight shooting and older brother Kager (2027) added 17 points.

Wisco will look for a third straight state championship on Saturday night, and a second undefeated 30-0 season in three years.

Lights out shooting for the Spartans was a big key in this one as Memorial will play in its seventh state championship under head coach Steve Collins on Saturday.

The first half between these two was a back and forth affair with 14 lead changes in the first 18 minutes and the biggest lead held by either squad being just five points.

Isaac Herlache was hot early for De Pere, burying a pair of triples in the first three minutes, leading to an 8-6 Redbirds lead at the first media timeout.

Kimyora Cross Jr. went on a 5-0 run for Memorial partway through the first frame as the Spartans went ahead 13-11 with just over twelve minutes left.

The lead continued to bounce back and forth with De Pere scoring the final four points of the half to make it 33-32 Madison Memorial at the break. Anthony Miller had 13 to lead Memorial, while Noah Maniscalco had 11 points for De Pere.

Coming out of the break, the Redbirds offense struggled to find a rhythm against Memorial’s 3-2 defense. Shots weren’t falling for De Pere and Memorial was getting tips to transition.

At 11:54 left in the game De Pere trailed 45-40, but from there, the Spartans took off. Over the next eight minutes, Memorial would go on a 20-7 run fueled by Anthony Miller, who was the steady heartbeat for the Spartans throughout the entirety of this game.

During that stretch, De Pere was one for ten from the field and finished the half shooting 9 of 22 and just 4 of 13 from deep.

It was the exact opposite for Memorial who was 12 of 19 from the field and 5 of 6 from three.

Madison Memorial was lights out from deep the entire game, finishing 12 of 17 from deep, thanks in large part to the unselfish play. Memorial had 16 assists on 25 made field goals.

Miller finished with a game high 22 points and was six of eight from three for Memorial. Caleb Liggon added 20 points and was a perfect 4 of 4 from deep. Both Cross Jr. and Andrew Braun scored in double digits as well.

For De Pere, Jack Bookter led them with 19 points while Maniscalco, Will Krueger, and Herlache all scored in double figures as well for the Redbirds.