With over 20 conference titles yet to be determined, the final full night of the boys basketball season delivered in the wildest of ways. The number of conference that finished with co-champions this season was at an all-time high. We discussed in our preview how many meaningful games were to be played, and even those we did not expect to be close, turned into barn burners.
The games lived up to the hype with plenty of intrigue and single digit contests, as well as four games that needed overtime to determine the winner.
Below is a full list of each conference where Thursday night’s results had an effect on the conference champions.
The Badger-Large had three teams tied at the top of the standings going into Thursday night, with all three playing different conference teams. Beaver Dam knocked off Watertown and Waunakee knocked off DeForest in games that were decided by ten points or less. Oregon was not successful in claiming a share however, as the Panthers fell to Monona Grove in a nine-point loss. Monona Grove played spoiler to Waunakee’s opportunity to clinch outright last week, and did so once again to Oregon.
Similar to the large division, the Badger-Small had three teams tied for the conference title going into the final night of the season. Dissimilar to the bigger division of the conference, all three won their respective games and a three-way share of the league title is the result. Sauk Prairie took care of Portage handily, as did McFarland with Edgewood. Mount Horeb was pushed by Fort Atkinson, but came out victorious. Therefore a three-way share of the conference title between Sauk Prairie, McFarland, and Mount Horeb.
Reedsville had claimed a share of the Big East-North league title going into their matchup with Manitowoc Lutheran. A loss and it would have resulted in a four-way share of the crown. The Panthers had other plans, avenging an earlier season loss to the Lancers and winning 74-62 to win the 2025-26 league title outright.
The Big Eight teams play a whopping 18 conference games on the season, and it came down to game the final night of games to determine the league winner. Madison Memorial came into the night one game up on Middleton and a share of the league title claimed. The Spartans traveled to Middleton where the Cardinals scored a 71-57 victory and a share of the Big Eight crown.
Hudson and River Falls were both sitting at 11-2 in the Big Rivers coming into Thursday night and left 12-2 after the Raiders scored a 20-point victory over Rice Lake and River Falls won by 24 over Eau Claire North. The two teams are co-champs in the Big Rivers this year.
Cambridge had a share of the Capitol-South crown coming into Thursday night and had a chance to secure it outright with a win over New Glarus. The Glarner Knights went into Cambridge and scored a nine-point win to force a three-way share of the league title between Cambridge, New Glarus, and Marshall. Funnily enough, Cambridge swept Marshall this year, Marshall swept New Glarus, and New Glarus swept Cambridge.
In one of the marquee games of the chaotic Thursday night, Notre Dame welcomed in De Pere to end their four-year reign in the Fox River Classic. Both were 15-2 in league play. The Redbirds flexed their muscle with an 82-59 and claimed their fifth straight FRCC crown.
Both Kaukauna and Appleton North were tied at 15-2 in the Fox Valley Association going into Thursday night’s matchups. Kaukauna traveled to Oshkosh North to take on a red hot Spartans squad and needed late free throws from DePaul commit Andrew Jensen to come away victorious 71-70. Appleton North traveled to Neenah and won a low-scoring affair 56-36. The Galloping Ghosts and Lightning will share the league crown. It is the first FVA title for Appleton North in their program’s history.
One of the best matchups of the night that lived up to the hype happened in the Great Northern. Mosinee was 13-0 in league play welcoming in 12-1 Rhinelander. The Hodags needed two overtimes to do it, but came away with a two-point victory, resulting in the two school's sharing the league crown.
Brookfield East had the night off and had already clinched a share of the Greater Metro crown before Thursday night. Three other teams had a chance to win a share as well and all four did just that. Brookfield Central knocked off Menomonee Falls while Wauwatosa West took care of Hamilton. In the most electric game of the league night, Germantown beat Wauwatosa East by one thanks in large part to a late bucket by their star Cahlil Jones. It resulted in a four-way share of the Greater Metro crown between Brookfield Central, Brookfield East, Germantown, and Wauwatosa West.
Northwestern, Saint Croix Falls, and Hayward all came into the night with a chance at a share of the of Heart O’North conference title. Haywrd was one game behind the other two, but fell in a close one to Cameron. Northwestern held off a pesky Cumberland team by four, while Saint Croix Falls beat Ashland as the Saints and Tigers will be co-champs.
Racine Lutheran had already clinched a share of the Metro Classic title going into the night and sat one game up on Racine St. Catherine's. The Crusaders took care of business with a 37-point win over The Prairie School and with a St. Cats loss to Dominican, won the conference title outright by two games.
Madness in the Middle Border as four teams came into the final night of league play with a chance at the league title. Saint Croix Central stood one game up on Prescott, Altoona, and Osceola going into the night. The Panthers traveled to Osceola and fell 63-58 while Prescott won over Baldwin-Woodville and Altoona fell to Ellsworth. The Middle Border had a three-way share of the crown with Saint Croix Central, Prescott, and Osceola.
Onalaska needed a win over Tomah on Thursday to win the Mississippi Valley Conference title outright, as the Hilltoppers stood one game up on La Crosse Central in the standings. Craig Kowal’s group took care of business with a 32-point victory and are the outright champs in 2026.
Slinger had already clinched a share of the North Shore title and had no conference games left on the schedule. Whitefish Bay needed a win over Homestead to clinch its share. The Blue Dukes traveled to Homestead and fell in overtime by two as Homestead sophomore Jaylen Trotter knocked down two free throws with three seconds left to get the win. Slinger is the outright champion in the North Shore this season.
The Northern Lights conference title came down to a showdown between Hurley and Drummond on Thursday, as both came into the night 15-2 in league play. Overtime was needed yet again on the night to determine a winner, but Hurley avenged an earlier season loss and won it at home, winning the Northern Lights crown outright.
Edgerton had clinched a share of the Rock Valley-Rock title and sat one game ahead of Turner coming into the night. Enter Evansville. The Crimson Tide traveled to the home of the Blue Devils and Evansville played spoiler winning it 52-45. Turner took care of business with Clinton, resulting in a share of the league crown with Turner and Edgerton.
Belmont and Potosi/Cassville met Thursday night in Belmont to determine who would win the Six Rivers-West title outright this season. As seemed to be the theme of the night, overtime was needed in this one. Belmont swept the season series and won it 51-49 to win the league title outright, the first one for the Braves since 2005.
Mauston had a share of the South Central title already clinched. They traveled to Nekoosa looking to win it outright. The Golden Eagles won it by 15 and took home the league crown outright.
Waterford and Beloit Memorial split their season series and were 12-1 in the Southern Lakes conference going into Thursday. The Purple Knights welcomed in Burlington and came away with an eleven point win, while the Wolverines traveled to Wilmot and won by 17. The two teams will be co-champs in the Southern Lakes in 2026.
Darlington was one game ahead of Mineral Point in the SWAL standings and needed a win over Riverdale to win the title outright. The Redbirds took care of business at home, winning 94-71 and winning the title outright.
Lancaster had clinched a share of the SWC crown coming into Thursday, its first conference title in boys basketball since 1988, and only second ever in program history. The Flying Arrows had a chance to win it outright, but River Valley went into Lancaster and played spoiler to the tune of a 71-60 win. With Dodgeville traveling to Prairie du Chien and winning and Platteville beating Richland Center at home, the Flying Arrows, Dodgers, and Hillmen are all co-champions.
Parkview clinched a share of the Trailways-South title last week, with Abundant Life tied in the loss column but with three games left to win to claim its share. The Challengers took down Williams Bay on Thursday, resulting in co-champions in the South Division of the Trailways.
D.C. Everest stood atop the Wisconsin Valley conference standings alone on Thursday and had claimed a share of the title. The Evergreens welcomed in a Stevens Point team that was looking for a share of that crown. The Panthers came away with a nine-point victory, avenging an earlier season loss to Everest. The Panthers win and Marshfield taking care of Wausau East results in a three way share of the WVC title between D.C. Everest, Marshfield, and Stevens Point.
Colton Wilson serves a contributor and member of Bound Wisconsin. Wilson has worked in high school sports for 10 years, covering the state of Wisconsin in various sports. He has had roles in content creation, boys basketball coverage, director of events, and data management. Wilson is a graduate of Richland Center High School where he will currently serves as the Varsity Reserve boys basketball coach, entering his eleventh year coaching at the high school level. Wilson also has officiated basketball and organized youth tournaments for multiple years. You can follow him on Twitter at @ColtonWilson23 or reach him at [email protected].