The WIAA high school boys basketball is set to begin next week with the first round of regional action on Tuesday, March 3. Below is a preview for Division 3 with a sectional by sectional breakdown.

For all the scores, streams, and game previews, head over to the game pages listed at the links below.

To see my state tournament picks, scroll to the bottom.

1A Half-Sectional
#1 Saint Croix Central (15-8, Middle Border champion (share), #3 in Bound Power Index)
#2 Prescott (16-7, #1 in Bound Power Index)
#3 Osceola (18-5, #2 in Bound Power Index)
#4 Saint Croix Falls (15-8, #8 in Bound Power Index)

1B Half-Sectional
#1 Altoona (17-6, #4 in Bound Power Index)
#2 Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau (19-4, #3 in Bound Power Index, #9 in Bound/Zaleski Media Poll)
#3 Mosinee (18-5, Great Northern champion (at least share), #1 in Bound Power Index)
#4 Stanley-Boyd (19-4, #2 in Bound Power Index)

Braylon Backaus, Black River Falls (jr) - 30.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg
Graysen Becker, Altoona (jr) - 26.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.5 apg
Mason Brone, G-E-T (sr, UW-Stevens Point recruit) - 16.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 5.3 apg
Caleb Decorah, Adams-Friendship (soph) - 21.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg
Kellen Donnelly, Somerset (jr) - 18.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.0 apg
Talon Fabian, G-E-T (soph) - 16.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.7 apg
Tanner Grinnell, Saint Croix Central (sr) - 12.9 ppg, 7.9 rpg
Owen Gunderson, Altoona (jr) - 20.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.9 apg
Lucas Hansen, Hayward (sr) - 21.5 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 3.7 apg
Charlie Hoel, Stanley-Boyd (jr) - 20.7 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.3 bpg
Caleb Irlbeck, Osceola (sr) - 18.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg
Kam Kroll, Northwestern (jr) - 21.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg
Matyas Larson, Saint Croix Central (sr) - 13.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg
Austin Lyon, Westfield (sr) - 25.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 3.4 apg
Victor Noller, Elk Mound (sr) - 19.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg
Brayden Reinke, Mosinee (jr) - 20.0 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 3.8 apg
Kobe Russell, Prescott (sr) - 13.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.9 apg
Treve Stoffel, Mosinee (sr) - 14.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 5.5 apg
Keaton Wollan, Amery (jr) - 26.6 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 6.0 apg

There is no clear favorite in this sectional with the top being interspersed with Middle Border and Heart O'North teams that have all split games with one another. In the bottom half, Altoona is the top seed with G-E-T and Mosinee as the two and three seeds. This sectional has plenty of parity up and down and therefore no exact favorite to come out of it.

Ten-seed Somerset is no stranger to seven-seed Amery and the two schools will play each other in back-to-back games as they face off on Thursday night in the final game of the regular season, then once again five days later. On the season Somerset has beaten Prescott and most recently a very good Regis team. Kellen Donnelly is an ultra-athlete for the Spartans.

(Not a top 2-seed)

As mentioned above, this sectional seems wide open and a number of different teams can make a run to the sectionals, including many of the lower-seeded Middle Border teams. Five seed Adams-Friendship and four-seed Stanley-Boyd both could make a run at the sectionals. Three-seed Mosinee is a popular pick, and my pick to come out of this sectional, so I will go a different route here.

Northwestern head coach Nolan Graff has been to the state tournament and made plenty of deep playoff runs. The Tigers are the five-seed in the top half of the sectionals but need to get by a HON foe in Barron and then a possible second round matchup with Saint Croix Falls, a team that has beaten Northwestern twice this year, both by seven points. If they get by the Saints, they’d face a possible one-seed in Saint Croix Central, which took a seven-point win back in December over Northwestern.

Emphasis on the word ‘potential’

Mosinee v G-E-T in regional final: These two squads are a clash of styles, equally talented, and have sights set on a deep playoff push. Mosinee is led by their twin towers in Brayden Reinke and Treve Stoffel, two extremely versatile forwards that do a bit of everything. G-E-T has stellar guard play with Talon Fabian and Mason Brone, both of whom can deliver off the bounce and from set shots.

Mosinee v Altoona in sectional semifinal: Similar to the matchup listed above, this would be a clash of styles. Mosinee’s size versus an Altoona squad led by junior guard duo Graysen Becker and Owen Gunderson.

Mosinee

2A Half-Sectional
#1 Freedom (22-1, North Eastern champion, #2 in Bound Power Index, #2 in Bound/Zaleski Media Poll)
#2 Seymour (23-1, Bay champion, #1 in Bound Power Index, #1 in Bound/Zaleski Media Poll)
#3 Wittenberg-Birnamwood (17-6, #3 in Bound Power Index)
#4 Oconto Falls (16-7, #4 in Bound Power Index)

2B Half-Sectional
#1 Brillion (20-3, EWC champion, #1 in Bound Power Index, #8 in Bound/Zaleski Media Poll)
#2 Berlin (19-4, #6 in Bound Power Index)
#3 Xavier (16-7, #2 in Bound Power Index)
#4 Little Chute (15-7, #4 in Bound Power Index)

Mylo Albrecht, Northland Pines (sr, Concordia-WI recruit) - 18.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg
Kenew Awonohopay, Menominee Nation (sr) - 19.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 4.7 apg
Zandyr Barke, Wittenberg-Birnamwood (sr) - 21.0 ppg
Dominik Baxter, Peshtigo (sr) - 20.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg
Jameson Beaman, Oconto Falls (sr) - 18.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg
Kyler Bleck, Xavier (sr) - 19.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.8 apg
Blake Bradley, Ripon (soph) - 19.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg
Donovan Davis, Freedom (jr) - 21.2 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 4.7 apg
Isaac Feske, Seymour (jr) - 15.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.0 apg
Parker Ingles, Winneconne (sr) - 23.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg
Colton Larsen, Brillion (jr) - 18.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg
Drew Lenz, Winneconne (frosh) - 19.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 5.5 apg
Kyler Marks, Seymour (sr) - 21.4 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 3.0 apg
Logan Ramczyk, Xavier (jr) - 24.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 6.7 apg
Hayden Redington, Berlin (sr, Augustana football recruit) - 22.8 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 5.1 apg
Brody Schaffer, Winneconne (sr, Iowa football recruit) - 20.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 5.0 apg
Kaden Vandenberg, Freedom (jr) - 13.2 ppg, 2.2 apg
Trevor Verhagen, Little Chute (jr) - 15.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.6 apg

Freedom and Seymour have been the top two ranked teams in the state in Division 3 for the the better part of the last half of the year. Until two days ago, Seymour was undefeated, but fell to a very hot Oshkosh North squad in its final regular season game.

With that being said, the favorite would be Freedom simply due to the Donovan Davis effect. The 6-8 junior forward is one of the top players not just in the state, but the entire country and has a plethora of offers from Division 1 Power 5 programs. Simply put, he's a difference maker, and that can make a huge difference in a tight playoff game.

Ten seed North Fond du Lac has played seven seed Campbellsport twice this year, competing in the Flyway conference. The Orioles will get a third shot at the Cougars in the regional quarterfinals after falling by four and fifteen points the first two times. North Fondy does have a win over Laconia and Lourdes Academy this month and have a sophomore in Mario Romo (6-4) that can change the course of a game.

(Not a top 2-seed)

Picking a dark horse is tough as the top of the sectional seems to be on a collision course for Freedom v Seymour in the sectional semis. In the bottom half, Xavier, Little Chute, Winneconne, and Kiel are all prime candidates.

I’ll go with five-seed Winneconne as my candidate to make a run, possibly to the sectional finals. Three Wolves average 19+ points in Parker Ingles, Brody Schaffer, and Drew Lenz. Winneconne can score the ball at an alarmingly high rate and have two wins over Xavier, while pushing Seymour to the brink in their latest matchup. A clash of styles with Brillion in a possible regional final would be a game to tune in to on that Regional Final Saturday.

Emphasis on the word ‘potential’

Winneconne v Brillion in regional final: As mentioned above this game would be a clash of styles. Winneconne wants to play fast, stack the possessions, and outscore you. Brillion plays a slower style, relies on a stout defense, and plays more pointed in the half court. Winneconne averaged 85.3 points per game while giving up 72.4. Brillion averages 65.0 points per game while giving up 44.8.

Winneconne v Xavier in sectional semifinal: If both can pull upsets off, they’ll meet for the third time in a sectional semi. The Bay conference was challenging this year, which will help these two squads get road wins en route to this matchup. Winneconne won both matchups, scoring 81 and 97 points in those contests.

Seymour v Freedom in sectional semifinal: Since the bracket has been released, this game has been circled by all hoop fans across the state. It’s a clash between two heavyweights that have challenged themselves to excel at this point in the season. A game that very well should be in Madison, this one will be worth the price of admission.

Freedom

3A Half-Sectional
#1 Mineral Point (18-5, #2 in Bound Power Index)
#2 Aquinas (18-4, #1 in Bound Power Index, #6 in Bound/Zaleski Media Poll)
#3 Mauston (17-5, South Central champion, #4 in Bound Power Index)
#4 Lancaster (15-8, SWC champion (share clinched), #7 in Bound Power Index)

3B Half-Sectional
#1 Lake Mills (21-2, Capitol-North champion, #1 in Bound Power Index, #4 in Bound/Zaleski Media Poll)
#2 Lakeside Lutheran (17-6, #2 in Bound Power Index)
#3 Watertown Luther Prep (18-3, #3 in Bound Power Index)
#4 Turner (17-6, #6 in Bound Power Index)

Drew Aschliman, Mineral Point (sr) - 18.9 ppg. 7.4 rpg, 2.1 apg
Calvin Bahr, Aquinas (jr) - 19.5 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 4.0 apg
Logan Becker, Aquinas (sr) - 15.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.1 apg
Brady Benish, Lake Mills (sr) - 14.4 ppg, 2.5 apg
Collin Christian, Lake Mills (jr) - 14.8 ppg, 22 apg
Bryce Crubaugh-Lockard, Dodgeville (sr) - 18.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg
Keaton Dempsey, Mineral Point (jr) - 17.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.1 apg
AJ Dotson, Turner (sr) - 16.6 ppg, 4.9 apg
Zach Hermsen, Lancaster (sr) - 21.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.6 apg
Chris Johnson, Turner (sr) - 16.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg
Nolan Julseth, New Glarus (jr) - 19.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg
Casey Lyon, Whitewater (sr) - 25.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.0 apg
Talan Meyer, Mayville (sr) - 16.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 4.1 apg
Jase Navis, Mauston (soph) - 21.1 ppg, 12.8 rpg, 4.1 apg
Gabe Nottling, Watertown Luther Prep (sr) - 22.0 ppg, 7.2 rpg
Cameron Polvi, East Troy (jr) - 15.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.0 apg
Grady Poppy, Platteville (jr) - 16.3 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 3.0 apg
Peyton Powers, Columbus (sr, UW-Oshkosh recruit) - 17.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.1 apg
Wes Rahn, Lakeside Lutheran (sr, Minnesota Duluth recruit) - 20.1 ppg
Myron Reuter, Platteville (sr) - 20.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.2 apg
Kale Schneider, Lodi (jr) - 13.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 5.7 apg
Jayden Schoepp, Richland Center (jr) - 16.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Finley Strom, Aquinas (sr) - 13.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.1 apg
Theo Traeder, Lodi (sr) - 20.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.4 apg
Taylor Williams, Lancaster (sr) - 12.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.5 apg
Tyler Wollin, Lake Mills (jr) - 17.7 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 7.1 apg

Aquinas is the favorite in the top half despite being the two-seed. Not to take anything away from Mineral Point’s season, but Aquinas competes in an MVC conference where they play Division 2 and 3 teams whereas the Pointers play Division 4 and 5 in league play. The Blugolds are the reigning Division 4 state champs, have a load of experience back, and a strong rotation with great leadership at the top.

Lake Mills would the favorite in the bottom half. Like Aquinas, the L-Cats were a state tournament and return a lot of experience from that group. On top of that, Steve Hicklin’s groups do the little things on the basketball court better than their opponents almost nightly. It’s a fun brand of basketball to watch, and one that leads to success.

River Valley and Platteville recently played an incredible contest where the Hillmen came back and secured a one-point victory in an electric environment in Spring Green. The two are SWC rivals and with the eleven seed River Valley going on the road, it should be another good one. They split the season series with both games being decided by four or less points. Platteville is on a roll as of late, but River Valley can muddy things up and keep it close.

(Not a top 2-seed)

I’m going a little bit out on a limb with this one, but having seen this team twice this year from the bench, I know the potential. Eight-seed Dodgeville has beaten the 1, 4, 5, and 6 seeds in their half sectional this season. It’s not tall task for the Dodgers as they host Westby on a Tuesday night and then would travel to Mineral Point Friday with a TBD on Saturday. However, there is good guard play in Dodgeville and they’ve proven this year that they can play with, and beat the best teams in their half sectional.

Emphasis on the word ‘potential’

Mineral Point v Aquinas in sectional semifinal: It won't be easy to get to this point, but if we do, it’d be the third time in as many seasons where these two squads would be meeting to end each other’s seasons. Last year and two years ago, it came at the state tournament. This year it would be on Sectional Thursday.

Lake Mills v Lakeside Lutheran in sectional semifinal: These two are no strangers to each other as they are cross-town rivals and compete twice a year in the Capitol-North. On top of that, they've met plenty of times in the playoffs in similar situations. Lake Mills went 2-0 against the Warriors in the regular season, but the second game was a two-point win.

Lake Mills v Aquinas in sectional final: This would be a treat for high school hoops fans that love sharing the ball, team offense, and grind it out half court defense. With a return trip to state on the line for either team, this one would likely come down to who could force the other team into one or two more bad spots.

Lake Mills

4A Half-Sectional
#1 Oostburg (20-3, Big East-South champion, #1 in Bound Power Index, #7 in Bound/Zaleski Media Poll)
#2 Lake Country Lutheran (18-4, Midwest Classic champion, #2 in Bound Power Index, #10 in Bound/Zaleski Media Poll)
#3 Kettle Moraine Lutheran (16-8, #3 in Bound Power Index)
#4 Kingdom Prep Lutheran (15-7, #5 in Bound Power Index)

4B Half-Sectional
#1 Racine Lutheran (20-3, Metro Classic champion, #1 in Bound Power Index, #3 in Bound/Zaleski Media Poll)
#2 Racine St. Catherine’s (19-3, #2 in Bound Power Index, #5 in Bound/Zaleski Media Poll)
#3 Fuller Collegiate Academy (20-2, #8 in Bound Power Index)
#4 Kenosha St. Joseph (14-9, #3 in Bound Power Index)

Bryce Austin, Racine Lutheran (jr) - 13.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.2 apg
Kristian Bartl, University School (jr) - 15.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg
Henry Bednar, Kettle Moraine Lutheran (sr) - 14.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg
Jake Burow, Lake Country Lutheran (sr) - 19.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 7.6 apg
Jordan Coleman, University School (jr) - 23.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 6.9 apg
Cade Dirkse, Oostburg (sr, Hillsdale recruit) - 17.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 7.4 apg
Pavle Djilas, Brookfield Academy (jr) - 18.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.8 apg
Demarion Epperson, Howard Fuller (sr) - 23.9 ppg, 13.8 rpg
Ladarius Finkley, Kingdom Prep Lutheran (sr) - 24.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.4 apg
Omar Fofana, Saint Thomas More (sr) - 15.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.5 apg
Josh Green, Saint Francis (jr) - 21.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg
Owen Hahm, Shoreland Lutheran (sr) - 14.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 6.3 apg
Daijohn Hughes, Audubon Tech (sr) - 20.0 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 4.2 apg
Lamont Hamilton, Racine St. Catherine’s (sr, Minnesota football recruit) - 25.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.4 apg
Ethah Hans, Lake Country Lutheran (jr) - 13.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.6 apg
Codie Jones, Brown Deer (sr) - 23.9 ppg, 7/6 rpg
Christopher Kenesie, Kenosha St. Joseph (jr) - 21.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.7 apg
Sam Pitrof, Racine Lutheran (sr) - 24.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.3 apg
Jayden Ragland, Brown Deer (sr) - 13.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 7.1 apg
Johnny Roehl, Shoreland Lutheran (jr) - 17.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 4.8 apg
Delvito Velazquez, Messmer (jr) - 25.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.2 apg
James Visocky, SJNMA (jr) - 16.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg
JJ Zavatchin, Oostburg (sr, Bethel U recruit) - 29.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg
Myles Zawacki, Kingdom Prep Lutheran (sr) - 17.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 7.6 apg

Oostburg is the likely favorite in the upper half of this sectional. The dynamite duo of Cade Dirkse and JJ Zavatchin have won a lot of games over the past four years and can flat our make plays. Two of the Flying Dutchmen’s losses this year came when Dirkse was out of the lineup with injury.

The bottom half has the two Racine schools that would be favorites in almost any sectional they were in. They split their season series and play a style of basketball that is in your face and downhill. Lutheran would be likely be considered the favorite of the two, but not by a wide margin.

Though not a huge upset potential, nine-seed SJNMA will face Midwest foe and eight-seed Brookfield Academy in the first round. The Lancers lost the first matchup by twelve back in late January but there is some solid talent that could lead to a nine over eight on Tuesday.

(Not a top 2-seed)

There are a few possibilities here for lower seeds to make a run. Options that stand out are six seed Brown Deer, five seed Shoreland Lutheran, and four seed Kenosha St. Joseph. I think any of the three can make a push.

For the sake of this, I’m going with six seed Brown Deer. The Falcons compete in a Woodland conference with mostly Division 1 and 2 schools. They drop down to D3 here and have a dynamic guard duo in Codie Jones and Jayden Ragland.

Emphasis on the word ‘potential’

Oostburg v Lake Country Lutheran in a sectional semifinal: The top two seeds in the upper half of sectional four are talented, experienced, and have players that have won plenty of games in their high school careers. Lake Country has made deep runs before. Oostburg has two players that can sway a game their way on a nightly basis.

Racine Lutheran v Racine St. Catherine’s in a sectional semifinal: This would be one of the most anticipated games of Sectional Final Saturday. These are two of the top teams in all of Division 3 and this matchup would be worthy of the Kohl Center floor. With the season series split, the grudge match would be one that many around the state would be tuning in for.

Racine Lutheran

Freedom over Mosinee
Racine Lutheran over Lake Mills

Racine Lutheran over Freedom

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