Each week we are going to preview the best matchups, storylines, etc twice a week for the entirety of the boys basketball season. Monday we will preview the games played Monday-Wednesday, then on Wednesday we'll preview Thursday-Saturday's slate.
Don't forget to use the hashtag #wisbb when talking about any Wisconsin high school basketball stories, scores, and big performances this season.
Click the links for the games and see the preview of each game with a tale of the tape in terms of numbers, stat comparison, and other info on Bound.
Follow Colton on ‘X’ for more basketball content throughout the year.
Today's article will be different than previews in the past as Thursday night is jam packed with games that will determine conference champions. We'll dive into each of those races.
Thursday, February 26
The Six-Rivers West title is on the line in this one as both schools are 14-2 in league play. Belmont won the first matchup 51-38 back in January, limiting the Chieftains to just 28% shooting and 29% from three.
Everest is looking to win the Wisconsin Valley conference title outright and will need to beat the Panthers for the second time in three weeks. The Evergreens are one game up on SPASH and Marshfield in the standings. If SPASH wins, it could create a three-way share of the league title dependent on a Marshfield victory over Wausau East. In the first matchup, Everest held Stevens Point to 5 of 32 from three and had the advantage at the free throw line.
The Big Eight could be won outright by the Spartans tonight or shared with Middleton dependent on this outcome. Memorial is one game up in the standings and looking to finish the season with just one loss. They’ll need to beat Middleton once again, something the Spartans did in impressive fashion back in mid-January.
The Great Northern title race comes down to the last Thursday of the regular season as Mosinee is a perfect 13-0 and one game up on Rhinelander. The Indian have been challenged over the past few weeks in non-con play, but welcome in a familiar foe. The first matchup was a 14-point Mosinee victory, thanks in large part to the advantage at the free throw line where Mosinee was 23 of 28 while Rhinelander was just 5 of 8.
This is one of the biggest showdowns in the state on Thursday night as De Pere and Notre Dame are currently tied atop the FRCC standings, with the winner of this one claiming that league title outright. De Pere has won four straight FRCC titles. Notre Dame on the other hand has not won a conference title in the FRCC in boys basketball. To get to this point, Notre Dame has rattled off three straight wins over Sheboygan North, West De Pere, and Bay Port in the past two weeks. De Pere won the first matchup 71-65 back in late January.
Reedsville is looking to clinch the Big East-North title outright, but to do so will have to avenge an earlier season loss to the Lancers. The Panthers are 9-2 and a half game up on Saint Mary Catholic and one game up on Howards Grove and Manitowoc Lutheran. If Manitowoc Lutheran wins for a second time, it could create a four-way share of the league title, which would be over half of the conference. Lutheran won the first matchup 74-57 as they held Reedsville to just 8 of 21 shooting. from behind the arc and just 19 rebounds.
Badger-Large Race
Watertown (5-18) at Beaver Dam (17-6)
Oregon (14-9) at Monona Grove (14-9)
DeForest (11-12) at Waunakee (17-6)
This race has been muddied up all year and continued to be the past few weeks. Beaver Dam, Monona Grove, and Waunakee all are tied atop the standings and have a chance to clinch a share of the crown. It will be no small feat. Watertown has pushed everyone as of late. Monona Grove beat Waunakee last week to force this three-way tie, and DeForest pushed both Oregon and Beaver Dam in recent games.
Badger-Small Race
McFarland (18-5) at Edgewood (8-15)
Mount Horeb (18-5) at Fort Atkinson (12-11)
Sauk Prairie (16-7) at Portage (2-21)
Similarly to the Large division, the Badger-Small is crowded at the top with McFarland, Mount Horeb, and Sauk Prairie tied. Sauk fell in a surprise to Reedsburg. McFarland has lost back-to-back contests to Fort Atkinson and Mount Horeb, while Mount Horeb is on a roll and forced this three-way tie. If two or more win, there will be co-champions. If just one of the three wins, there will be an outright champion.
Fox Valley Association Race
The race comes down to Appleton North and Kaukauna as they are tied at 15-2 atop the FVA. Both have squandered of late as Kaukauna fell to Kimberly a week ago and now welcomes in a red-hot Oshkosh North team that has won five straight and just recently knocked off undefeated Seymour. Kaukauna won the first matchup 94-93. Appleton North fell to Bay Port earlier this week and Oshkosh North two weeks ago and now play a Neenah team that can beat any team on any night.
Heart O’North Race
Northwestern ant Saint Croix Falls sit at 14-3 in the Heart O’North standings with Hayward just one game behind. If just one of Northwestern or Falls wins, they’ll claim the league outright. If both win, it'll be a shared conference title. The first time around in these matchups wasn’t blowouts as both the Tigers and the Saints won by single digits.
Greater Metro Race
Menomonee Falls (14-9) at Brookfield Central (14-9)
Germantown (14-9) at Wauwatosa East (11-11)
Hamilton (7-16) at D2 #7 Wauwatosa West (17-6)
At 12-4 Brookfield East has already clinched a share of the Greater Metro conference title. Germantown, Wauwatosa West, and Brookfield Central all stand at 11-4 and are looking to share that league championship. Falls beat Central in the first matchup. Germantown beat Tosa East by just four in the first matchup and Tosa West beat Hamilton by 19. No easy task for each team to claim their share on Thursday night.
Middle Border Race
Saint Croix Central (15-8) at Osceola (15-8)
Ellsworth (14-9) at Altoona (17-6)
Prescott (16-7) at Baldwin-Woodville (5-18)
Saint Croix Central sits one game up on Osceola, Altoona, and Prescott in the Middle Border race. With a win over Osceola, the Panthers will clinch the Middle Border outright. A loss means at least a share with SCC and Osceola and if Altoona or Prescott win, they’ll win a share as well.
Southern Lakes Race
Beloit Memorial and Waterford split their season series. Both are tied at 12-1 in league play and with a win on Thursday night will share the Southern Lakes conference title.
One of the few marquee non-cons on this Thursday, two La Crosse area teams will duke it out in preparation for the tournament. Momentum could be had by the winner. The biggest thing Coach Fergot and Coach Schmelling want to come away from this one is, is healthy. If both win two games, we could be looking this same matchup in a sectional semifinal.
Though this one does not have conference title implications as Oostburg has already clinched it, it is still a top matchup. For Lutheran, it's one more game that returning senior Zach Leonhard can get his feet under him before the playoffs. For Oostburg it’s about building momentum into the Division 3 playoffs next week.
Others to Watch
Abundant Life Christian will win a share of the Trailways-South with a win
Cambridge will win the Capitol-South outright with a win
New Glarus forces a three-way split with Cambridge and Marshall (dependent on win)
Edgerton will clinch the Rock Valley-Rock outright with a win
Whitefish Bay will win a share of the North Shore title with Slinger with a win
Hudson will clinch at least a share of the Big Rivers with a win
Lancaster will win the SWC outright
Mauston will win the South Central outright with a win
River Falls will clinch at least a share of the Big Rivers with a win
Racine Lutheran will win the Metro Classic outright with a win
Onalaska will win the Mississippi Valley outright with a win
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].