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.
See below the best matchups for Monday, January 26 through Wednesday, January 28.
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.
Monday, January 26
This is a game between two very good teams in the southwestern part of the state out of the SWAL and SWC conferences. Lancaster has been a train in the SWC conference, going undefeated through the first half of the league schedule and is led by senior Zach Hermsen who is a true three-level scorer. Southwestern is challenged constantly in the SWAL and with two 20+ scorers in Aiden Keleher and Carsen Splinter, the Wildcats are a tough matchup for smaller schools.
Bonduel is coming off its first loss of the season last week, but did secure a quality win over Iola-Scandinavia to finish its week. The Bears have challenged themselves in the non-con schedule with games against Saint Mary Catholic, Roncalli, Wittenberg-Birnamwood and Brillion, and this game with Lutheran is no different. The Lancers have with seven straight and are rolling.
Two very good teams in different divisions of the Trailways square off in this non-conference Monday night tilt. Both the Challengers and the Bulldogs are fighting for a conference title this year and though this game has no bearing on that fact, it is a good challenge for each team as they transition into the second half of their league play.
Others to Watch
Tuesday, January 27
These are the top two teams in the standings in the Northern Lights conference and a win by either separates themselves alone atop the standings. The first matchup between these two went to Mellen in a 52-43 win back on December eleventh. With Hurley and Washburn just one game back in terms of league losses, this matchup is huge in the conference.
Both of these teams were ranked inside the top three in their respective divisions to begin the season. Both have had bumps along the way this season, but that’s to be expected in a challenging Greater Metro conference. Germantown is one game back in the standings and looking to keep pace with Brookfield East. Tosa West has dropped three games in the standings, and a fourth may all but knock them out of contention.
A stellar non-con tilt between these two squads is on for Tuesday night. Jake Broeske has dominated for the Lions but Oakfield does have a big man themselves in Bo Bijl who will look to matchup with the Lomira big man. Both of these squads have been dominant while playing teams at their level, but struggled once they played teams that were a little bigger as all three losses between the two have come in those instances. With Oakfield playing up, that may be worth noting.
Two teams that are likely vying for second in the Woodland-West but are contenders for a deep playoff push in Division 2. Zavier Castillo has been one of the biggest break out seniors in the state with Greendale and is averaging 28.5 points per game. The Vikings of New Berlin West are a smaller group that can light it up from deep as a whole.
These two teams are in the thick of conference title races in opposite divisions of the Big East. Oostburg is a favorite in Division 3 and behind the duo of Jamison Zavatchin and Cade Dirkse, it’s hard to see why not. Trace Damrow and Keaton Milbarth have stepped up huge for the Tigers as this game represents one of the stiffest competitions they’ll see all season.
Two teams in the thick of the Middle Border conference race will try to separate themselves in this one. Prescott is led by their senior Kobe Russell who does a bit of everything on the court. The Panthers have size across the board with Tanner Grinnell and Matyas Larson and pose matchup problems for opposing defenders.
This is the premier game on the docket for Tuesday night, and one of the top for the entire week. The first matchup between these two went to the Angels in a tight contest. Since then, both teams have been rolling. Sam Pitrof has been on an absolute tear for the Crusaders having scored 30+ in a handful of games lately. The Angels are crusing and led by LaMont Hamilton, pose a threat for any team they encounter. If you like basketball, up-tempo defense, and offensive efficiency, this is a must watch on Tuesday night.
Others to Watch
Wednesday, January 28
Two extremely talented teams out of the Big Eight conference will square off for a second time on Wednesday night. Verona took game one in this matchup winning by four points back in December. As the conference stands now, the Wildcats sit in a three-way tie with Madison Memorial and Middleton with 9-1 league records. La Follette is two games back at 6-3 and trying to find a way into the competitiong.
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].