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 Thursday, January 29 through Saturday, January 31.
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.
Thursday, January 29
Mauston went a perfect 7-0 through the first half of the conference slate and sits two games ahead of both Berlin and Adams-Friendship. The first matchup between these two was a four-point Golden Eagles victory. With a win on Thursday night, the South Central conference title may be all but wrapped up.
This is the best bigger school game on the schedule bar none. The Badger-North may be determined by the outcome of this game as Beaver Dam sits one game ahead of Waunakee in the standings. Waunakee took game one in this series, a two-point victory in early December in which no Warrior scored in double figures. The Beavers are without senior leader Parker Blank, so it will be interesting to see the effect of that loss in this huge conference matchup.
Two of the better small school teams in the northeast side of the state do battle in this non-conference tilt on Thursday night. Lutheran has absolutely dominant this season in their wins, with a point differential of 22 on the season. Roncalli has played tighter games this year and haven’t scored at quite the clip the Crusaders have. Two teams led by a pair of really good coaches makes this one to tune in to.
These two teams are looking to stay within striking distance of Darlington in the SWAL, as a loss by Southwestern all but eliminates them. The Pointers are just one game back of Darlington. The first game between these two was a two-point win in the Pointers first game of the year.
Cloverbelt-West supremacy is up for grabs in this one as these two squads and Regis all have just one loss in league play to this point. Stanley-Boyd won the first matchup 65-53 as four Orioles scored in double figures. The conference is crowded at the top and a win by either team puts them in a good position moving forward.
Others to Watch
Friday, January 30
It’s the top two teams in the standings in the FVA and two of the top contenders in Division 1 giving us a marquee matchup on a Friday night. There is not much more to ask for as a hoops fan. Kaukauna won game one on an Andrew Jensen buzzer in the first matchup, as he finished with 20 points and 22 rebounds in the victory. Wins are hard to come by in the FVA, and this is going to be one of the hardest.
Onalaska went a perfect 7-0 in league play in the first half, including a nine-point win over Aquinas in the first matchup. A Blugold loss in this one likely puts them out of contention in the MVC for the league title. These two squads put on some of the better competitions on the west side of the state, and this will be the latest chapter in that book.
This is a game that could determine whether Racine Case runs away with the Southeast title or if Franklin ties it at the top, as all other league teams have at least three losses in conference play. Case won the first matchup between these two all the way back on December 5 thanks to a balanced scoring attack. For Franklin, freshman Cooper Foeckler has been a huge boost to the rotation with his in-season progression and emergence as a reliable scoring option.
The first matchup between these two ended up being a double-digit win for Slinger. However, the Orioles held a halftime lead. Hartford competes hard which keeps them in most games. Slinger, as has been mentioned, is one of the most skilled teams in the state led by the brother Kohnen.
Others to Watch
Saturday, January 31
Aquinas will be coming off a battle with Onalaska on Friday night and welcome in a ranked and quality McFarland team on a quick turnaround. What effect that may have remains to be seen.
Two very good teams in Division 1 make this matchup a must watch on Saturday evening. The Cardinals of Middleton have rebounded well after suffering a loss to Madison Memorial last Tuesday. Arrowhead has lost three of its last five, all to very good competition, so this is just another measuring stick game for both squads.
Two of the top five teams in Division 5 in the state are set to do battle on a neutral court on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers have been blemish free in terms of losses this season and will get everything in terms of a challenge in this one. Reedsville has just one loss, but has secured quality wins over some of its Big East league counterparts.
West Allis continues to challenge itself this season, once again facing a top out-of-state team. The Bulldogs head to Iowa to take on a Wolves squad that is 13-1 and led by senior Colin Rice. Yusef Gray Jr., a future Iowa State cyclone, will have the opportunity to showcase his talents to what will be a home-state crowd next season.
Wisconsin v Illinois Border Battle
Eight games will be played at The Prairie School on Saturday between schools from Wisconsin and Illinois in one of the best interstate events run by Mark Miller. Check out the game page on Saturday for the full schedule.
Others to Watch
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].