Playoff basketball is here and with that comes some big time performances in big time moments. While regular season 40-point outbursts are always worth noting, when they come in a do-or-die situation, that output is that much more special. Below are some of the top performances and stories from the opening night of the boys basketball playoffs.
To see a breakdown of how each conference faired in the regional quarterfinals, click here
Braylon Backaus, Black River Falls, junior
Black River Falls went on the road and scored an 84-73 win over Elk Mound. Backaus, who has scored at a high rate all season, continued that trend, pouring in 34 points for the Tigers.
Ethan Fromm and Brayden Smith, Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah
Though Elkhart Lake scored a blowout 112-28 victory over Wausaukee, this duo was extremely efficient. Fromm finished with 38 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists while going 18 of 23 from the field. Smith had 33 points on 13 of 15 shooting, while connecting on 7 of 8 triples. He added eight rebounds and four assists.
David Johnson, Hillsboro, senior
Johnson has been a double-double machine down the stretch for Hillsboro, being one of the top rebounders in Division 5 this season. In the Tigers’ 68-38 win over Gilmanton/Independence, Johnson finished with 23 points and 19 rebounds.
Gavin Greene, Ashland, junior
Ashland finished behind Hayward in the Heart O’North standings but came into this regional matchup having beaten the Hurricanes twice in the regular season. This afforded the Oredockers a home game and Greene shined. Winning 89-83, Ashland got 30 points and 12 rebounds from the junior.
Deklyn Grzadzielewski, Arcadia, sophomore
A new career high for the sophomore as Arcadia took home a 70-52 win over Wautoma in the regionals. Grzadzielewski poured in 40 points for the Raiders, tying a school record with nine made triples in the victory.
Jed Henderson, Rib Lake, senior
Scoring 1,000 points is a great feat in itself. Doing so in a playoff victory in your senior year, adds to that moment. That’s exactly how it went down for Henderson who scored 19 points in a 74-43 win over Greenwood/Granton and joined the 1,000 point club. He added eleven rebounds and three assists.
Wyatt Leiting, Catholic Central, junior
Leiting had a career night as Catholic Central went to Sheboygan Christian and came away with a 78-62 victory. The junior netted a career high 33 points for the Hilltoppers.
Lake Country Classical & Madison Country Day
Lake Country Classical is playing in its first ever WIAA playoffs, while Madison Country Day has competed before. However, both squads got their first playoff victory in their program’s history on Tuesday night. Lake Country Classical beat University 65-43. Madison Country Day went to Shullsburg and won 60-57.
D’Amirion Mayweather, Shoreland Lutheran, senior
Mayweather was perfect from the field as Shoreland Lutheran won 92-34 over Milwaukee Washington. The senior finished with 35 points for the Pacers, going a perfect 14 of 14 from the field.
Jaylen Miggins, Marshall, junior
Miggins can score the ball, there’s no denying that. In a 95-39 first round playoff win over Montello, he has supplanted himself atop the school’s single-game scoring list. Miggins poured in a new school high 47 points in the win shooting 17 of 23 from the field and a perfect 12 for 12 from the free throw line. He added twelve rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks.
Milwaukee Bradley Tech 129, Tenor/Veritas 20
A few stories from this one as senior and unsigned wing Jakari Smith poured in 33 points in the victory. For head coach Shon Haralson, it was win number 100 for him in his career.
Logan Nystrom, Assumption, senior
Nystrom was on from beyond the arc as Assumption secured a 75-63 win over Cashton in their Division 5 regional matchup. The senior sharpshooter finished with 31 points while knocking down eight of twelve shots from three. Nystrom added seven points and three assists for the Royals.
Racine Horlick 88, Milwaukee Pulaski 84
A lot of points were scored in this one with some top individual performances. For Horlick, Avery Holliman went for 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists with junior teammate Cameron Jones adding 29 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. For Pulaski, senior Darrian James-Allen poured in a game high 40 points.
Turner 75, Waupun 56
The senior duo of Chris Johnson and AJ Dotson led the Trojans to a first round victory as they both recorded double-doubles. Dotson, the senior point guard, finished with 14 points and 12 assists. Johnson, a senior forward, had 24 points and 10 rebounds.
Keaton Wollan, Amery, senior
Wollan recorded a triple-double in his first playoff game of his junior season. The Warriors turned back Middle Border foe Somerset 86-68 behind their junior leader. Wollan finished with 26 points, 17 rebounds, and 13 assists.
Other Top Performances
Mohammad Badwan, Salam, jr - 35 points in 61-50 loss to The Prairie School
Drew Christensen, Edgewood, jr - 28 points in 87-78 win over Waukesha North
Gage Beggs, Tri-County, jr - 16 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 blocks in 59-55 win over Florence
CJ Dummer, Blair-Taylor, sr - 29 points, 5 rebounds & 5 assists in 93-64 win over Brookwood
Omar Fofana, Saint Thomas More - 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists in 73-51 win over St. Francis
Owen Hahm, Shoreland Lutheran, sr - 18 points, 7 rebounds, 16 assists, and 7 steals in 92-34 win over Milwaukee Washington
Marcus Kohl, Rosholt, sr - 23 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists in 84-44 win over Northland Lutheran
Jackson Nordin, Shawano, jr - 33 points in 83-60 loss to Menasha
Ben Prochnow, Reedsville, sr - 13 points and 16 assists in 90-35 win over Gillett
Hayden Schultz, jr, & Brett Gajeski, sr, Green Bay NEW Lutheran - 27 points each in 81-68 win over Saint Thomas Aquinas
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].