100th Annual WIAA Boys Basketball State Tournament Preview: Division 1
Friday, March 20th, 2015 -- 10:16 AM
The 100th Annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys Basketball State Tournament will take place today-Saturday at the Kohl Center in Madison. Here's a preview of the Division 1 field..Tonight:
6:35 p.m. Stevens Point (25-1) vs. West Allis Central (14-12)*
8:15 p.m. Germantown (26-0) vs. Madison East (20-6)
ABOUT THE DIVISION 1 FIELD: Three-time defending champion Germantown is back in the State Tournament for the sixth time overall. The Warhawks first two appearances came consecutively in 2008-09, which resulted in losses in the quarterfinals. They return for a shot at a fourth straight championship and to become only the fourth program to accomplish the feat. They defeated Kimberly 54-47 in the final of the sectional hosted at Manitowoc Lincoln. The Warhawks are the champions of the North Shore Conference this season. Stevens Point is making its 17th overall appearance in the State Tournament and its first since winning the Division 1 championship in 1994. The Panthers won two other State titles. Those titles came in 1926 and 1954 when there was only one class in tournament play. In addition, they finished runner-up in 1952 and 1982. The Panthers are the champions of the Wisconsin Valley Conference this season, and they are the representatives of the Wausau West Sectional with their 52-31 win over Superior in the final. Madison East will be appearing in its 13th State Tournament and its first in 25 years when they fell in the quarterfinals in 1990. The Purgolders have won one State championship, and that came in 1958 when there was a one-class system. They finished runner-up in the Big Eight Conference this season. The Purgolders advance to the State semifinals through the Beloit Memorial Sectional, capped by rolling to a 65-39 win over Kenosha Indian Trail in the final. West Allis Central qualifies for the first time since its only other appearance in 1947. The Bulldogs advanced to the State semifinals that season before being ousted from title contention when the tournament had the single-class format. This year, the Bulldogs finished seventh in the Greater Metro Conference before their tournament run that has advanced them to the State semifinals. They beat their league's champion, Marquette, 54-51 in the Milwaukee South Sectional final.
The State Tournament will be televised live in our area on WAOW-TV channel 9 in Wausau, WXOW-TV channel 19 in La Crosse, and WQOW-TV channel 18 in Eau Claire.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.