WIAA State Girls Basketball Preview: Division 1
Friday, March 11th, 2016 -- 6:25 AM
The 41st Annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Girls Basketball State Championships continues today thru Saturday at the Resch Center in Green Bay. Here's a preview of the Division 1 Field.....Friday, March 11
6:35 p.m.
Appleton North (22-4) vs. Verona (23-3)
Mukwonago (23-3) vs. Oak Creek (23-3)
*Note: Subsequent games of each session will begin approximately 15 minutes following the previous game.
ABOUT THE DIVISION 1 FIELD: Mukwonago is making its eighth appearance at State and its third in the past four seasons. The Indians’ most notable result from the previous experiences was their runner-up finish in 2013. They earned another trip to State with a 42-31 win over Arrowhead in the Whitefish Bay Sectional final. They finished in a tie for first place with Kettle Moraine in the Classic 8 Conference this season. Oak Creek returns to the tournament field for the first time since winning the State title in 2014 and for the sixth time overall. The Knights had a string of three straight appearances from 1982-84, which produced a runner-up finish in 1983. They are the champions of the Southeastern Conference this season, and they advance to the State semifinals from the West Allis Central Sectional after defeating defending champion Divine Savior Holy Angels 50-40 in the final. Verona qualifies for the State Tournament for the first time since the final appearance of three straight experiences in 2010, which also accounts for the program’s overall total. The Wildcats’ furthest advance at State prior to this year was to the semifinals in 2008. They beat Janesville Craig 63-45 in the final of the Janesville Parker Sectional last week to return to State. The Wildcats are the co-champions of the Big Eight Conference with Middleton this season. Appleton North returns to State for the first time since 2001 and for the third time overall. The Lightning advanced to the semifinals in 1999 and fell in the quarterfinals in 2001 to account for their prior appearances. They edged Marshfield in the final of the D.C. Everest Sectional final, 56-54, in overtime to advance to the State semifinals. They finished runner-up in the Fox Valley Association this season.
STATE TOURNAMENT ON THE AIR: The State Tournament will be televised live on WKOW-TV in Madison, WAOW-TV in Wausau, WXOW-TV in La Crosse, WQOW-TV in Eau Claire, WYOW-TV in Eagle River, WMOW-TV in Crandon, WMLW-TV in Milwaukee, KBJR-MY9 in Duluth/Superior and WCWF W-14 in Green Bay and the Fox Valley. The Wisconsin Division of Quincy Media, Inc., will produce the coverage. The championships will also be streamed on the statewide network station websites.
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