WIAA Boys State Basketball Preview: Division 3
Tuesday, March 15th, 2016 -- 10:32 AM
The 101st Annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys Basketball State Tournament will take place Thursday-Saturday, March 17-19, at the Kohl Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Here's a preview of the Division 3 Field....Thursday, March 17
Division 3 - 1:35 p.m.
Prairie du Chien (24-2) vs. Waupun (25-1)
Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau (25-0) vs. Xavier (23-3)
Subsequent games of each session will begin approximately 15 minutes following the previous game.
ABOUT THE DIVISION 3 FIELD: Last year’s runner-up Xavier is making its third appearance at State. The Hawks’ first experience in the tourney was in 2009 when they fell in the semifinals in Division 2. They earned their second straight berth in the semifinals with a 59-48 victory over Wrightstown in the Kaukauna Sectional final. The Hawks finished atop the Bay Conference standings this season. As a former member of WISAA, the Hawks won titles in 1963 and 1995, and finished runner-up on five other occasions. Prairie du Chien returns to the State Tournament for the first time since 1986 and for the eighth time overall. The Hawks’ history in the tournament dates back to their first appearance in 1942 and includes runner-up finishes in Class B in 1977, 1979, 1985 and 1986. This year, they are the champions of the Southwest Wisconsin Conference. They advance to State for the first time in three decades after their 59-49 win over East Troy in the Waunakee Sectional final. Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau advances to State for the sixth time and for the first time since 2012 when the Red Hawks finished runner-up. Their history in the State Tournament dates all the way back to the first year of the tournaments in 1916. Other appearances came in 1917, 1942 and 1960. Their return to the tournament is a result of a 73-60 win over Prescott in the sectional final held at Menomonie. They claimed the championship in the Coulee Conference this season. It was in 1927 when Waupun made its first and only other appearance in the State Tournament. The Warriors won their first-round game versus Ladysmith that year, 11-5, before falling to La Crosse 25-6 in the second round. Their return to State comes following their 68-65 win over Milwaukee Lutheran in the Whitefish Bay Sectional final. The Warriors are the champions of the East Central Conference 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. Also, download the Magic of March app for free, your source for live streaming video, scores, highlights and more about the WIAA State Boys Basketball Tournament. The app provides stories, videos and live coverage of the tournaments on iOS or Android phones and tablets.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.