State Boys Basketball Preview: Division 5
Wednesday, March 15th, 2017 -- 6:30 AM
The 102nd Annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys Basketball State Tournament will take place Thursday-Saturday, March 16-18, at the Kohl Center in Madison. Here's a preview of the Division 5 field.....Friday, March 17
Division 5
McDonell Central Catholic (24-3) vs. Shullsburg (25-2) - 9:05 a.m.
Columbus Catholic (25-2) vs. Barneveld (24-3)*
*Note: Subsequent games of each session will begin approximately 15 minutes following the previous game.
ABOUT THE DIVISION 5 FIELD: Defending champion McDonell Central Catholic will appear at State for the third time. The Macks’ first appearance came in 2012, which resulted in a loss in the semifinals. The Macks have their sights on another championship after earning their second straight berth with an 83-48 win over Luck in the Spooner Sectional final. They are the champions in the Western Division of the Cloverbelt Conference this season. Barneveld will be making its second appearance in the State Tournament after qualifying for the first time last season. The Golden Eagles fell by two points in their semifinal loss in 2016. They earn their return to the tournament following their 62-42 win over Hilbert in the Watertown Sectional final. The Golden Eagles are the champions in the East Division of the Six Rivers Conference this season.
Shullsburg also advances to State for the second time in program history. The Miners’ only other involvement in the State Tournament resulted in a Division 4 championship in 1991. They won the title in the West Division of the Six Rivers Conference this season, and they are the representatives out of the La Crosse Logan Sectional after edging Bangor 60-58 in the final. Columbus Catholic qualifies for the State Tournament for the second time following the Dons' 68-62 victory over Gresham in the D.C. Everest Sectional final. Their previous appearance came under the former name Marshfield Columbus in 2003. They are the champions of the East Division of the Cloverbelt Conference this year.
STATE TOURNAMENT ON THE AIR: The State Tournament will be televised live in our area on WAOW-TV in Wausau, WXOW-TV in La Crosse, WQOW-TV in Eau Claire.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.