State Boys Basketball Preview: Division 1
Thursday, March 16th, 2017 -- 1:34 PM
The 102nd Annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys Basketball State Tournament is going on today-Saturday at the Kohl Center in Madison. Here's a preview of the Division 1 field.....Friday, March 17
Division 1
Stevens Point (22-4) vs. Madison Memorial (23-3) - 6:35 p.m.
Arrowhead (21-5) vs. Brookfield Central (24-2)*
*Note: Subsequent games of each session will begin approximately 15 minutes following the previous game.
ABOUT THE DIVISION 1 FIELD: Two-time defending champion Stevens Point is making its 19th overall appearance in the State Tournament. The Panthers have won five State titles. Those years were 1926, 1954, 1994, 2015 and again last season. 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 Marshfield Sectional with their 76-61 win over Oshkosh North in the final. Madison Memorial makes its 10th appearance at State and its first since 2012. The Spartans had an impressive string of nine consecutive trips to the State Tournament. They won State titles in 2005, 2009 and 2011, and added runner-up finishes in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010. They defeated Madison East 50-35 in the sectional final played at Sun Prairie to advance to the State semifinals. The Spartans are co-champions of the Big Eight Conference with Sun Prairie this season. Brookfield Central also returns to the State Tournament for the 10th time overall. The Lancer’s last appearance came in 2008. Their furthest advance in the tournament has been to the semifinals in 2000, 2002, 2008 and again this season. They finished atop the Greater Metro Conference standings this season and are the champions of the West Allis Central Sectional following a 74-66 victory over Milwaukee Vincent in the final. Arrowhead is making its fourth State appearance. The last time the Warhawks qualified in 2010, they were crowned champions to account for their one championship. They defeated Kimberly 61-58 in the final of the sectional held at Sheboygan North. The Warhawks are the champions in the Classic Eight Conference this season.
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.