Boys Basketball Bracket Breakdown - Division 3 - Sections 1-2
With boys basketball playoffs starting on Tuesday, let’s take a look at the teams competing with the dream of bringing the Gold Ball back home at the end of the tournament. We’ll take a look at every team in the tournament, their ranking according to us at Zaleski Sports, and a key player to watch for each team.
*Stats Courtesy of Wissports*
*Team Records Courtesy of the WIAA*
*Zaleski Sports Rankings are from the complete regular season, including week after Bracket Release*
Section 1 (Final at Arcadia)
Sectional A: (Semi at Somerset)
(1) Prescott Cardinals (17-6) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 10 – Middle Border Co-Champion
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Amery/Barron
Player to Watch: #3 Dallas Wallin, Sr (20.7 PPG, 10 Rebounds, 4.3 Assists – 1,638 Career Points)
(2) Bloomer Blackhawks (21-3) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 8 – Cloverbelt-West Champion
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Baldwin-Woodville/Ellsworth
Player to Watch: #4 Domanyck Schwarzenberger, Sr (23.7 PPG, 5.8 Rebounds, 4.2 Assists – 1,512 Career Points)
(3) Somerset Spartans (18-6) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 17 – 3rd in Middle Border
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Northwester/St. Croix Falls
Player to Watch: #2 Dylan Leccia, Sr (17.7 PPG, 5.2 Rebounds, 3.1 Assists – 999 Career Points)
(4) Osceola Chieftains (17-7) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 23 – Middle Border Co-Champion
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of St. Croix Central/Spooner
Player to Watch: #22 Teagan Viebrock, Sr (11.2 PPG, 6.2 Rebounds)
(5) St. Croix Central Panthers (14-10) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 35 – 4th in Middle Border
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Spooner
Player to Watch: #4 Mason Sullivan, Sr (13.5 PPG, 6.8 Rebounds, 2.6 Steals)
(6) Northwestern Tigers (17-7) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 34 – 2nd in Heart O’North
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs St. Croix Falls
Player to Watch: #1 Boden Teal, Jr (16 PPG, 5 Rebounds, 5 Assists)
(7) Baldwin-Woodville Blackhawks (9-15) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 49 – T-5th in Middle Border
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Ellsworth
Player to Watch: #2 Evan Clausen, Jr (11.9 PPG, 4.4 Rebounds)
(8) Amery Warriors (10-14) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 61 – 7th in Middle Border
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Barron
Player to Watch: #2 Carter Wollan, Jr (24 PPG, 8.2 Rebounds, 2.2 Steals – 1,593 Career Points)
(9) Barron Golden Bears (7-17) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 71 – 7th in Heart O’North
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Amery
Player to Watch: #10 Zac Edwards, So (12.6 PPG, 5.6 Rebounds)
(10) Ellsworth Panthers (6-18) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 72 – 8th in Middle Border
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Baldwin-Woodville
Player to Watch: #3 Parker Woodland, Sr (15.1 PPG, 5.1 Rebounds)
(11) St. Croix Falls Saints (5-19) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 77 – T-9th in Heart O’North
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Northwestern
Player to Watch: #24 Kale Borchert, Sr (9.6 PPG, 7.1 Rebounds)
(12) Spooner Rails (5-18) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 89 – T-9th in Heart O’North
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at St. Croix Central
Player to Watch: #3 Evan Potaczek, Jr (9.8 PPG)
Sectional B: (Semi at Adams-Friendship)
(1) Elk Mound Mounders (20-4) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 12 – 2nd in Dunn-St. Croix
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Altoona/Black River Falls
Player to Watch: #1 Kaden Russo, Sr (15 PPG, 4.4 Rebounds, 3 Assists – 1,387 Career Points)
(2) Omro Foxes (21-3) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 13 – Flyway Champion
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Arcadia/Ripon
Player to Watch: #5 Ryan Schoeni, Sr (20.2 PPG, 4.4 Rebounds, 4.6 Assists – 1,238 Career Points)
(3) Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau Red Hawks (17-7) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 21 – 3rd in Coulee
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Stanley-Boyd/Winneconne
Player to Watch: #23 Cody Schmitz, Sr (30.7 PPG, 11.1 Rebounds – 2,548 Career Points)
(4) Wautoma Hornets (17-5) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 20 – South Central Co-Champion
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Berlin/Adams-Friendship
Player to Watch: #4 Joseph Ascher, Sr (23.7 PPG, 5.1 Rebounds – 1,721 Career Points)
(5) Berlin Indians (16-8) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 33 – T-4th in East Central
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Adams-Friendship
Player to Watch: #13 Aaron Bartol, Jr (17.1 PPG, 6.2 Rebounds, 5.1 Assists)
(6) Stanley-Boyd Orioles (12-11) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 37 – T-2nd in Cloverbelt-West
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Winneconne
Player to Watch: #30 Henry Hoel, Sr (21.1 PPG, 14.6 Rebounds, 3.8 Assists – 1,267 Career Points)
(7) Arcadia Raiders (12-12) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 41 – T-4th in Coulee
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Ripon
Player to Watch: #11 Maverick Drazkowski, Sr (19.2 PPG, 8.1 Rebounds)
(8) Altoona Railroaders (12-12) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 40 – T-5th in Middle Border
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Black River Falls
Player to Watch: #5 Keaton Camastral, Sr (21.7 PPG, 8.5 Rebounds – 1,109 Career Points)
(9) Black River Falls Tigers (7-16) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 58 – 7th in Coulee
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Altoona
Player to Watch: #1 Braylon Backaus, Fr (17 PPG, 5.7 Rebounds, 2.3 Steals)
(10) Ripon Tigers (7-17) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 78 – 7th in East Central
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Arcadia
Player to Watch: #2 Mason Killam, Sr (14.9 PPG, 5.2 Rebounds, 3 Assists)
(11) Winneconne Wolves (4-19) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 82 – 6th in East Central
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Stanley-Boyd
Player to Watch: #14 Parker Ingles, So (13.5 PPG, 5.9 Rebounds)
(12) Adams-Friendship Green Devils (3-21) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 94 – 6th in South Central
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Berlin
Player to Watch: #24 Dylan Baker, Sr (8.6 PPG, 4.4 Rebounds)
Section 2 (Final at Chilton)
Sectional A: (Semi at Waupaca)
(1) Freedom Irish (20-4) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 11 – 2nd in North Eastern
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Amherst/Northland Pines
Player to Watch: #24 Donovan Davis, Fr (17.1 PPG, 9.8 Rebounds, 4.5 Assists)
(2) Southern Door Eagles (20-4) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 14 – Packerland Champion
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Peshtigo/Oconto Falls
Player to Watch: #1 Drew Daoust, Jr (34.2 PPG, 5.3 Rebounds, 4.4 Assists, 3.2 Steals – 2,160 Career Points)
(3) Clintonville Truckers (16-8) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 32 – 3rd in North Eastern
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Sturgeon Bay/Menominee Indian
Player to Watch: #24 Jack Yeager, Sr (17.9 PPG, 6 Rebounds, 2.2 Steals)
(4) Waupaca Comets (14-10) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 46 – 5th in North Eastern
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Wittenberg-Birnamwood/Tomahawk
Player to Watch: #54 Riley Bechard, Sr (19.6 PPG, 15 Rebounds, 1.8 Blocks)
(5) Wittenberg-Birnamwood Chargers (12-12) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 48 – T-2nd in CWC-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Tomahawk
Player to Watch: #1 Jett Rogowski, Jr (18 PPG, 2 Assists)
(6) Sturgeon Bay Clippers (13-11) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 50 – T-3rd in Packerland
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Menominee Indian
Player to Watch: #2 Jackson Starr, Jr (12.7 PPG, 5.8 Rebounds, 3 Assists)
(7) Peshtigo Bulldogs (12-12) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 55 – T-6th in Packerland
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Oconto Falls
Player to Watch: #35 Dominik Baxter, So (20.7 PPG, 7.1 Rebounds, 3 Assists)
(8) Amherst Falcons (10-14) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 66 – 7th in CWC-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Northland Pines
Player to Watch: #3 Spencer Cohen, Sr (13.9 PPG, 5.4 Rebounds, 5.3 Assists)
(9) Northland Pines Eagles (7-16) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 86 – T-5th in Great Northern
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Amherst
Player to Watch: #22 Mylo Albrecht, So (8.9 PPG)
(10) Oconto Falls Panthers (6-18) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 83 – T-9th in North Eastern
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Peshtigo
Player to Watch: #12 Jameson Beaman, So (15.1 PPG, 5.3 Rebounds, 2.7 Assists)
(11) Menominee Indian Eagles (3-19) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 85 – 8th In CWC-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Sturgeon Bay
Player to Watch: #11 Barren Waupoose, Jr (11.1 PPG, 5.3 Rebounds)
(12) Tomahawk Hatchets (2-22) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 80 – 7th in Great Northern
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Wittenberg-Birnamwood
Player to Watch: #21 Brody Rigney, Jr (15.8 PPG)
Sectional B: (Semi at Brillion)
(1) Kiel Raiders (24-0) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 3 – Eastern Wisconsin Champion
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Denmark/Chilton
Player to Watch: #42 Grant Manz, Sr (17.2 PPG, 13 Rebounds – 1,086 Career Points)
(2) Xavier Hawks (22-2) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 6 – Bay Champion
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Two Rivers/New Holstein
Player to Watch: #21 Tyler Brightman, Sr (15 PPG, 8.2 Rebounds)
(3) Brillion Lions (20-4) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 7 – 2nd in Eastern Wisconsin
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Wrightstown/Campbellsport
Player to Watch: #24 Grady Geiger, Sr (20 PPG, 6.5 Rebounds – 1,145 Career Points)
(4) Winnebago Lutheran Vikings (14-10) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 38 – T-2nd in Flyway
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Little Chute/North Fond du Lac
Player to Watch: #4 Noah Gensler, Sr (20.1 PPG, 8 Rebounds – 1,157 Career Points)
(5) Little Chute Mustangs (13-11) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 47 – 4th in North Eastern
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs North Fond du Lac
Player to Watch: #11 Grant Hermus, Sr (12.3 PPG, 5 Rebounds)
(6) Wrightstown Tigers (12-12) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 54 – 6th in North Eastern
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Campbellsport
Player to Watch: #20 Ethan Cyra, Jr (14.4 PPG, 2.8 Assists)
(7) Two Rivers Purple Raiders (10-14) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 64 – T-5th in Eastern Wisconsin
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs New Holstein
Player to Watch: #0 Carson Kadow, Jr (19.4 PPG, 5.8 Rebounds, 2.5 Steals)
(8) Denmark Vikings (10-14) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 65 – 7th in North Eastern
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Chilton
Player to Watch: #21 Jack Dewar, Jr (13.9 PPG, 4.1 Rebounds)
(9) Chilton Tigers (10-14) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 59 – 7th in Eastern Wisconsin
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Denmark
Player to Watch: #23 Zac Halbach, Sr (16.3 PPG, 8.1 Rebounds)
(10) New Holstein Huskies (5-19) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 75 – 8th in Eastern Wisconsin
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Two Rivers
Player to Watch: #5 Caiden Baltz, Jr (9.9 PPG, 10.2 Rebounds)
(11) Campbellsport Cougars (5-17) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 91 – 7th in Flyway
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Wrightstown
Player to Watch: #2 Ethan Pickering, Sr (11.6 PPG, 5.8 Rebounds, 3.3 Assists)
(12) North Fond du Lac Orioles (1-23) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 97 – 8th in Flyway
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Little Chute
Player to Watch: #24 Zach Siedschlag, Sr (8.4 PPG)