The WIAA boys state basketball tournament is underway and more than a dozen area teams are taking the floor this weekend for the second round.
This year, nearly 500 teams are competing in the state boys tournament across the state’s five divisions.
Here’s a look at some of the upcoming tournament games:
Madison Memorial, the number one seed in the first sectional of Division 1, received a bye in the first round and will take on Westosha Central at Memorial on Friday evening.
Memorial head coach Steven Collins eclipsed 500 career wins during the regular season (his 27th at Vel Phillips). Collins may be entertaining thoughts of retirement but has remained mum on his future.
The Spartans were a juggernaut this season, losing only one game and winning the Big 8 conference by blowing out Middleton for the second time this season.
The Spartans are paced by senior twins Ezra and Caleb Liggon, the sharpshooting of guard Anthony Miller, and the steady play of senior Cole Slack.
Middleton, for its part, hosts Janesville Craig on March 6. The Cardinals have been a bit of a surprise this season after losing their best player from a year ago, standout Will Garlock, who now plays at Wisconsin.
But senior point guard Jackson Guerrero has set the tone for Middleton all year, while senior swingman John Grimes — a lightning fast player with devastating long range shooting ability — has also stepped up his game.
Middleton’s pressure defense and speed have overwhelmed nearly every opponent (Memorial being a major exception) and they have already defeated Janesville Craig twice this season by significant margins.
Other local action on March 6 includes:
- Mukwonogo at Waunakee
- Sun Prairie West at Verona
- Madison West at Oregon
- Madison LaFollette at Monona Grove
- Edgewood at McFarland
- Evansville at Lake Mills
- Madison Country Day at Abundant Life
All games are at 7 pm.
Outside of the local area, defending Division 1 state champion Wisconsin Lutheran hosts Kenosha Tremper.
Wisconsin Lutheran (24-0) is the top-ranked team in the state and number 10 nationally.
Wisconsin Lutheran is led by senior Zavier Zens, a 6’7” forward ranked number one in the class of 2026 by basketball scouts.
Zens is flanked by the nearly seven-foot-tall junior Kager Knueppel, sophomore Kinston Knueppel (the younger brothers of NBA rookie of the year candidate Kon Knueppel), and the steady junior guard Riley Walz.
The winners of Friday’s games will each compete again at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 7 at venues yet to be determined.
