Several teams emerged from the WIAA Boys’ Basketball Tournament. The tournament happened last Friday. Also, exciting games were held in several divisions. This showed their talent and determination. The highlights of the tournament are also discussed. Continue reading to learn more about the top teams for WIAA boys’ basketball.
Division 1 Highlights
Wausau West faced off in Division 1 against D.C. Everest. Wausau West, seeded #8, won the game. The score was 61-45. This victory allowed them to move forward in the tournament. The team showed strong teamwork and skills on the court.
Division 2 Highlights
Wausau East, the #1 seed, played against Merrill in Division 2. Merrill was the #8 seed. Also, Wausau East narrowly avoided an upset. They won the game 52-50. Thus, this close match showed the competitive spirit of both teams. Nashville lost to Regis in another match. This was in Division 2. The score was 70-48. Thus, Regis showed their strength and advanced to the next round.
Division 4 Highlights
Medford faced Regis in the Division 4 bracket. Unfortunately for Medford, they lost the game 74-31. This defeat ended their hopes of advancing in the tournament.
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High Scoring in Wisconsin Basketball
High school basketball scoring in Wisconsin is at an all-time high this season. Many players have exceeded 50 points in single games. Also, the current record for a single game in the WIAA state tournament is 51 points. Moreover, this record was set by Eric Kenesie from Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic in 2023.
Brian Butch is a former standout from Appleton West and the Wisconsin Badgers. He held the previous Division 1 record of 45 points for 14 years. Moreover, he set this record in 2003. John Diener from Cedarburg briefly held the overall tournament scoring record. This was with 46 points in a 2017 Division 2 semifinal game.
The Rise of the 3-Point Shot
Basketball continues to evolve. It has a growing emphasis on the 3-point shot. This trend affects all levels of the game. This includes high school basketball in Wisconsin. Also, players are becoming more skilled at shooting from long distances.
Zay Mitchell is a Mr. Basketball finalist from Oshkosh North. He had an impressive session. Also, he scored 52 points against Kimberly on January 7. He also had back-to-back games with 50 and 51 points later in January. Another finalist, Amari Allen from Ashwaubenon, scored 50 points. This was against Green Bay Preble on January 24. These performances show the talent and scoring ability present in Wisconsin’s high school basketball.
Brian’s Butch’s Record and Controversies
Brian Butch’s scoring record came with some controversies. He led Appleton West to the Division 1 state tournament in 2003. He faced no double teams during the game, despite being a highly regarded player. This was against the Milwaukee Custer. He capitalized on this opportunity. Thus, he scored 45 points.
Butch remembers being shocked that he was not double-teamed. Also, he felt he had more space to play than he had experienced in years. This allowed him to dominate the game. Butch’s coach informed him that he was tied with the scoring record. Then, he put Butch back in. This decision caused some frustration among Custer’s players.
John Diener Breaks the Record
John Diener in 2017 broke Butch’s tournament score record. His father is the Cedarburg head coach, Tom Diener. He was also surprised by his son’s performance. John scored 46 points in a Division 2 semifinal game. This was against Milwaukee Washington. He made 16 of 29 shots. Also, he hit 5 of 8 from the 3-point line. His performance helped Cedarburg win the game in double overtime.
