What to Watch For (Large School Sectional Title Games)
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<p>Today, we're punching twenty tickets to the state tournament. I'll leave some thoughts for the large and small school divisions.</p>
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<p><strong>D1</strong></p>
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<p>People may not give Eau Claire Memorial the credit they've earned. The Old Abes have dominated Northwest Wisconsin this season and boast one of the most prominent stock risers in the 2028 class in [player_tooltip player_id='1173395' first='Norah' last='Kling'].</p>
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<p>Appleton East has been on a heater these past few months. The Patriots are playing the best basketball since they made the state tournament in 2022.</p>
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<p>The Kimberly-Pewaukee game is the game of the day. Those two juggernauts are the two most talented units in the state, with D1 prospects littered across the floor. The Papermaker-Pirate game was fun the first time, and it should generate some fireworks again.</p>
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<p>Sneakily, the Arrowhead and Waunakee matchup should be one that the neutral should appreciate. Both teams can explode on the offensive end of the floor. Of all the Sectional Title games, this one has the potential to be the highest-scoring affair of the day.</p>
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<p>A grudge match between two schools who've never made the state tournament is fun, and when the two teams are defensive-minded groups like Muskego and Kenosha Bradford, it'll be worth the price of admission.</p>
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<p><strong>D2</strong></p>
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<p>The Shawano-Rice Lake matchup features two of the elite 2026 prospects in the region, and those two will eventually play on TV. We get to see their team's matchup tonight in Mosinee, of all places. It's a unique venue for two of the top teams in the Northern part of the state.</p>
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<p>West De Pere-Waukesha West game is an interesting contrast of styles. West De Pere has the guard talent, and Waukesha West has the experience and wings to compete. The Wolverines have the best player in the matchup, but the guard play on the Phantom side worries me that they could run away and hide if they start strong.</p>
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<p>West Salem-Edgewood features two teams who made a state tournament trip last season. However, the Crusaders are the favorites by a significant margin with their backcourt and experience together. They may be the D2 favorite.</p>
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<p>Wauwatosa East-Union Grove is a rematch from last season. However, the Red Raiders have all the pieces that landed them in the state tournament last season and have ambitions of a gold ball after getting their feet wet in Green Bay last season. All roads feel like they lead to a Tosa East-Edgewood matchup.</p>
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Today, we're punching twenty tickets to the state tournament. I'll leave some thoughts for the large and small school divisions.
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