(WNFL/WIAA) – Friday is Day 2 of the WIAA girls state basketball tournament taking place in La Crosse and Oshkosh.
Here’s a look at the day’s schedule and notes about how the teams got there.
Friday, Feb. 26
Division 4 – La Crosse Center, La Crosse, Wis.
Semifinals
#1 Mishicot (18-2) vs. #4 Fall Creek (15-4) – 9:05.m.
#2 Bangor (18-2) vs. #3 Mineral Point (16-5) – 12:25 p.m.
Championship Game
Winner of Semifinals – 6:35 p.m.
Division 3 – Menominee Nation Arena, Oshkosh, Wis.
Semifinals
#1 Aquinas (21-0) vs. #4 Westfield (19-5) – 10:45 a.m.
#2 Lake Mills (23-2) vs. #3 Howards Grove (24-1) – 2:10 p.m.
Championship Game
Winner of Semifinals – 8:15 p.m.
ABOUT THE DIVISION 3 FIELD: With the tournament canceled last year, Aquinas remains the two-time defending Division 4 champion. The Blugolds move up a division this season after winning the Division 4 titles in 2018 and 2019. They are the #1 seed in the bracket, qualifying for the fifth straight season, including last season prior to the cancellation of the tournament. They also have a runner-up finish during this string of appearances in 2017. The Blugolds are members of the Mississippi Valley Conference, which didn’t crown a champion this year. They defeated St. Croix Falls 84-58 in the sectional final played at Aquinas. Prior to its membership in the WIAA, Aquinas won back-to-back WISAA Division 2 championships in 1996-97 and finished runner-up in Class A in 1985 and 1989.
Lake Mills, the second seed, will make its first appearance at State after qualifying for the first time last year before the cancellation of the tournament. The L-Cats are the champions in the North Division of the Capitol North Conference in 2021. They defeated Marshall 65-59 in the sectional final held at Cambridge for another opportunity to play in their first State Tournament.
Third-seeded Howards Grove will experience State for the third time. The Tigers won the Division 4 championship in their most recent appearance in 2017. They edged Oostburg 38-37 in the sectional final played at Howards Grove to gain a berth in the tournament field. The Tigers finished atop the standings in the North Division of the Big East Conference this year.
Westfield advances to the State Tournament for the first time in program history after the Pioneers took down Amherst 58-55 in the sectional final played at Westfield. They tied Wisconsin Dells for the South Central Conference title this season.
ABOUT THE DIVISION 4 FIELD: Top-seeded Mishicot advances to the State Tournament for the second time after qualifying for the first time last season. The Indians fell in their semifinal game prior to the cancellation of the tournaments. Their return to the tourney came virtue of their 57-29 romp over Randolph in the final held at Mishicot. During the regular season, the Indians finished second in the standings of the North Division in the Big East Conference behind Division 3 State qualifier Howards Grove.
Bangor, the second seed, qualifies for State for the fourth time in the past five seasons and for the fifth time overall. The Cardinals qualified last season, but the tournament was canceled prior to their participation. They have won a pair of championships. The most recent came in in 2018 with their first coming in 1997. This season, they are the champions of the Scenic Bluffs Conference. The Cardinals return to the State semifinals with a 67-55 win over Auburndale in the sectional final played at Bangor.
Third-seeded Mineral Point will experience the State Tournament for the second time. The Pointers’ only other appearance resulted in a championship in 2016. This season, they rolled to a 65-33 win over Fennimore in the sectional final held at Mineral Point, and they are the champions of the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League.
Fall Creek was issued the fourth seed in the bracket. The Crickets make their 12th appearance in the State Tournament and their first since 2015, which resulted in a runner-up finish. They had a run of success in the 1980s and 90s, winning championships in 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1996 to go with runner-up finishes in 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2015. All tolled, they have four State championships and five runner-up finishes on their ledger. They finished third in the Western Division of the Cloverbelt Conference this season behind co-champions Osseo-Fairchild and McDonell Catholic, which has qualified for State in Division 5. The Crickets downed Phillips 63-53 in the sectional final played at Phillips to earn a return to the State semifinals.
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