(WNFL/WIAA) – The WIAA boys state basketball tournament begins Thursday afternoon with a pair of Division 3 semifinals.
In the first game, the Freedom Irish will take on the Elk Mound Mounders.
In the second game, Milwaukee Academy of Science meets Lake Mills.
Division 4 games will be tonight with Bonduel facing The Prairie School and Mineral Point taking on Aquinas.
ABOUT THE DIVISION 3 FIELD: Top-seeded Freedom is celebrating its first trip to State in 25 years and its third overall. The Irish captured the Division 2 crown in 1990 after falling in the semifinals with its other tournament experience in 1979. They are the champions of the North Eastern Conference in 2025, and they defeated Little Chute 49-34 in the final of Seymour Sectional to remain in pursuit of the State championship.
Second-seeded Milwaukee Academy of Science will appear at State for the third time and for the first time since back-to-back experiences in 2022 and 2023. The Novas finished runner-up in Division 4 in 2022 and moved up a division to qualify in Division 3 in 2023, which resulted in a loss in the semifinals. They played an independent schedule without conference affiliation this season and advanced to the State tourney following a 97-83 victory over Carmen Northwest in the Brown Deer Sectional final.
Lake Mills, the #3 seed, returns to the tournament for the first time since 2021 and for the third time overall. The L-Cats are attempting to advance to the State final for the first time, falling in semifinals in Division 2 in 2017 and in Division 3 in 2021. After their first-place finish in the North Division of the Capitol Conference this season, the L-Cats navigated through the Baraboo Sectional, culminating with a 73-31 thumping of Wisconsin Dells in the final.
Fourth-seeded Elk Mound is back in the State Tournament for the first time since 2014 and for the fourth time overall. The Mounders were State runners-up in their first two appearances, including Class C in 1987 and Division 3 in 1994. Their return to the tournament comes on the heels of a 54-52 win over Amery in the Somerset Sectional final. The Mounders finished third in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference standings this winter.
ABOUT THE DIVISION 4 FIELD: Bonduel earned the top seed in its first-ever trip to State. The Bears punched their ticket to the Kohl Center with a 56-44 triumph over Auburndale in the Stevens Point Sectional final. They are the champions in the East Division of the Central Wisconsin Conference this season.
Defending champion Mineral Point is the #2 seed. The Pointers return to the State Tournament for the second year in a row and for the sixth time overall. They also advanced to the State championship game and finished runner-up in Class C in 1974 and in Division 4 in 2015. The Pointers cruised past Marshall 80-44 in the Verona Sectional final to earn the opportunity to defend the title. The Pointers are the champions of the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League this season.
Third-seeded Aquinas returns to State for the ninth time overall and for the second year in a row. The Blugolds have won four State titles. The most recent was the Division 3 championship in 2013. They also captured Division 3 crowns in 2008 and 2011, and the Division 2 title in 2003. The Blugolds also have two runner-up finishes on their ledger, those came in 2007 and in 2009. They are the co-champions of the Mississippi Valley Conference with Holmen this season. They make their way back to the Kohl Center by defeating Cumberland 69-56 in the Eau Claire North Sectional final. As a former member of WISAA, the Blugolds won titles in 1941, 1946, 1949, 1950 and finished runner-up on two other occasions.
The Prairie School has been issued the fourth seed in the bracket. The Hawks’ only other experience at State resulted in a runner-up finish in 2021. This season, they placed seventh in the Metro Classic Conference during the regular season. Their improbable journey to the State semifinals was paved with a 61-58 win over Cedar Grove-Belgium in the sectional final played at Whitefish Bay. Prior to joining the WIAA, the Hawks won a WISAA championship in Class B in 1982. They also finished runner-up in Class B in 1980 and in Division 3 in 1992 and 1996.
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