(WNFL/WIAA) – Saturday the WIAA girls state basketball tournament wraps up with the Division 1 and 2 state tournaments.
Division 2 is being held in La Crosse and Division 1 in Oshkosh.
Here is a look at the schedule and notes on how the teams got there.
Saturday, Feb. 27
Division 2 – La Crosse Center, La Crosse, Wis.
Semifinals
#1 Notre Dame (26-1) vs. #4 Onalaska (17-3) – 9:05 a.m.
#2 New Berlin Eisenhower (24-4) vs. #3 Reedsburg (19-1) -12:25 p.m.
Championship Game
Winner of Semifinals – 6:35 p.m.
Division 1 – Menominee Nation Arena, Oshkosh, Wis.
Semifinals
#1 Germantown (27-1) vs. #4 Verona (8-4) – 10:45 a.m.
#2 Hudson (22-0) vs. #3 Franklin (15-5) – 2:10 p.m.
Championship Game
Winner of Semifinals – 8:15 p.m.
ABOUT THE DIVISION 1 FIELD: Germantown receives the top seed the first time the program qualifies for the State Tournament. The Warhawks advance to the semifinals with an 84-72 victory over Kimberly in the sectional final played at Kimberly. They finished the regular season as the champions of the Greater Metro Conference.
Hudson, the #2 seed, is making its eighth appearance overall and the first since 2003. The Raiders most notable experiences at the tournament include championships in 1998 and 2002, as well as a runner-up finish in 2000. They qualify this season with a 55-50 win over Hortonville in the sectional final conducted at Hudson. The Raiders are the champions of the Big Rivers Conference this season.
It’s the fourth overall appearance at State for third-seeded Franklin and the first since 2007. The Sabers’ first two experiences came back-to-back in 1999 and 2000, which produced a runner-up finish in 1999. They are a member of the Southeast Conference, which did not declare a champion for the regular season this year. The Sabers defeated Divine Savior Holy Angels 57-54 in the sectional final hosted at Franklin to advance to State.
Verona has been issued the fourth seed in the bracket. The Wildcats qualify for the tournament for the first time since capturing the State title in 2016 and for the fifth time overall. They outlasted Arrowhead 50-40 in two overtimes in their sectional final game held at Arrowhead. Verona is a member of the Big Eight Conference, which did not declare a league champion this season.
ABOUT THE DIVISION 2 FIELD: Notre Dame returns to the tournament for the eighth time and for the first time since 2016. The Tritons won back-to-back State titles in 2013-14 to go with the championship earned in the program’s first-ever appearance in 2001. In addition, they finished runner-up in 2005. Prior to joining the WIAA, the Tritons were the Division 1 runners-up in 1994 as a former member of WISAA. This season, they are the champions of the Fox River Classic Conference and have advanced to the State semifinals following a 70-38 triumph over Freedom in the sectional final held at Notre Dame.
Second-seeded New Berlin Eisenhower qualifies for the seventh time and for the first time since 2018. The Lions have won two State titles, including 2010 and 2016. In addition, they finished runner-up in 2018 and back-to-back in 2012-13. They beat Pius XI Catholic 50-37 in the sectional final played at Eisenhower to advance into the final field of four. The Lions finished the regular season in a two-way tie with Pewaukee for the top spot in the West Division of the Woodland Conference.
The only other State Tournament experience for third-seeded Reedsburg was in 2012 when the Beavers fell in the semifinals. They return this season following a 78-46 win over McFarland in the sectional final played at Reedsburg. A member of the North Division of the Badger Conference, the league did not crown a champion this season.
Fourth-seeded Onalaska is also making its second appearance at State. The Hilltoppers first experience ended with a loss in the semifinals in 2016. They discarded Rice Lake 55-33 in the sectional final played in Onalaska to gain their entry into the tourney field. Their league, the Mississippi Valley Conference, also did not declare a champion during the regular season.
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