DIVISION 1

Mukwonago 49, Oak Creek 45

Mukwonago (24-3) returns to the Division 1 final for the second time in the last four seasons following a 49-45 victory over Oak Creek in the semifinals Friday evening at the Resch Center in Green Bay.

The score remained tight throughout the game with six lead changes and the largest lead by any team was seven points by Mukwonago a number of times late in the game. Oak Creek’s largest lead of the game was four at the 14:46 mark of the first half. 

The Indians led 19-16 at halftime, but the Knights erased that lead with a pair of three-pointers by Hailey Erdman to take an 22-21 advantage at the 16:06 mark. Mukwonago responded to stem the momentum a few minutes later on back-to-back three-pointers by Amanda Brown and Grace Beyer to put the Indians up for good at 29-27 with 11:29 left to play. The Indians held off all attempts at a Knights’ comeback by converting their final 10 free throw attempts in the last minutes of the game.

Bre Cera led all scorers with 23 points for the Indians. Beyer added 12 points, while Morgan Glatczak led all rebounders with 11 boards. Nicky Widenski led three scorers in double figures for Oak Creek with 15 points. Madison Hart and Haley Zylka added 12 and 10 points, respectively.

The Indians finished runner-up in 2013 and seek their first State title Saturday in their eighth tournament appearance, and Oak Creek (23-4) ends the season with its sixth State appearance.

Verona 69, Appleton North 41

Verona (24-3) turned in a record-shattering performance in downing Appleton North 69-41 in the Division 1 semifinals Friday evening at the Resch Center in Green Bay.

The Wildcats hit 27-of-35 field goals in the game to set a State Tournament record for all divisions at 77.1 percent. They also set a Division 1 mark for assists in a game with 21.


Appleton North led 4-2 early in the game, but the Wildcats took the lead for good at the 15:35 mark of the first half. They led by as many as 18 in the first half and went into intermission with a 33-18 advantage after shooting 83 percent from the floor.

The Lighting reduced the point spread to nine points at 41-32, with 14:07 remaining in the second half. However, Verona erased any chance of a comeback with a 14-0 run later in the period to extend its lead to 26 and cruise to the victory.

Alex Luehring led the Wildcats with 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Kira Opsal and Grace Mueller chipped in with 14 points apiece. The Lightning, which shot 28 percent for the game and 3-of-27 from beyond the arc, was led in scoring by Sydney Levy and Grace Garvey with nine points each. 

Verona advances to play in its first State final in its four State appearances, and Appleton North (22-5) was eliminated from title contention in its third State appearance.


DIVISION 2

New Berlin Eisenhower 55, Notre Dame 45 (OT)

New Berlin Eisenhower (22-5) outlasted Notre Dame 55-45 in overtime in the semifinals Friday afternoon to advance to the final for the fourth time in the past six years. 

The Lions trailed 43-41 with 20 seconds remaining in the game when Kasie Erenyi made a pair of free throws to tie the game and ultimately send it into overtime.

Julia Hintz hit a three-pointer in the second minute of overtime to give the Lions the lead they would not relinquish, outscoring the Tritons 12-2 in overtime. New Berlin Eisenhower held the Tritons without a field goal in the final 3:46 of regulation and throughout the five minutes of overtime.

The game featured 12 ties and five lead changes. Chelsea Brackmann led all scorers with 21 points and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds to lead the Lions. Erenyi also scored in double figures with 11 points. Notre Dame was led by Olivia Campbell’s 13 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.  Katelyn Morgan and Kaycee Gierczak each added 10 points.

Both teams shot 36 percent from the field, but New Berlin Eisenhower held an advantage at the charity stripe, making 20-of-23 free throws.

The Lions return to the title game in pursuit of their second title, having won the Division 2 championship in 2010. Notre Dame (24-3) ends its season with its seventh State appearance.

Stoughton 59, Onalaska 56

Stoughton (25-2) downed Onalaska 59-56 in the Division 2 semifinals Friday afternoon to move to the championship final Saturday.

The lead changed five times in the first half with a two ties before the Vikings went into the locker room leading 25-24. The Hilltoppers erased the halftime deficit and took its largest lead of the game at 31-27 early in the second half. Stoughton proceeded to go on an 11-0 spurt over a 5:30 span to open a 38-31 advantage. 

The Hilltoppers drew to within a point at 57-56 in the final minute of the game, but four pressure free throws by Kendra Halverson secured the victory for the Vikings.

The balanced Stoughton scoring attack was led by Hannah Hobson with 16 points. Halverson added 14 points and Payton Kahl had 12. Tayla Stuttley was the scoring catalyst for the Hilltoppers, pouring in a game-high 30 points and collecting seven rebounds.

The Vikings advance to the title game for the first time in their two State Tournament appearances, and Onalaska (21-6) completes its season with its first-ever State appearance.


DIVISION 5

Assumption 63, Fall River 50

Assumption (24-4) advances to the final in Division 4 to play Barneveld for the fourth straight season following a 63-50 victory over Fall River in the semifinals Friday morning at the Resch Center in Green Bay.

The Royals' Gena Grundhoffer proved to be too much for the Lady Pirates. She set the Division 5 State Tournament game scoring record with 35 points, and she set records for the most free throws made and attempted in a game as well. She converted 17-of -19 free throws.

The score remained close throughout the first half with four lead changes and two ties during the period. The Royals held a 32-30 advantage at the intermission. 

Fall River narrowed its deficit to one at 32-31 early in the second half, but the Royals gained control of the game by going on a 14-2 run to balloon their lead to 46-33 at the 11:31 mark. They led by as much as 18 points in the second half to cruise to the win.

Macie Zurfluh chipped in with 13 points for the Royals. The Lady Pirates were led by Morgan Raley with 14 points, and Kaycee Bull chipped in with 11 points. Alyssa Klecker dished out a game-high six assists.

Fall River (22-5) finishes it’s season at the State Tournament for the second straight season, and Assumption will play in the State final in its quest to win the program’s second championship.

Barneveld 57, Clayton 46

Two-time defending champion Barneveld (28-0) will attempt to win its third straight title in Division 5 following a hard-fought 57-46 win over Clayton in the semifinals Friday morning at the Resch Center in Green Bay

It appeared the path to the final would be an easy one after the Golden Eagles jumped out to a 9-0 lead to start the game. However, the Bears clawed back to take a 27-25 lead at the half by controlling the glass and converting free throws.

The Bears built a nine-point lead early in the second half on an 11-2 run, but the Golden Eagles answered with a 10-2 scoring advantage midway through the period. They took control of the game with an 11-0 run to build a 54-43 advantage with 2:37 remaining to secure the win.

The Golden Eagles were paced by Hannah Whitish with 21 points, eight rebounds. five assists and four steals. Mia Whitish added 20 points. Kailey Ketz led three Bears in double figures with 17 points. Alison Leslie netted 13 points, and McKenna Larson added 10.

Clayton (26-2) finishes its season with its second State Tournament appearance, and the Golden Eagles advance to the final for the fourth straight season in pursuit of the program’s seventh State championship.