MADISON, Wis. – Top-seeded Martin Luther (25-3) won the Division 3 title with a 58-49 triumph over Waupun in the 2019 State Boys Basketball Tournament Saturday afternoon at the Kohl Center.
The Spartans never trailed in a game remained closely contested throughout. Their largest lead of the game was nine points, achieved for the first time with 2:25 remaining in the first half. They also held that spread at the half, 30-21.
The Warriors battled back to tie the game for the first time since the opening tip at 40-40 with 8:06 remaining in the game. However, the Spartans clinched the title by scoring 10 of the game’s final 11 points in the last two minutes.
Ace Evans scored a game-high 20 points for the Spartans, and Trequan Carrington added 19 points and a team-high four assists and three steals. Martin Luther shot 44 percent from the floor and 76 percent from the line while scoring 13 points off 12 Waupun turnovers.
The Warriors were led by Reece Homan with 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting and a game-high nine rebounds. Marcus Domask added 15 points and a team-high four assists, and Trevor VandeZande tossed in 14 points. The Warriors shot 49 percent from the field, but any comeback efforts were thwarted by shooting woes from three-point distance and from the free throw line. They shot 21 percent from beyond the arc and 47 percent on 8-of-17 free throws.
The Spartans won the program’s first State championship and became the 39th school to win a championship in their first appearance in the tourney. Waupun (26-2) finishes runner-up in its third State experience.
Championship Game: Saturday, March 16
#1 Martin Luther (25-3) 58, #2 Waupun (26-2) 49 - stats