MADISON, Wis. – Top-seeded Sheboygan Lutheran (27-2) won the Division 5 championship with a 77-69 victory over Columbus Catholic in the 2019 State Boys Basketball Tournament Saturday at the Kohl Center.

The Crusaders scored the first nine points of the game and led throughout the enitre contest. They built a 20-point advantage at 49-29 for their largest lead of the first half with 25 seconds remaining. They took a 49-31 lead into the locker room.

The Dons methodically clawed back into the game in the second half and narrowed their deficit to four points late in the game following an 11-2 run, but they could get no closer.

A few Division 5 records were set or tied in the game, among them were the most rebounds in a tournament, and the most assists in a game and in a tournament. The Dons’ Bryce Fuerlinger set the Division 5 tournament rebounding record with 34 in the two games, and the Crusaders’ Casey Verhagen dished out 11 assists in the game, which ties the record, giving him a tournament-record 20 assists.

Jacob Ognacevic had a monster game for the Crusaders. He score a game-high 35 points to go with 19 rebounds, which is the second-most in a Division 5 game behind Fuerlinger’s record of 25 set Friday in the semifinals. Delvin Barnstable tossed in 17 points, and Robby Michael added 10 for the Crusaders. 

Ethan Meese was the leading scorer for McDonell Catholic with 22 points. Noah Taylor was the only other player in double figures with 17 points. Fuerlinger grabbed nine rebounds to set the tournament mark, and blocked three shots.

It’s the Crusaders’ second State championship in their third appearance in the tournament. They also captured the crown in 2012. Columbus Catholic (26-3) finishes runner-up in its third State experience.

Championship Game: Saturday, March 16
#1 Sheboygan Lutheran (27-2) 77, #2 Columbus Catholic (26-3) 69 - stats