THE STATE TOURNAMENT: The 108th Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association State Boys Basketball Tournament will take place Thursday-Saturday, March 14-16, at the Kohl Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wis.
HOW TO GET TICKETS: Ticket prices for the tourney are $13.50 per session for all seating at the Kohl Center. Order tickets online by selecting the “Tickets” option at the top of the WIAA homepage or the Tickets page at: https://expressoticketing.com/wiaa/pickevent.aspx?ecn=46.
STATE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE: The single elimination tournament features a five-division format with four teams qualifying in each of the five divisions. The State Tournament is seeded by a WIAA-designed computer formula.
Thursday, March 14
Division 3
#1 St. Thomas More (27-1) vs. #4 Prescott (21-6) - 1:35 p.m.
#2 Lakeside Lutheran (26-2) vs. #3 Kiel (28-0)*
Division 4
#1 Marathon (27-1) vs. #4 Kenosha St. Joseph (19-9) - 6:35 p.m.
#2 Mineral Point (26-2) vs. #3 Aquinas (23-5)*
Friday, March 15
Division 5
#1 Columbus Catholic (27-2) vs. #4 Solon Springs (27-2) - 9:05 a.m.
#2 Almond-Bancroft (27-1) vs. #3 Abundant Life Christian (27-2)*
Division 2
#1 Wisconsin Lutheran (28-0) vs. #4 Nicolet (24-4) - 1:35 p.m.
#2 Pewaukee (24-4) vs. #3 West Salem (25-3)*
Division 1
#1 Arrowhead (26-2) vs. #4 Neenah (21-7) - 6:35 p.m.
#2 Kettle Moraine (25-3) vs. #3 Marquette (24-4)*
Saturday, March 16
3-Point Challenge - 9:30 a.m.
Division 5 Championship Game - 11:05 a.m.]
Division 4 Championship Game*
Division 3 Championship Game*
Division 2 Championship Game - 6:35 p.m.
Division 1 Championship Game*
*Note: Subsequent games of each session will begin approximately 15 minutes following the previous game.
STATE TOURNAMENT ON THE AIR: The State Tournament will be televised live on WKOW Madison, WAOW Wausau, WXOW La Crosse, WQOW Eau Claire, WCWF in Green Bay/Fox Valley and WVTV in Milwaukee. The finals will also be streamed live on the State Television Network’s websites. Also, download the Magic of March app for live streaming video, scores, highlights and more about the WIAA State Basketball Tournaments. Live coverage of the tournaments on iOS or Android phones and tablets are also available on the app.
POST-GAME MEDIA CONFERENCES STREAMED: The post-game media conferences will be shown live without subscription on the WIAA.tv portal of the NFHS Network immediately following each game.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: The first WIAA State Boys Basketball Tournament was held in 1916. The Kohl Center has hosted the championships since moving from the UW Field House in 1998. During the COVID-19 pandemic the tournament was canceled in 2020 and held at two separate locations in 2021, the La Crosse Center for Divisions 2, 4, and 5, and at the Menominee Nation Arena in Oshkosh for Divisions 1 and 3. The tournament featured a one-class format until 1934 when, for two years (1934-35), there were two classes. From 1936 until 1939, the tournament increased to three classes, and then returned to the one class format in 1940. A one-class tourney prevailed until 1972 when it again became a two-class event. The tourney went to three classes again in 1974 and remained that way until a four-division format was adopted in 1991. The 2011 State Tournament introduced the first five-division format and qualifying four teams from each division. Randolph has won 11 State championships, the most titles won by any member school. Beloit Memorial and Dominican have won seven championships. Racine St. Catherine’s and Stevens Point have won six titles; and Milwaukee King, Milwaukee Vincent and Milwaukee Lincoln have each won five. There have been 132 different schools that have won championships. Neenah has qualified for the most State Tournaments with 30, and Superior is next with 27, followed by Beloit Memorial with 26, and then Eau Claire with 25.
ABOUT THE DIVISION 1 FIELD: Last year’s runner-up Arrowhead is the top seed in the bracket. The Warhawks are making their sixth State appearance overall and their second in a row. They won the title in 2010 to account for their one championship. In addition to last year’s second-place finish, the Warhawks also finished runner-up in 2017. This season, they defeated De Pere 85-80 in the final of the sectional held at Oshkosh North to earn their berth in the tourney. They are the champions in the Classic Eight Conference this season. Second-seeded Kettle Moraine qualifies for the State Tournament for the second time after making the first appearance in the program’s history last season, which resulted in a loss in the semifinals. The Lasers earned a return trip to Madison with a 56-43 win over Janesville Craig in the Elkhorn Sectional final. They were runner-up behind Arrowhead, the top seed in the bracket, in the Classic Eight Conference this winter. Marquette, the #3 seed, is making its third appearance at State and the first since 2016. The Hilltoppers advanced to the semifinals in their first experience in 2010, and then fell in the semifinals in 2016 after the Division 1 State Tournament field was narrowed to four teams. This season, they advance to the semifinals by downing West Allis Central 64-58 in the final of the Racine Horlick Sectional. The Hilltoppers are the champions of the Greater Metro Conference this year. Prior to joining the WIAA, Marquette had an illustrious history as former members of WISAA. The Hilltoppers 15 championships came in 1928, 1929, 1954, 1965, 1967, 1972, 1973, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1994 and 1999. In addition, they recorded runner-up finishes in 1931, 1949, 1950, 1958, 1963, 1976, 1990, 1991 and 1992. Fourth-seeded Neenah qualifies for the third straight season and for a membership-leading 30th time overall. The Rockets have won four championships in the school’s history. Those came in 1930, 1975, 1978 and again in 2022. In addition, they have an abundance of runner-up results, including 1920, 1939, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1988 and 2014. This season, the Rockets finished runner-up in the Fox Valley Association, and they advance to the State semifinals following a 52-48 victory over Marshfield in the Stevens Point Sectional final.
ABOUT THE DIVISION 2 FIELD: Wisconsin Lutheran was awarded the top seed in the bracket. The Vikings are making their fourth appearance at State overall and the first since 2014. They have advanced to the championship game in each of their previous experiences. The Vikings won the title in 2014 after finishing runner-up in 2013. They also captured the crown in 2009. Wisconsin Lutheran was the champion in the West Division of the Woodland Conference this season, and the Vikings claimed a berth in the final four with an 80-59 win over Racine Park in the Burlington Sectional final. Three-time defending champion Pewaukee was issued the #2 seed in the bracket. The Pirates attempt to become just the third program to win at least four championships in a row. They are making their fourth straight appearance and their fifth overall. In addition to the championship the past three seasons, they finished runner-up in 2001. This season, the Pirates were runner-up in the West Division of the Woodland Conference behind top-seeded Wisconsin Lutheran. They continue their quest for a fourth straight title after beating Stoughton 62-49 in the Watertown Sectional final. West Salem, the runner-up in Division 3 the past two seasons, moves up to qualify this season in Division 2. The Panthers are the #3 seed. The two runner-up finishes account for both the Panthers’ previous appearances. They return to State following a 66-58 win versus River Falls in the Neillsville Sectional final. During the regular season, the Panthers won the title in the Coulee Conference. Nicolet, the fourth seed, returns to the State Tournament for the second consecutive season and for the fifth time in the program’s history. They won their one State title in 2019. The Knights defeated Ashwaubenon 56-44 in the Whitefish Bay Sectional final to return to the tourney field. They were the champions of the North Shore Conference this season.
ABOUT THE DIVISION 3 FIELD: Top-seeded St. Thomas More will be experiencing the State Tournament for the second time after falling in the semifinals in the Cavaliers’ first-ever experience playing in the tourney in 2022. They defeated Carmen Northwest 95-71 in the sectional final played at Brown Deer. The Cavaliers were the champions of the Metro Classic Conference this season. Prior to joining the WIAA, the Cavaliers won a Class A championship in 1988 and finished runner-up in 1980 and 1994 while a member of WISAA. Lakeside Lutheran, the #2 seed, returns to State for the second year in a row and for the third time overall. The Warriors have fallen in the semifinals in each of their previous two experiences. They were the runner-up in the North Division of the Capitol Conference this year behind Lake Mills. They return to the State semifinals after beating Platteville 75-71 in the Wisconsin Dells Sectional final. Third-seeded Kiel advances to the State Tournament for the third time and for the first time since 2010, which resulted in a loss in the Division 2 semifinals. The Raiders advanced to the title game in their first State experience in 1974 and finished runner-up in Class B. This season, they defeated Freedom 73-56 in the Manitowoc Lincoln Sectional to earn their trip to the Kohl Center after finishing atop the Eastern Wisconsin Conference standings this season. Prescott, the fourth seed, is back in the tournament field for the fourth time. The Cardinals first three experiences came in a four year window. They claimed the championship in 2018 after a runner-up finish in 2017. Their first-ever appearance in 2015 resulted in a loss in the semifinals. The Cardinals remain in pursuit of a second championship after their 63-48 win over Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau in the Eau Claire Memorial Sectional final. They are the champions of the Middle Border Conference this season.
ABOUT THE DIVISION 4 FIELD: Top-seeded Marathon returns to the State Tournament for the first time since 2018 and for the ninth time overall. The Red Raiders were runner-up in that most recent appearance. The program has won four State championships through the years. Their most recent gold ball came in 2011. Additionally, they earned three straight Class C championships from 1975-77. The Red Raiders defeated Bonduel 68-61 in the D.C. Everest Sectional final to advance to the State semifinals. They are the champions in the South Division of the Marawood Conference this year. Second-seeded Mineral Point returns to the State Tournament for the fifth time and for the first time since 2015 when the Pointers fell in the semifinals. Their most notable accomplishment in their previous experiences was a runner-up finish in Class C in 1974. They also qualified in 1934 and 1935 in Class B but were eliminated from title contention in the semifinal round and in the first round, respectively. The Pointers topped Randolph 68-57 in the final of the Portage Sectional to advance to State. They are the co-champions in the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League this season with Darlington. Third-seeded Aquinas returns to State for the eighth time and for the first time since 2016. 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 a Division 2 title in 2003. The Blugolds also have two runner-up finishes on their ledger, those came in 2007 and in 2009. They placed fourth in the Mississippi Valley Conference this season, and they punched their ticket to State by defeating Cameron 62-46 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. Last year’s runner-up Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic is back in the tournament again this season as the fourth seed. The Lancers are making their fourth appearance overall. They qualified in Division 3 in 2001 and 2003, which resulted in losses in the semifinals. The Lancers rolled over Kohler 66-36 in the Oconomowoc Sectional final to qualify this season after placing fourth in the Metro Classic Conference, which was won by St. Thomas More, the #1 seed in the Division 3 bracket. As a former member of WISAA, the Lancers were back-to-back runner-up in Class A in 1988 and 1989, and a Division 2 runner-up in 2000.
ABOUT THE DIVISION 5 FIELD: Three of the four qualifying teams in the field have qualified for the first time. Top-seeded Columbus Catholic will be making its fourth State appearance overall and its first since 2019 when the Dons finished runner-up. Prior to that, the Dons lost in the Division 4 semifinals in 2003 and in the Division 5 semifinals in 2017. They are the champions of the East Division of the Cloverbelt Conference this year. The Dons notched an 80-77 victory over Cashton to return to the tourney field. As a former member of WISAA, the Dons were a four-time champion in Division 3. They won back-to-back titles in 1996 and 1997 as well in 1999 and 2000. Second-seeded Almond-Bancroft qualifies for the State Tournament for the first time in the program’s history. They began celebrating the accomplishment following the Eagles’ 70-57 win over Reedsville in the Hortonville Sectional final. They are the champions in the South Division of the Central Wisconsin Conference this season. Abundant Life Christian is the third seed. The Challengers’ first appearance comes following a 63-53 victory over Salam in the Evansville Sectional final. They tied Deerfield for the championship in the South Division of the Trailways Conference this year. Fourth-seeded Solon Springs makes its inaugural appearance in the State Tournament by virtue of its 59-41 win over Owen-Withee in the Ashland Sectional final. The Eagles are the champions of the Northern Lights Conference this season.
THREE-POINT CHALLENGE: The 3-Point Challenge will be held prior to Saturday’s championship games. The event will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Kohl Center. A ticket for the Divisions 3, 4 and 5 championship games session is required for admittance. The top two players per division were selected for the contest based on the best 3-point field goal percentage with a minimum of 75 attempts during the regular season. The contestants representing Division 1 are Tyler Barrows of Eau Claire North and Eddie Bolchen of Manitowoc Lincoln. Representing Division 2 are Adam Guyette of Notre Dame and Drew Tomashek of Ashwaubenon. The Division 3 participants are Braden Drinkwine of Mayville and Theo Traeder of Lodi. Division 4 will be represented by Logan Bahr of Luther and Jahvon Johnson of Milwaukee Juneau; and the Division 5 contestants are Aydin Franti of Gillett and Heath Poppy of Shullsburg. Visit the information on the WIAA website for more details on the 3-Point Challenge. The competition will be live streamed on WIAA.TV.
NEED RESULTS?: The quickest way to get results will be to access the WIAA website wiaawi.org and choose the Tournament Information link on the home page or the boys basketball home page.
ORDER STATE MEET APPAREL ONLINE: Fans can commemorate their experience at the 2024 State Boys Basketball Tournament at the Kohl Center with exclusive souvenir merchandise and apparel for sale at Bucky’s Locker Room located in the concourse outside Section 101. Additional WIAA State Boys Basketball Tournament apparel is available online. Access the link to the online store through a partnership with Fox Cities Embroidery at https://foxcitiesembroidery.chipply.com/BoysBB2024WIAAState/. A link will also be located on the boys basketball tournament page on the WIAA website. The deadline for online orders is prior to midnight on March 24.
FOLLOW STATE TOURNEY ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Receive updates of the State Boys Basketball Tournament on the WIAA State Tournament Twitter account @wiaawistate with the hashtag #wiaabb, and also like us on Facebook.