The Waukesha North boys are the early surprise in the Classic 8 Conference, surging out to a 6-1 start overall and owning the only 2-0 record in league play.
Only one of North's wins have come against a team with a winning record, but the Northstars have already surpassed their 6-win tally from all of last year. A loss Saturday to always-tough Milwaukee Washington, 58-46, represents the only setback thus far.
At 17.4 points per game, Jake Ricciardi is among the top five scoresr in the league, just ahead of Catholic Memorial tandem Ryan Taugher (16.7) and Jake Giffhorn (15.2), as well as Waukesha West standout Brandon Kranz (14.8).
West and Memorial, among the six teams with 1-1 league records early, have both been bitten by overtime losses. Memorial (4-2 overall) lost to Arrowhead on Friday, 86-84, thanks to Brandon Kim's two free throws in the final three seconds. West (2-3), meanwhile, lost a memorable 76-73 game to upstart Kettle Moraine, which hit a half-court buzzer beater in the extra session to win. It was West's second overtime loss this year.
Waukesha South has opened the year 0-2.
The Dec. 16 game between West and Pius will be aired live beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Time Warner Cable Sports 32.
Girls basketball
Preseason favorite Milwaukee Pius holds a 2-0 record in a standings layout identical to the boys - six teams sit at 1-1, with Waukesha North the lone 0-2 team.
On Tuesday, Catholic Memorial edged South, 38-36, with Lauren Mueller hitting a trio of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help her team hold on. It was the first win for new CMH (1-2) coach Ron Guess and gave South its only loss of the season thus far.
South (3-1) defeated North (2-2), and West (1-2) rebounded from an ugly 28-24 loss against Mukwonago on Tuesday to defeat Kettle Moraine on Friday, giving new coach Kyle Moore his first victory.
Girls scorers
Top scorers in the Classic 8 Conference (all games):
| Jenny Smith | Arrowhead | 19.3 |
| Eileen Van Horn | Waukesha South | 16.2 |
| Michelle Farrow | Waukesha West | 12.7 |
| Terri Bender | Pius | 12.4 |
| Jessica Kelliher | Waukesha North | 11.5 |
| Dallas Chladek | Pius | 11.2 |
| Lauren Mueller | Catholic Memorial | 10.5 |
| Lexi Weitzer | Waukesha South | 10.2 |
| Ally Matkovich | Pius | 10.0 |
| Allison Mueller | Catholic Memorial | 10.0 |
Boys scorers
Top scorers in the Classic 8 Conference (all games):
| Carrington Love | Pius | 20.5 |
| Kenny Finco | Arrowhead | 19.7 |
| Jake Ricciardi | Waukesha North | 17.4 |
| Ryan Taugher | Catholic Memorial | 16.7 |
| Jake Giffhorn | Catholic Memorial | 15.3 |
| Brandon Kranz | Waukesha West | 14.8 |
| Dominic Cizauskas | Mukwonago | 12.5 |
| Ryan Smith | Waukesha South | 12.2 |
| Paul Miller | Kettle Moraine | 12.2 |
| Larry Fitzgerald | Pius | 12.0 |
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