2024 Wisconsin high school boys basketball state semifinal tournament Divisions 3-4 review

The 2024 WIAA boys basketball high school state tournament began Thursday with Division 3 and Division 4 semifinal games at the Kohl Center in Madison.

We had live updates from the four games on the schedule. St. Thomas More and Lakeside Lutheran punched their tickets to the Division 3 state final after winning their semifinal games. And then in the night session, Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic and Mineral Point advanced to the Division 4 state title game.

Here's how the WIAA boys state basketball tournament on Thursday unfolded in reverse chronological order.

Wisconsin high school boys basketball state tournament schedule today

DIVISION 3

• St. Thomas More 68, Prescott 45 (RECAP)
• Lakeside Lutheran 57, Kiel 55 (RECAP)

DIVISION 4

• Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic 46, Marathon 37 (RECAP)
• Mineral Point 62, La Crosse Aquinas 61

Landon Thousand's three-pointer caps furious rally by Mineral Point

Landon Thousand's three-pointer with six seconds left capped a remarkable 8-0 run for Mineral Point in the final 22 seconds, giving the Pointers a thrilling 62-61 victory over La Crosse Aquinas in the second Division 4 semifinal.

Point's Drew Aschliman's hit a three-pointer with 22 seconds left made it 61-57 and a steal and basket by Alex Ross with 13 seconds left made it 61-59. After another turnover on the inbounds, Mineral Point missed a three-point attempt but in a fight for the rebound, a held ball kept the ball in the Pointers' possession.

That set the stage for Thousand's heroics, who calmly sank an open three out of a timeout with six seconds left. He finished with 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting. The Pointers scored 8 points in 16 seconds.

Mineral Point will face Kenosha St. Joseph in the championship game Saturday.

Mineral Pont has five-point lead over La Crosse Aquinas

In the second Division 4 semifinal game, Mineral point fell behind 17-9, before an 11-0 run sparked them to a 28-23 halftime lead over La Crosse Aquinas.

Landon Thousand made six of his nine shots and leads Mineral Point with 14 points. Logan Becker has eight points for Aquinas.

Kenosha St. Joseph earns spot in Division 4 title game

Eric Kenesie's 19 points led Kenosha St. Joseph to a 46-37 victory over Marathon. The win advances the Lancers to the Division 4 state final on Saturday.

A 9-0 first half run gave St. Joseph a nine-point lead at the break and they led by as many as 12 points.

It was only Marathon's second loss of the season but the Lancers' surprising tournament run continued. Kenosha St. Joseph (20-9) has knocked off a pair of No. 1 seeds in the tournament and will face the winner of Mineral Point and La Crosse Aquinas.

Kenosha St. Joseph has halftime lead in low-scoring game

In the first Division 4 semifinal, a 9-0 run late in the first half has given Kenosha St. Joseph a 19-10 halftime lead over Marathon in a low-scoring game. Tommy Santarelli leads the Lancers with seven points.

Marathon struggled from the floor, making only 3 of 17 shots in the half.

Lakeside Lutheran vs. Kiel box score- Division 3 basketball state tournament semifinal

Lakeside Lutheran will go for first state championship; Kaycee Guzman, Wes Rahn came up big for Warriors

A year ago, Lakeside Lutheran fell in the Division 3 state tournament semifinal game, 57-55. A year later, the Warriors flipped the script in the same round to win their semifinal game over Kiel, 57-55, on Thursday afternoon.

And Lakeside Lutheran did it in the most dramatic fashion with Kaycee Guzman hitting a game-winning shot with 1.5 seconds left.

The Warriors will face St. Thomas More in Saturday's state championship. Both teams are going for their first title.

Lakeside Lutheran was impressive in the paint as the Warriors attacked Kiel's zone. They scored 32 points down low. Overall, Lakeside Lutheran shot 47.8%, scoring on 27 of its 48 possessions.

In addition to Guzman, senior Wes Rahn was huge for the Warriors. He had 20 points and brought down a game-high 18 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end.

Lakeside Lutheran, however, was just 9 of 17 from the free-throw line.

Grant Manz led three Kiel players in double figures with 15 points on 6 of 12 shooting. He also had 15 rebounds.

Pierce Arenz added 12 points and Brandon Aprill contributed 10. Kiel had 28 points in the paint. The Raiders finished 44.4% from the field but hit just 10 of their 18 free throws. Kiel scored on 26 of its 48 possessions.

Kiel finished the season 28-1.

Kaycee Guzman makes game-winning shot for Lakeside Lutheran

Was it going to be anyone else?

Kaycee Guzman, who has come up big all day, etched his name in state lore with a game-winning shot to cap off a performance to remember in leading Lakeside Lutheran to the Division 3 state championship game.

After a timeout with the game tied at 55, Guzman kept the ball at the top of the key, created space before driving to the hoop. He was tightly defended so his momentum pushed him off balance but as he faded away he threw up the shot and hit it high off the glass with 1.5 seconds left. Lakeside Lutheran, 57, Kiel 55.

Clutch.

Kiel's half-court shot was off the mark. Its perfect season was over. The Raiders entered the semifinal game 28-0.

Meanwhile, Lakeside Lutheran executed its plan to perfection.

"We wanted to have the last shot," Lakeside Lutheran head coach Todd Jahns said in his post-game interview with the My24 broadcast. "Space it out, stuff we run in practice and put the ball in your best player's hands and let him go to work."

Guzman scored 17 of his game-high 21 points in the second half. He'll look for another big performance in the state title game on Saturday.

REQUIRED READING:WIAA basketball state-tournament buzzer beaters over the past 30 years

Kiel ties the game on a big three-pointer by Jack Heckmann

Down by three points, where does Kiel go?

To its best three-point shooter: Jack Heckmann.

Trailing by three within under 1 minute, Heckmann drilled a huge 3-pointer to tie the game at 55. Prior to that shot, Heckmann had been 0 for 4 from beyond the arc.

Lakeside Lutheran has called a timeout with 38 seconds left.

This is a fun one to end the day session.

Kaycee Guzman continues to make big buckets for Lakeside Lutheran

Kaycee Guzman, who has led the way for Lakeside Lutheran in the second half, has now put the Warriors back in the lead coming out of a timeout on a driving layup with 2:34 left.

Guzman won't be denied.

Lakeside Lutheran takes lead in Division 3 state semifinal game

Lakeside Lutheran is hot.

The Warriors, on a 7-0 run, just took their first lead since early in the first half after Kaycee Guzman's basket. The field goal put Lakeside Lutheran ahead, 50-48, with 4:02 left. His bucket came after Kiel missed the front end of a one-and-one at the free-throw line.

Guzman is now up to 17 points.

Lakeside Lutheran ties game after big three-pointer by Kooper Mlsna

We're in for a good finish.

We have a tie game at 48 after Kooper Mlsna drilled a three-pointer on an assist from Kaycee Guzman with 4:27 left.

Kiel holds lead over Lakeside Lutheran on efficient shooting

Kiel holds a 48-43 lead with 6:39 left.

The Raiders continue to shoot well this half (7 of 13). Kiel is getting the most out of its possessions with only four turnovers.

Lakeside Lutheran junior Kaycee Guzman helps Warriors get closer

Kaycee Guzman is heating up for Lakeside Lutheran and it has sparked the Warriors.

He has scored nine second-half points through the first eight minutes, including two straight layups to get Lakeside Lutheran to within one, 42-41, with 10:05 left.

Guzman is up to 13 points on 6 of 13 shooting.

Lakeside Lutheran in foul trouble in second half

Fouls are adding up quickly for Lakeside Lutheran.

The Warriors already have committed five fouls 6 minutes, 16 seconds into the second half.

Free throws could play a factor if Kiel can forced more fouls on Lakeside Lutheran.

Kiel holds small lead over Lakeside Lutheran early in second half

Kiel leads Lakeside Lutheran, 34-30, at the first media timeout of the second half (14:50).

Lakeside Lutheran is back to efficient basketball. After going extremely cold over the final part of the first half, the Warriors have started the second half 4 of 5 (80%) early on. Kiel is also an efficient 4 of 6.

Kiel leads Lakeside Lutheran, 27-21, at halftime

Keil took a six-point lead into halfitme. The Raiders are shooting 44%, compared to Lakeside Lutheran's 38%.

Grant Manz has nine points on 4 of 7 shooting to go with 10 rebounds for Kiel.

Wes Rahn is leading Lakeside Lutheran with 12 points.

Lakeside Lutheran finally snaps long scoring drought

Lakeside Lutheran went into a deep shooting slump in the final 10-plus minutes of the first half.

After the Warriors took a 15-8 lead with 11:23 left on a bucket from Alex Reinke, Lakeside Lutheran went almost 11 minutes without a field goal.

Wes Rahn finally snapped the field goal drought with 46 seconds left on a layup. He was fouled on the play and converted the free throw. But they now trail, 27-21.

Lakeside Lutheran and Kiel both go on first-half runs

Lakeside Lutheran took a 15-8 lead after a 9-2 run. But Kiel answered with 10 straight points over four minutes to take the lead with 7:02 left.

Lakeside Lutheran and Kiel in a close game in first half

We're underway in the second Division 3 state semifinal.

And we have a close one early on.

The teams are going back and forth, tied 6-6 after the first four minutes.

Lakeside Lutheran vs. Kiel in second Division 3 state semifinal game

Who will face St. Thomas More in the Division 3 state championship game on Saturday?

It will be either second-seeded Lakeside Lutheran or third-seeded Kiel.

Kiel is 28-0 and finished 14-0 in the Eastern Wisconsin Conference. Pierce Arenz averages a team-leading 19.7 points per game.

Lakeside Lutheran enters the game with a 26-2 record and finished second in the Capital-North Conference.

Lakeside Lutheran's Wes Rahn averages a double-double with 16.5 points and 12.2 rebounds.

St. Thomas More vs. Prescott box score - Division 3 basketball state tournament semifinal

St. Thomas More's Sekou Konneh and Amari McCottry too much for Prescott

While it was slow going for St. Thomas More at times in its Division 3 state semifinal win over Prescott, the top-seeded team showed how it can quickly turn things around.

Its two senior stars were the main reasons for this as they overwhelmed the Cardinals with their athleticism.

Sekou Konneh scored 22 points on 9 of 16 shooting, while Amari McCottry scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half.

"We knew we had to turn it up," Konneh said in an on-court post-game interview about his team's strong second half. He had 14 of his 22 points in the second half.

McCottry added about his mindset in the final 18 minutes: "Just win. I knew my team needed me to step up in a big way."

St. Thomas More runs away with 68-45 win over Prescott in Division 3 state tournament semifinal game

St. Thomas More will play for its first state championship on Saturday after it pulled away for a 68-45 victory over Prescott in a semifinal game.

It was just a three-point lead at halftime and still just a five-point advantage with 8:43 left. But then the Cavaliers went on a game-changing run to put it away.

St. Thomas More scored 14 unanswered points in less than four minutes to take full control. The Cavaliers did it with their run and gun style, resulting in multiple layups and dunks.

Asked about his team's response in the second half, head coach Tony Mane said: "We've been in some very tight games against some great competition. We loaded up our schedule to see what tight games look like. I have confidence in our kids that they'd respond well."

Amari McCottry sparks St. Thomas More's big second half

An Amari McCottry dunk along the baseline put the Cavaliers up 64-43 late in this game.

He can put on a show.

After just four first-half points he will end his day with 18.

St. Thomas More has opened this game up with fastbreak scoring

St. Thomas More has found its rhythm in the second half. The Cavaliers are doing what it does best: run.

A long pass from Amari McCottry after a Prescott miss set up an easy layin by Omar Fofana to put the Cavaliers up, 56-41.

St. Thomas More is rolling now. They have 21 fast-break points. Prescott has zero.

St. Thomas More gets huge fastbreak dunks by its two stars to build lead

St. Thomas More continues to hold a lead in the second half and is shooting much better than it did in the first half, but Prescott isn't going away.

After a three-pointer by Prescott, the Cavaliers' lead was just five with 8:43 left.

But then two highlight reel dunks forced Prescott into a timeout to attempt to stop the momentum.

First, St. Thomas More senior Amari McCottry delivered a two-handed jam and then after a steal Sekou Konneh had one of his own.

St. Thomas More leads 50-41 with 7:43 left in the game.

St. Thomas More leads Prescott, 26-23, at halftime of Division 3 boys basketball state semifinal game

It's halftime of the first Division 3 state semifinal game at the Kohl Center with top-seeded St. Thomas More leading fourth-seeded Prescott, 26-23.

Prescott senior Dallas Wallin scored a driving layup with 5 seconds left as the Cardinals have clawed their way back in the game.

St. Thomas More's offense has been uncharacteristically off in the first 18 minutes. The Cavaliers are shooting just 30.3% from the field and 14.3% from three-point range.

Head coach Tony Mane said the Cavaliers have to "be more mentally prepared and focused" in the second half.

The Cavaliers have been very active on defense, though. They have forced nine Prescott turnvoers. The Cavaliers have seven steals.

St. Thomas More finding its groove sparked by two three-pointers by Brayden Alivo

It's a game of runs.

And St. Thomas More appears to have found its shooting touch.

Just as Prescott got back in the game, the Cavaliers went on a 13-4 run to push their lead to 25-15. It's their largest lead of the day. St. Thomas More sophomore Brayden Alivo hit two 3-pointers during this stretch.

A Max Montieth three-pointer got the Cardinals back within single digits, 25-18, at the final media timeout (2:12).

Prescott on a run but both teams are struggling from the field

Prescott has gone on an 8-0 run of its own to cut St. Thomas More's lead to 12-11 with 6:45 left in the first half at the third media timeout.

But both teams are struggling with their shooting.

Prescott is 3 of 18 (16.7%) from the field and 2 of 11 (18.2%) from deep.

St. Thomas More, meanwhile, is shooting just 25%, making only 5 of their 20 shots and is 0 for 9 from three-point range.

Prescott finally snaps scoring drought vs. St. Thomas More

After going scoreless for the first 8 minutes, 25 seconds of the game, Prescott is on the board.

A three-pointer by sophomore Kobe Russell at 11:35 cut St. Thomas More's lead to 8-3.

At the second media timeout, St. Thomas More leads Prescott, 12-6, with 9 minutes, 53 seconds left.

St. Thomas More hasn't been as sharp early on, either, as the Cavaliers haven't been efficient on offense.

St. Thomas More basketball is off and running vs. Prescott

St. Thomas More loves the fast pace and it is setting the tone early against Prescott.

A fastbreak basket by senior Evan Oleson that pushed the Cavaliers' lead to 8-0 forced Prescott to call a timeout at the 13:08 mark.

Where is Prescott located?

Prescott is a city in Pierce County on the far west side of the state. The city is located at the confluence of the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers. 

Where is St. Thomas More?

Just for some context for anyone not familiar with these schools, St. Thomas More is located on Milwaukee's southside, just off the shores of Lake Michigan.

Amari McCottry and Sekou Konneh are players to watch for St. Thomas More

The high-scoring Cavaliers (85.2 points per game) are led by a pair of senior stars: Amari McCottry and Sekou Konneh.

McCottry was one of six finalists for Mr. Basketball and has several Division I offers. He averages 22.7 points per game and leads the team in assists with 5.3.

Konneh averages a double-double with team-highs in points (22.8) and rebounds (10.6).

Senior Evan Oleson averages 10.5 points per game.

Dallas Wallin does it all for Prescott

Prescott averages 62.1 points per game, which is about 23 points fewer than St. Thomas More.

Senior forward Dallas Wallin is the catalyst for the Cardinals. He leads Prescott in scoring (20.7), rebounds (10.2) and assists (4.3).

He's the player with long locks on the court. The My24 broadcast noted that he hasn't cut his hair in five years.

St. Thomas More vs. Prescott - WIAA Division 3 boys basketball state championship game

We're about to get going for the first game at the 2024 WIAA boys basketball state tournament.

First up is St. Thomas More vs. Prescott in Division 3..

St. Thomas More, champions of the Metro Classic Conference, enters state on a 20-game winning streak. The Cavaliers are at state for the second time in three years, though their appearance in 2022 was vacated by the WIAA for use of ineligible players.

The Cavaliers’ only loss this season was in a non-conference game to Wisconsin Lutheran in late December. The Vikings, who are led by Mr. Basketball Kon Knueppel, is the top seed in the Division 2 state tournament.

The Cavaliers routed Carmen Northwest, 95-71, in the sectional final last Saturday. Their biggest test came two days earlier in the sectional semifinal when they edged Milwaukee Academy of Science, 75-72.

St. Thomas More is coached by Tony Mane, who is an alum of the school.

Prescott is seeking its second gold ball in school history.

Prescott won the Middle Border Conference. After a loss in the regular-season finale, the Cardinals have found their groove in the playoffs. Three of their four playoff victories have been by double figures.

Prescott defeated Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau, 63-48, in the sectional final to advance to its fourth state tournament in school history. Prescott’s other three state appearances came in a four-year stretch from 2015-18.

It won the 2018 state championship after taking down No. 1 Valders, 63-62.

WIAA basketball state tournament tickets 2024

Want to see all the talent in person Thursday-Saturday at the Kohl Center?

Here is ticket info:

Tickets cost $13.50/session for all seats. You can purchase tickets by clicking on "Tickets" at the top of the WIAA website or on the tickets page here.

Wisconsin boys basketball state tournament carry-in policy

Here is what you should know about what you can carry in:

State tournament:Here are 3 top storylines for Divisions 3 and 4

Friday's WIAA boys basketball high school state tournament schedule

Divisions 1, 2 and 5 play their semifinal games.

DIVISION 5

No. 1 Columbus Catholic (27-2) vs. No. 4 Solon Springs (27-2) - 9:05 a.m.No. 2 Almond-Bancroft (27-1) vs. No. 3 Abundant Life Christian (27-2) - approximately 15 minutes after Columbus Catholic-Solon Springs

DIVISION 2

No. 1 Wisconsin Lutheran (28-0) vs. No. 4 Nicolet (24-4) - 1:35 p.m.No. 2 Pewaukee (24-4) vs. No. 4 West Salem (25-3) - approximately 15 minutes after Wisconsin Lutheran-Nicolet

Must see:WIAA Division 2 boys state basketball storylines

DIVISION 1

No. 1 Arrowhead (25-2) vs. No. 4 Neenah (21-7) - 6:35 p.m.No. 2 Kettle Moraine (25-3) vs. No. 3 Marquette (24-4) - approximately 15 minutes after Arrowhead-Neenah

What to watch:WIAA Division 1 boys basketball storylines for Friday's semifinal games

How to watch the Wisconsin high school boys basketball state tournament on TV, streaming

The state tournament games are televised live on WVTV (Ch. 24) in Milwaukee and across the state on WCWF (Green Bay/Fox Valley), WAOW (Wausau), WQOW (Eau Claire), WXOW (La Crosse) and WKOW (Madison). Livestreaming will be available on the WIAA's Magic of March app.

Kon Knueppel named 2024 Mr. Basketball

Before he took the court for his first state tournament game of his high school career, Wisconsin Lutheran senior Kon Knueppel was named Mr. Basketball by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association.

The award honors the top senior.

The Duke recruit is the highest-rated player in the state for the class of 2024. He is Wisconsin Lutheran's all-time leading scorer with nearly 2,000 career points. For the season, he's averaging a team-high 26.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists.

2023 WIAA boys basketball state champions

Division 1: De Pere beat Arrowhead, 69-49

Division 2: Pewaukee beat Whitnall, 71-54

Division 3: Brillion beat West Salem, 61-55

Division 4: Luther beat Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic, 60-46

Division 5: Newman Catholic beat McDonell Catholic, 66-54