Replay: 2024 Wisconsin high school boys basketball tournament state finals live updates
JR RadcliffeFive champions were crowned during the 2024 WIAA boys basketball high school state tournament, including three from the Milwaukee area.
We provided live coverage during all of the games. Check out how they unfolded in reverse chronological order below.
- Division 5: Columbus Catholic (29-2) 81, Abundant Life Christian (28-3) 75 (RECAP)
- Division 4: Mineral Point (28-2) 65, Kenosha St. Joseph (20-10) 64 (RECAP)
- Division 3: St. Thomas More (29-1) 65, Lakeside Lutheran (27-3) 54 (RECAP)
- Division 2: Wisconsin Lutheran (30-0) 83, Pewaukee (25-5) 62 (RECAP)
- Division 1: Marquette (26-4) 84, Arrowhead (27-3) 62 (RECAP)
One last look at Division 1 and a farewell
Nolan Minessale finished 11 of 16 from the field for the 29 points, with five assists, three blocks and six rebounds. Great tournament for the future St. Thomas of Minnesota player.
Jeremiah Johnson had 14 and Cade Kohnen 10 for Marquette, which shot 53% from the field for the game.
Arrowhead got 17 from Bennett Basich, 14 from Jace Gilbert, 11 from AJ Ohrmundt and 11 from Sam Leoni, but it wasn't quite enough. Gilbert added 11 rebounds and three blocks and did it all in just under 23 minutes on the floor with fouls inhibiting his game today. After shooting 71% yesterday, Arrowhead shot just 39.6% today.
Hope you enjoyed the live blog both yesterday and today, and thanks for tuning in!
Final: Marquette 84, Arrowhead 62
Marquette pairs the state football championship with the state boys basketball crown, winning in lopsided fashion over a team that had defeated MUHS earlier this year. Nolan Minessale finishes with 29 points to cap an excellent career that left him as the career scoring leader in MUHS history.
The reserves are checking in
Sure didn't anticipate a blowout in both of the final two games at state, especially after how great all the games have been. But reserves are checking in with 2:02 to go, and Marquette has an 82-62 lead.
Mineral Point's late basket in Division 4 is the only thing keeping this from being a WISAA sweep, with private schools winning the other four state titles.
Marquette just having one of those perfect games
In 2010, Arrowhead shocked Marquette at the buzzer and then went on to rout Madison Memorial in the final. That was a surprise; Madison Memorial was loaded and the favored team.
This is how that game felt, where Arrowhead could simply do no wrong. Only this time it's Marquette doing that to Arrowhead, even though the two teams came in seemingly evenly matched (with an edge to Arrowhead).
The lead is 80-60 with 2:49 to go and the Hilltoppers are now shooting 12 of 24 from 3-point range. Minessale has 29 points, and Jeremiah Johnson has 14; the latter has hit all three of his 3-point takes. Minnesale also has six rebounds and five assists, and Johnson has six helpers. Tremendous game from MUHS.
Arrowhead is down below 40% shooting after hitting 71% last night in the four-overtime win over Neenah. Just didn't have the same magic today.
Jace Gilbert fouls out and Minessale scores. Worst case scenario for Arrowhead's fleeting hopes
Jace Gilbert just conked Nolan Minessale on the head driving to the basket. Gilbert, who just picked up his fourth foul, was whistled for No. 5, and now he's out of the game. Worse still for Arrowhead, Minessale made the shot and then the free throw.
The lead is 72-57 with 5 minutes to play. Marquette is about to be Division 1 state champion.
Nolan Minessale with a dunk in traffic and that might be the dagger
It didn't flush through cleanly, but Nolan Minessale's dunk just now through traffic had a bit of Giannis ferocity to it. Possibly one of the highlights of the tournament. He's up to 24 points on 10 of 15 shooting and the Hilltoppers have a 69-57 lead with 5:27 to go.
TJ Adams has fouled out for Marquette, but I don't think it's going to matter.
AJ Ohrmundt thinks I called the dagger too early
AJ Ohrmundt just drilled his second straight 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions, and Arrowhead is back within 62-51 at the 7:25 mark, prompting a Marquette timeout.
With a timeout at 6:45, it's now 64-53, and Arrowhead has the ball.
(The stats, by the way, have Sam Leoni hitting that second Ohrmundt 3-pointer. If this is like yesterday, where Luka Momcilovic got credit for three Nick Janowski free throws, then I don't expect the box score to change).
It feels too early to call dagger, but that might be the one
A great transition pass from Nolan Minessale to Tommy Novotny nets another layup, and the lead is now 19 points with 9 minutes to go. Arrowhead has a lot of firepower, and it might be dangerous to rule them out, but Marquette has been in control and is only growing its lead.
It's 62-43 with 8:52 on the clock. Arrowhead shooting the bonus.
T.J. Adams now has four personals for Marquette
If there's a fly in the ointment for Marquette, it's that T.J. Adams just committed his fourth foul and will have to come out. Adams has 7 points and seven assists plus two steals in a quietly productive game; he is, after all, the team's second leading scorer this season and second behind Minessale in assists, as well.
But Marquette still has a healthy 58-41 lead with 12 minutes to play.
Jeremiah Johnson with a 3-point play in transition and Marquette is still coasting
It's 56-41, with 13 minutes to go in the game, and Marquette is looking more and more like it's going to complete the football/basketball sweep in Division 1.
Jeremiah Johnson is up to 11 points for Marquette after a tough finish in transition with a foul attached; he made the free throw.
Arrowhead in the danger zone?
Marquette's lead is suddenly out to 15 points at 49-34, with a Minessale layup the latest damage, and Craig Haase has to call timeout.
Cade Kohnen hit his second triple of the game and, following a Bennett Basich miss, Minessale reset Marquette's biggest lead of the game with his basket. He's got 18 points, and Arrowhead is on the verge of reaching the state final for a second year in a row but coming up empty. Kenosha St. Joseph already encountered that when it took home silver in Division 4 this year.
Halftime: Marquette 41, Arrowhead 32
Arrowhead was down 12 at halftime to Neenah last night, so this isn't necessarily unfamiliar territory. But Marquette is looking very smooth, even without shooting the lights out (43% and 7 of 17 from 3-point range).
Marquette has turned it over just twice and coaxed six Arrowhead giveaways. Nolan Minessale is the difference, with 16 points for MUHS on 7 of 11 shooting, plus three blocks and two assists.
Arrowhead's leaders are Bennett Basich and Jace Gilbert, with 7 points apiece, per usual. Gilbert was only on the floor 9:55 because of two early fouls, but he also has three blocks and seven rebounds. After making 15 of 19 from the floor last night, he's 2 for 5 thus far here.
Basich also has six boards and two assists.
Marquette beats the buzzer and takes a 9-point lead into halftime
Nolan Minessale dribbled down the clock and then found Thad Hoffman in the corner for a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that gives Marquette a 41-32 lead at halftime in the Division 1 title game.
Minnesale has 16 points, two assists, three blocks and two rebounds. For the second game in a row, Arrowhead has its work cut out for it after halftime.
Arrowhead lingering but Marquette still in control
Jace Gilbert and AJ Ohrmundt have blocks for Arrowhead; GIlbert's erased what looked like a surefire basket off an incredible pass from Thad Hoffman under the hoop to Peter McDevitt. But the Warhawks can't cash in, with an offensive foul on Sam Leoni giving the ball back to Marquette with just more than 2 minutes to go.
Hoffman, a member of the state-championship football team like Novotny and McDevitt, scores to make it 38-29, with Bennett Basich softening the deficit to 38-32 on a 3-pointer for Arrowhead. We're approaching the final minute of the first half.
Bank open for Marquette's Jeremiah Johnson
The last time Arrowhead played Marquette at the state tournament was in 2010, a state semifinal that ended when Charles Rushman banked in a 3-pointer from the top of the key.
It's probably not quite the cosmic kickback 14 years later, but Jeremiah Johnson just did the same thing on the same basket for Marquette, and the Hilltoppers have a 33-27 lead with 4 minutes left before break. Freshman Trey Resch and his lightning-quick release have two triples for Arrowhead.
Marquette heating up from deep and takes biggest lead
Jeremiah Johnson just hit a 3-pointer from the corner on a possession set up by his steal on the other end, making it two straight Marquette possessions with a 3-pointer. Nolan Minessale hit the other, and he's up to 16 points on 7 of 9 shooting and in the midst of what's shaping up to be a special performance.
That gave Marquete a 28-19 lead. It's 28-20 with 6:03 before halftime after the Warhawks split a pair of free throws.
Marquette leads, 22-17, with 8 minutes left in the first half
Tommy Novotny, the breakout star of this year's Division 1 state-championship football game, just muscled through traffic to score and got hacked in the process. The sophomore didn't hit the free throw, but Marquette's lead is back up to 3 points, and then 5 points when Minessale hit yet another jumper.
Minessale has 13. Marquette leads, 22-17, with 8 minutes left in the first half.
Novotny ran for 172 yards and two touchdowns in the fall to beat Franklin in the Division 1 title game. Now, the Hilltoppers are trying to add another gold ball to their trophy case this season. MUHS quarterback Peter McDevitt just checked in to the basketball game.
Bennett Basich into the box score with his first basket at 9:05 mark
UWGB recruit and Arrowhead leading scorer Bennett Basich had been 0 for 4 with 1 point until a driving layup that came attached with a foul call. He makes the extra and Arrowhead pulls to within 18-17 at the 9:05 mark.
Marquette's Nolan Minessale is now up to 11 points on 5 of 7 shooting, with two rebounds and two blocks for good measure. He's been awesome yet again.
Gilbert out of the game with his second foul, Marquette lead now 7
Gilbert got hit with an offensive foul and now has to sit with two of them and 11:45 left in this first half. Golden opportunity for Marquette to add on, and the Hilltoppers do, with Nolan Minessale taking a pass in the open court and breaking free for a two-handed dunk.
Minessale already has 9 points on 4 of 6 shooting. Marquette leads by a touchdown, 14-7, with 11:20 left in the first.
Jace Gilbert with one big block and nearly another, but he's whistled for a foul, and more Nolan Minessale magic
Arrowhead fans loved the blocks Jace Gilbert recorded over a span of three possessions, but the second included a little contact with the body, and Marquette converted that into two free throws from TJ Adams to break a tie and claim a 9-7 lead.
But Nolan Minessale again matches, blocking a Gilbert shot on the other end and then hitting a 3-pointer to give the Hilltoppers a 12-7 lead with 12:15 to go.
Two things you didn't see last night: Sam Leoni scoring from the field and Jace Gilbert hitting both free throws
Jace Gilbert was an absolute beast last night, going 15 of 19 from the field, but he also shot 4 of 11 at the free-throw line and had to be subbed out late during Arrowhead's quadruple-overtime win over Neenah. But he made both just now. The inverse for Sam Leoni; he went 0 for 1 from the field yesterday but was nails on the charity stripe, hitting 12 of 14. But he has a field goal in this game.
But despite those things, Marquette has the upper hand for the moment, up 7-5 with 14:56 to go. Nolan Minessale has hit both of his takes thus far, and Cade Kohnen has a 3-pointer to help the Hilltoppers take an early lead. The Hilltoppers already have two offensive rebounds and one basket off those second chances.
Ohrmundt with the first basket of the game (he had the last one against Marquette, too)
A.J. Ohrmundt, who intercepted an inbound and laid it in for a shocking buzzer beater when these two teams met earlier this year, has the first bucket of the game for Arrowhead, though Nolan Minessale picks up where he left off from the semifinal and scores on the other end for Marquette. It's an early 2-2 tie and we're under way at the Kohl Center for the last time.
Up next: Arrowhead (27-2) vs. Marquette (25-4) in Division 1 title game
We close down our 2024 state-tournament slate with this battle, a rematch of a crazy game earlier this year when Marquette inbounded the ball right to Arrowhead's AJ Ohrmundt, who subsequently laid it in at the buzzer for a 65-64 win. It's the only Marquette loss in their last 20 games.
The Warhawks may have the slight edge in seeding as a result, but leading scorer Bennett Basich took an elbow to the mouth late in yesterday's game. He was bleeding from the cut, and he might have needed to get checked for a concussion, but he's out there for warmups. The Warhawks won last night in quadruple overtime even though Basich fouled out late (taking the elbow in the process).
Basich averages 19.4 points per game and had 24 points in the win. Jace Gilbert had 34; the Iowa State football recruit averages 17.4 points per game and was an efficient 15 of 19 from the field, part of Arrowhead's record-setting performance of 71.7% shooting. It still took four overtimes to beat Neenah in the highest scoring contest in state history, 99-95.
Marquette is led by program all-time scorer Nolan Minessale, a recruit for St. Thomas (Minnesota). He averages 21.8 points per game and was dazzling yesterday against Kettle Moraine, especially in the first half. He finished with 24 points and eight boards in the 67-60 win.
Last look at the Division 2 title game
Logan Reindflesch finished 9 for 11 from the field with 20 points, and sophomore Zavier Zens had 16 on 6 of 7 shooting. They were part of the reason Kon Knueppel didn't need to take more than one shot in the second half; he scored his final points of the night on free throws kicking off the final 18 minutes. Then, he just facilitated and soaked it in.
Isaiah Mellock, Alex Greene and Knueppel all had 11 points. The Vikings shot a sterling 68% from the field and 53% from 3-point range (8 of 15).
For Pewaukee, Nick Janowski finished just 6 of 17 from the field for 13 points, including 1 of 8 from 3-point range. the Pirates didn't shoot that poorly overall, with 12 of 26 (46.2%) from distance and 48.9% overall, nor were they too sloppy with the ball (six turnovers), but Wisco had too much firepower.
It's an overwhelming 50-20 edge in the paint for the Vikings.
Luka Momcilovic had 13 points and three rebounds for the Pirates. Janowski also finished with eight assists for PHS, as well as a steal in his final high-school game before he suits up for Nebraska.
Final score: Wisconsin Lutheran 83, Pewaukee 62
The Vikings have their first state title since 2014 and Duke University recruit Kon Knueppel goes out a winner, capping a 30-0 season. He finishes with 11 points and 11 assists in his last game before suiting up for Duke.
Pewaukee's run of three straight state titles comes to an end.
It's time for the reserves to check in
Pewaukee seldom finds itself here. The Pirates won the Division 2 state title last year, 71-54 over Whitnall. It was 67-48 over La Crosse Central in 2022 and 54-37 over Onalaska in 2021. The Pirates have been on the other side of a lopsided state final since they began this remarkable run of success.
The program overall has been remarkable in recent years. The girls team just won its first state title and has qualified for state four times in the last five years. The boys still got back to the final, but this was clearly Wisco's year.
With 1:29 to go, the lead is 81-55 and Pewaukee is going to leave Janowski out there for now. He'll get a big round of applause when he leaves.
Logan Reindflesch is suddenly on fire for Wisco
Logan Reindflesch, a senior who will play next year at Oshkosh, has scored 10 straight points for Wisconsin Lutheran, including a dunk cashed in off a great breakaway pass by Kon Knueppel. He's up to 18 points on 8 of 10 shooting to lead Wisconsin Lutheran.
Knueppel is up to 11 assists. He's going to finish his lone career state tournament with a double double in a championship-winning performance. He's only got five rebounds, so I don't think he'll get the full triple double with 2:46 to go.
Wisco leads, 79-52.
Vikings haven't needed Kon Knueppel in this one
Kon Knueppel's last field goal, if you can believe it, came with 5 minutes left in the first half. He has a couple free throws early in the second half, but he hasn't scored since and is stuck on 11 points. It hasn't mattered one bit, with Wisconsin Lutheran leading Pewaukee, 73-46, with 5:27 left to play.
Knueppel has taken one shot in the second half but does have six assists and a steal.
Zavier Zens still hasn't missed a shot (6 for 6, 16 points) and now Alex Greene is up to 11 as well, with Logan Reindflesch at 14. The Vikings have 18 assists on 30 field goals, and even with Pewaukee shooting better this half (44.4% for the game now), the Pirates can't get a foothold.
Wisco has hit 7 of its last 8 shots and gone on a 8-0 run over the last 1:34.
We're in the coronation phase of the Division 2 title game
There's 12:33 to go in this game, but the Wisconsin Lutheran fans are chanting "ballgame over," and it kind of feels like they're right.
Wisconsin Lutheran leads Pewaukee, 53-29. Just a surgical performance tonight from a team that's about to go 30-0 and become the second team to achieve the full 30-win undefeated season since the schedule expanded a couple years ago, joining last year's De Pere team.
Wisconsin Lutheran is running away with this game
It's a 47-25 lead right now for Wisconsin Lutheran with 14:44 on the clock in the second half. Zavier Zens is now up to 16 points and hasn't missed any of his six shots from the field, including four 3-pointers. Kon Knueppel has 11 with three rebounds and three assists.
Nick Janowski has 7 points on 3 of 11 shooting for the Pirates, and Luka Momcilovic has 7 points. But the Pirates' chances at a four-peat are fading fast.
Halftime: Wisconsin Lutheran 38, Pewaukee 20
Pewaukee's Nick Janowski, who had 31 points and a triple double against West Salem, has just 2 points at halftime on 1 of 9 shooting (though he does have four assists). Overall, Pewaukee is 7 of 20 from the field (35%) and 5 of 11 from three-point range. That's not enough against a Wisco team that's clicking on all cylinders.
The Vikings are shooting 57.1% with Zavier Zens leading the way; the sophomore has hit all five of his shots (three from deep) for 13 points. Kon Knueppel has 9 points on 4 of 6 shooting, and Isaiah Mellock has 7 points to accompany three assists.
Wisconsin Lutheran has a dominant 20-4 edge on points in the paint and has committed just one turnover while forcing four.
It's going to take a whale of a turnaround for Pewaukee to get back into this game.
Alex Greene beats the buzzer again and Wisco is cruising
Alex Greene hit a layup to beat Nicolet at the buzzer in the semifinal. He once again gets open and scores just before the buzzer here. The stakes are lower, but it gives Wisconsin Lutheran a 38-20 lead at the break that feels pretty massive.
The Pirates' streak of three straight state championships is in danger.
Wisconsin Lutheran is playing championship basketball
Between the relentless half-court defense, the shot-making (56%) and opportunistic play (4 second-chance points, four turnovers forced), Wisconsin Lutheran just looks like a gold-ball kind of team tonight.
It's 36-20 with 47.1 seconds left in the first half and we're on the cusp of perhaps our first truly lopsided game of the state-final showcase today.
Zavier Zens has 13 and has made all three 3-point attempts; Kon Knueppel has 9 for the Vikings.
Zavier Zens is going to make it awfully tough for teams to take the Woodland West back from Wisco
When Knueppel is playing for Duke University next year, remember there are a trio of Knueppel brothers behind him, and sophomore Zavier Zens (up to 13 points in this game) is going to be a major problem for the rest of the Woodland West. One should expect Wisco to still be the team to beat.
Juniors Alex Greene and Isaiah Mellock will also be back, so don't expect the Vikings to take a dramatic step back.
Of course, Pewaukee isn't exactly recycling an entire roster either. Juniors Karson Osterman, Luka Momcilovic and Isaiah Robinson are all back, as is sophomore Tyler Tiutczenko and five other sophomores on the varsity roster.
Wisconsin Lutheran up big, 34-20, with 1:36 to go before half.
Nick Janowski finally scores with 5:40 left in the first half
Working one-on-one with Kon Knueppel on defense, Nick Janowski was able to get inside and procure a hard-earned bucket for his first points of the game with 5:40 still to go in the half. The Pirates still trail by 9 points as we hit the 5-minute mark.
Wisconsin Lutheran has taken control of the game to this point
With 6:12 to go in the first half, Wisconsin Lutheran has opened up an 11-point lead, with Isaiah Mellock converting a 3-point play after scoring and drawing a foul on Luka Momcilovic.
Momcilovic lost a rebound on a preceding possession and fumbled it back to Zavier Zens, who quickly scored.
Nick Janowski has zero points for Pewaukee on 0 for 4 shooting. Wisconsin Lutheran star Kon Knueppel has 7 points, but there's the distinct feeling that the Vikings don't need him to be a superstar to win this game, whereas Pewaukee has been unable to get Janowski the looks he needs to work some magic.
It's 24-13, Wisconsin Lutheran.
Pewaukee sticking around with 3-point shooting
Luka Momcilovic has a pair of triples and Karson Osterman just got one to bounce off the rim, then the backboard and down, helping Pewaukee stay within arm's length of a Wisconsin Lutheran team that's been a little bit more efficient thus far. Pewaukee's deficit is only 16-13 with 8:52 minutes left in the first half.
The Vikings on defense in the halfcourt have been tough as nails. Nick Janowski is 0 for 3 so far.
Vikings are out to a 9-4 lead with 12:47 to go
The Pirates have to work for everything thus far, whereas the Vikings have hit 4 of 6 shots and have a 9-4 lead with 12:47 left in the first half. Logan Reindfleisch already has two points and two rebounds for Wisconsin Lutheran, and Kon Knueppel has a basket. Nothing yet for Nick Janowski (0 of 2 shooting).
Wisconsin Lutheran bringing some serious energy out of the gate
Sophomore Zavier Zens hits a 3-pointer for Wisconsin Lutheran and then engages in a lockdown defensive possession that ends with Nick Janowski air-balling a 3-pointer. You better believe the Wisco cheering section (which is very loud!) let him hear about it.
But Isaiah Robinson ultimately ties the game with a 3-pointer on the next possession. It's 3-3 out of the gate with 15:45 left in the first half.
Another brotherly high school/college crossover with Milan Momcilovic playing for Iowa State right now
Pewaukee comes into this game having won three straight state titles, and they did so with major contributions from Milan Momcilovic. The co-winner of Mr. Basketball last year is now at Iowa State, and he's up to 14 points as the Cyclones are dominating the No. 1 team in the country, Houston, in the Big 12 Tournament final. Younger brother Luka is the No. 2 scorer for this year's Pirates.
It's similar to what we had earlier, when Mineral Point's Eli Lindsey won a state title at the same time older brother Isaac and Wisconsin knocked off No. 3 Purdue in the Big Ten semifinal. Fans were cheering in pockets, having seen the result, as Lindsey and his teammates took postgame pictures on the floor.
Next up: The main event, perhaps. It's Pewaukee (25-4) vs. Wisconsin Lutheran (29-0)
Everyone is buzzing about this one, a matchup between undefeated Wisconsin Lutheran and Duke University recruit Kon Knueppel against Woodland West Conference foe Pewaukee, led by Nebraska recruit Nick Janowski.
The Vikings are looking for a 30-0 finish to their spectacular season, while the Pirates are looking to join Randolph and Whitefish Bay Dominican as the only programs to win four straight state titles. Randolph turned the feat from 2002-05, and Dominican won five straight titles from 2012-16.
For years, Pewaukee has been a thorn in Wisconsin Lutheran's side, defeating the Vikings at the sectional level. Knueppel has never played at state before. But this year, Pewaukee doesn't have Milan Momcilovic, a co-winner of Mr. Basketball last year and now a freshman starting for a talented Iowa State team. Wisconsin Lutheran won both meetings in the Woodland West this year, and they'll be favored to finish the season 30-0, but we can expect a wild ride. By the way, Milan's brother, Luka, had 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Pirates in the semifinal win over West Salem.
Wisco is fortunate to be here after a narrow win over Nicolet in the semifinal. Alex Greene hit the game winner for Wisconsin Lutheran on a bit of a scramble under the basket, breaking a tie and giving Lutheran a thrilling 56-54 victory. Just an electric game.
Knueppel definitely made his presence felt, with 26 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, but it was his epic block in the final minute that kept the game tied and allowed Wisco to win at the horn. Knueppel also hit a deep 3-pointer at the end of the first half and hit a turnaround jumper with 1:14 to play that tied the game.
Janowski had a triple-double for Pewaukee in the 89-69 win over West Salem. His 31.4 points per game make him one of the top scorers in the state, and he also brings in 8.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists. Behind him, Luka Momcilovic averages 12.0 points per game, and Owen Hake has 10.2.
After Knueppel for Wisco (26.4 points per game), the Vikings have Logan Rindfleisch (13.8 points per game) and Zavier Zens (9.6), a sophomore who looks like he's going to be one of the better players in the Milwaukee area over the next couple years.
Final numbers from D3 final
Amari McCottrey finished with 11 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, overcoming a 4 for 15 shooting day to make an impact on this game. The Cavaliers only shot 4 of 15 from 3-point range but did fine overall (49%), while Lakeside shot 3 of 18 from three and 52% from the field.
Kaycee Guzman, whose buzzer beater Thursday got the Warriors to this point, finished with 16 points. Both Wes Rahn and Alex Reinke had 13, with Reinke handing out eight assists and Rahn pulling down nine rebounds.
Lakeside led, 45-41, with 9:46 to go, but Thomas More went on a 18-3 run at that point to pull away.
The Milwaukee area, which has all four entrants in the final two state-title games, will bring three gold balls east on I-94.
Let's take a break before the D2 game, shall we? That game starts at 6:30 p.m.
Final: St. Thomas More 65, Lakeside Lutheran 54
For the first time in school history, the Thomas More boys basketball team has won a WIAA state title. The Cavaliers pull away from Lakeside for a 65-54 triumph to wrap up the Division 3 crown.
Sekou Konneh with 20 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Cavaliers.
Both teams subbing in their reserves
Lakeside Lutheran played a great first 28-30 minutes of this game, but then Thomas More started to take over and finally started hitting some shots.
The Warriors have brought in their subs, and now Thomas More will do the same. It's a 65-54 lead with 31.8 seconds left.
It's triple-double watch now for Amari McCottrey
With his eighth assist of the game, Amari McCottrey set up a wide-open layup for Kyle Alivo, and it's a 13-point game with a little more than 1:30 to play. St. Thomas More is going to win a state title.
I doubt McCottrey gets the triple-double, currently at 11 points, 11 boards and 8 helpers. But though he struggled shooting, he sure did have an impact.
The Cavaliers are about to win their first WIAA state title.
Omar Fofana with a drive and score and Thomas More may have this in hand
With Evan Oleson struggling, it's been sophomore Omar Fofana on the floor down the stretch, and he's looked great. He just drove to the basket for a nifty finish that re-built Thomas More's lead to double digits at 61-50.
For a game that felt so close for so long, it kinda feels like it's over now.
There are less than 3 minutes remaining.
Saint Thomas More is pulling away in this game
It's a 59-48 lead for St. Thomas More now with 4:45 to go. Sekou Konneh just scored to hit 20 points along with his 14 rebounds. He's a player who's going to get bigger and better once he gets to college; offers right now include Louisville at UW-Milwaukee. He's having himself a tournament.
Amari McCottrey is up to seven assists and 11 boards. He only has 9 points, but for much as he has struggled scoring, he's actually still in position to finish with a triple-double.
Saint Thomas More suddenly has its biggest lead of the game
The Cavaliers got 3-pointers from Omar Fofana and Kyle Alivo plus a strong score-plus-foul from Amari McCottrey, who hit the free-throw to give Thomas More a 55-48 lead. That's the biggest advantage of the game for the Cavaliers, who've turned this game around quickly.
Sekou Konneh has 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers. McCottrey may be 3 of 14 but he's impacted the game with 11 boards and six assists.
Lakeside has three scorers in double figures, but as tough as Thomas More has been from 3-point range (4 for 15 now), Lakeside has been worse (3 for 15).
we have 6:21 to go in this game.
Wes Rahn with a thunderous breakaway dunk as Lakeside builds its lead back to 4, but Alivo hits another triple to tighten things back up
A steal turned into a run-out and dunk for Wes Rahn, and that gives Lakeside a 45-41 lead here with 9:24 to go.
Kyle Alivo hits from the top of the key for a 3-pointer, though, and it's back to a 45-44 deficit.
All tied up with 10:30 to go in the game
Thomas More and Lakeside Lutheran are knotted up at 41 with 10:21 to go in the game, and Thomas More will have the ball after a timeout.
Amari McCottrey is 2 of 13 and stuck on six points, but he's not alone in struggling shooting. Evan Oleson, the team's third-leading scorer, is 0 for 5 from the field and has zero points thus far. This is after a 2 for 18 shooting performance from 3-point range in the semifinal; the Cavaliers are 1 of 11 there today.
Sekou Konneh has kept the Cavaliers in this. He's got 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Kaycee Guzman has 14 to lead Lakeside, which still just has four players in the scoring column. Lakeside hurting itself by being just 3 of 7 at the free-throw line.
Sekou Konneh has taken over for Thomas More, and the Cavaliers have a lead
McCottrey may be struggling, but it sure helps having another DI-caliber player on the team. The 6-9 forward Sekou Konneh has two buckets early in the second half and is up to 12 rebounds. When Kenari Parr scored off an inbound, it gave Thomas More a 35-34 lead with 15 minutes to go for the D3 title.
McCottrey also got hit with a goal tending call just a little while ago, giving Lakeside a chance at a 3-point play.
Some halftime numbers for Thomas More-Lakeside
Sekou Konneh already has a double-double for Thomas More with 10 points and 12 rebounds, making 5 of 9 from the field. He, Amari McCottrey and Kyle Alivo have not left the floor. The Cavaliers are just 1 of 10 from 3-point range this far, though Lakeside is only 2 of 9.
Lakeside has only seen four players score: Kaycee Guzman (10), Kooper Mlsna (8), Wes Rahn (8) and Alex Reinke (6). Rahn also has seven rebounds and three assists, and Easton Wolfman also has four boards for the Warriors. Despite the frantic pace early, neither team has had many troubles with turnovers. The Cavaliers just need to shoot the ball better.
Sekou Konneh bucket makes it a 3-point game at halftime
Cavaliers big man Sekou Konneh just made buckets on back-to-back possessions, scoring with less than 3 seconds on the clock when Amari McCottrey lost the ball going up to bring St. Thomas More within 32-29 at the break.
Lakeside Lutheran has done well to hold McCottrey to 2 of 12 shooting in the first half, but I would suspect that changes at least a little bit after the break.
Lead for Lakeside is 29-25 with 52 seconds left before halftime; Thomas More's best player is struggling
The frenetic early pace of this game has slowed to something for more manageable, and Thomas More will have the ball with 52.1 seconds left in the first half trying to cut into a 29-25 lead for Lakeside Lutheran.
Amari McCottrey is really struggling for Thomas More, just 2 of 12 from the field with 6 points. He does have seven rebounds. Lakeside's Kaycee Guzman, the hero of the semifinal, leads all scorers with 10 points.
Lakeside Lutheran on a 12-2 run before basket by Omar Fofana
The Lakeside Lutheran lead had grown to 8 points with the Warriors on a 12-2 run before Omar Fofana spun his way to the bucket for a lay-in, and then Kyle Alivo added a 3-pointer on the next possession to pull the Cavaliers within 24-21 in the final 3 minutes of the first half.
It's the first 3-point basket for either team in this game. Change of pace after we had record-setting performances from deep in each of the first two finals.
Lakeside just hit the first one for their side, though, and that builds the lead to 29-23 with 1:43 to go. Kooper Mlsna did the honors.
Kaycee Guzman puts back gives Lakeside 4-point lead
Lakeside Lutheran has a 20-16 lead with 5:41 to go, and Thomas More calls timeout after a Kaycee Guzman putback basket. He's up to 8 points on 4 of 8 shooting, while Thomas More is shooting 7 of 22 from the field and can't seem to finish around the rim.
Or from distance, for that matter. The Cavaliers are 0 for 7 from long range. But Lakeside isn't that much better off in that department, having missed all four of its 3-point attempts.
Wes Rahn also has 8 points for the Warriors.
Scoring pace slows a bit, and Thomas More has 14-12 lead
OK, maybe not the first to 85. I got carried away!
McCottry has 6 points and Thomas More has a 14-12 lead with 10:43 to go in the first half. Konneh has 4 points and three rebounds and should have had another basket (I think) but refs ruled he touched the ball in the cylinder (which I don't think he did, but I could be wrong).
First one to 85 points wins? Tied at 10 with 14:13 to go
Kyle Alivo just scored, then stole away the inbound and scored again for Thomas More to bring the Cavaliers back to a 10-10 tie with Lakeside Lutheran early. It's going to be a fun ride, especially because we haven't seen any whistles yet in a game that's had its share of collisions.
Wes Rahn and Alex Reinke have four quick points for Lakeside. Neither team does a ton from 3-point range according to their stats; this feels like a take-it-to-the-rim sort of game.
Under way in Division 3 title game, with Lakeside grabbing an early lead
Amari McCottry, the 6-6 senior leader of the Cavaliers, scored the first basket of the game, but Lakeside came back to score the next two buckets. Then 6-9 big man Sekou Konneh, who had a double double in the semifinal, scored his first bucket before Lakeside pushed the tempo for two more baskets and an 8-4 lead with 15:26 left in the first half.
This is going to be a high-scoring, fast-paced contest.
Up next: Saint Thomas More (28-1) vs. Lakeside Lutheran (27-2)
Continuing our run of powder-ish blue from Mineral Point to both of these teams vying for their first state titles. Both are at state for a second consecutive year.
Lakeside Lutheran won at the buzzer over Kiel to get here, with Kaycee Guzman's layup breaking a tie just before the horn sounded. Guzman averages 13.9 points per game and leads the team in assists, but Wes Rahn leads the team with 15.6 points per game. He's a 6-7 sophomore who also brings in 10.7 rebounds per game.
Kooper Mlsna adds 10 points per game for Lakeside, which has a couple overtime wins this year and only one lopsided loss.
Thomas More comes in as the favorite, with the lone loss to undefeated Division 2 finalist Wisconsin Lutheran. Amari McCottry was a Mr. Basketball candidate with 23 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, plus the team lead in assists. Sekou Konneh, another D1 prospect who had a huge game in the semifinal, adds 22.9 points per game and 10.1 rebounds. They might be the best 1-2 punch in this state tournament.
Surreal moment with cheers all around the Kohl Center for Madison
What a strange vibe in the Kohl Center. Mineral Point wins just before the buzzer and was taking its post-trophy pictures as cheers began erupting in pockets all around the Kohl Center. That's because the Badgers just put the finishing touches on an overtime win over Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament, a win that puts Bucky into the Big Ten tournament championship game.
Mineral Point has a connection to that team, since Eli Lindsey's older brother Isaac is on the Badgers roster. Nice sequence for the Lindsey family!
An unforgettable state tournament for Mineral Point
A 3-pointer with 6 seconds left in the semifinal to beat Aquinas, and then a putback with 1.4 seconds left to win over Kenosha St. Joseph in the final, giving Mineral Point its first state title? Can't make it up.
The Pointers set a D4 record with 15 three-pointers, but it's a missed three and putback that will be remembered for the years to come. Mineral Point turned the ball over six times in the final 2:30 of the game but prevailed. What a furious rally for the Lancers, only to come up just short.
Jaxson Wendhausen had 20 points, making 6 of 10 from 3-point range and also a tough inside bucket late that was huge for the Pointers. Landon Thousand had 15 points, and Eli Lindsey, the brother of Badgers player Isaac Lindsey (hey, and the Badgers just won, too!), had 12.
Eric Kenesie had 23 for St. Joseph, finishing 10 of 22 from the field.
Final: Mineral Point 54, Kenosha St. Joseph 64
Drew Aschliman scored 5 points on 1 of 4 shooting, but that 1 will live forever. Two nights after Landon Thousand's 3-pointer with 6 seconds gave his team a 62-61 win in the semifinal, Aschliman's putback off a miss tips the scales for a 65-64 victory.
Good lord, what a tournament for Mineral Point. The Pointers set a D4 record with 15 three-pointers in a state-tournament game and prevail in an absolute thriller.
Eric Kenesie's shot from midcourt at the buzzer was well short for St. Joe's.
St. Joe's takes the lead! But Mineral Point just scored with 1 second left!
Drew Aschliman of Mineral Point just collected a missed shot before the buzzer and scored with 1.4 seconds on the clock, giving the Pointers a 65-64 edge after Kenosha St. Joseph's Eric Kenesie scored on the other end to give the Lancers their first lead of the game. What a wild finish. Can St. Joe's hit a miracle?
Dominic Santarelli just fouled out for St. Joseph, but it's a 3-point game with a minute to play
It's going to be tough without sophomore Dominic Santarelli, who just fouled out, and Mineral Point made both free throws to re-take a five point lead. But Tomas Baez cashes in an offensive rebound for a putback on the other end, and the Lancers call timeout, back within 63-60 with 59.4 to go. An eternity still!
Mineral Point overcame a 7-point deficit in the final 25 seconds of the semifinal to win in regulation. So needless to say, the Pointers know that an immense amount of game remains.
Mineral Point is completely rattled by St. Joseph defense
Another trap, another turnover in the backcourt, and Dominic Santarelli winds up getting to the free throw line for two points.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's a one-possession game at 61-58 and still 1:20 to go!
Three straight steals lead to scores for St. Joseph
The Lancers are surging. After the timeout, Chris Kenesie engineered another steal that turned into a basket, and now it's a 61-56 game with just less than 2 minutes to go. Mineral Point then nearly lost it again but drew a foul ... then missed the front end of a bonus.
But St. Joseph gets called for traveling on the other end. There's 1:35 to go.
What a day for Jaxson Wendhausen, but Eric Kenesie just added two steals-and-scores
He averages 9.6 points per game, but Mineral Point junior Jaxson Wendhausen just scored a basket and drew contact to bring his point total today to 20. He missed the free throw, but then the Pointers got the offensive rebound and turned it into 2 points instead. That feels like a possible dagger.
But is it? that made it 61-50, but then Eric Kenesie got a steal and score, and then another steal and score off the inbound. Now it's 61-54 with 2:03 to go and Mineral Point calls timeout.
With 3:02 left, Kenosha St. Joseph trails, 57-50
Big man Dominic Santarelli is up to 12 points after a 3-pointer but he also has four fouls for St. Joseph, which is back within 57-50 with 3:02 left to play. Eric Kenesie has 17 points to lead the Lancers.
Mineral Point encroaching on all-division 3-pointer record
Is it possible the all-division tournament record that Columbus Catholic just set isn't even going to last two hours? The Dons scored 27 three-pointers in two games. Mineral Point is up to 24 for the two games, including 15 in this state final on 28 attempts.
More than that, Eli Lindsey just scored on an offensive rebound inside and drew contact. St. Joseph is playing a pretty good half but has lost the foothold on this game, and Mineral Point has a 57-47 lead with 3:36 remaining.
The record for 3-pointers in a state-tournament game, by the way, is 16, set by Kaukauna of Division 2 in 2018. Not sure that mark makes it out alive.
Don't count out the Lancers yet, who get a 5-point possession
Tommy Santarelli made a layup on a strange 5-point play, with St. Joseph then retaining possession because of an Eli Lindsey foul under the basket. After inbounding, Logan Werlinger hit a 3-pointer, and that certainly helps the Lancers get back into the game, down 51-43 with 5:19 to go. Still a long way to go.
The Pointers have now set the record for 3-pointers in a state-tournament game and are suddenly back up by 13
Mineral Point had a pretty great response to losing a 15-point lead. They just kept shooting.
The Pointers are now 14 of 26 from 3-point range, a staggering shooting performance that's been a continuing theme this morning and afternoon at the Kohl Center. That breaks the 13 made by Roncalli in a 2018 game for the new Division 4 record. We just saw the Division 5 record fall when Columbus Catholic hit 14 in the last game.
Jaxson Wendhausen is 5 of 8 from 3-point range for Mineral Point, Eli Lindsey is 3 of 4, and Alex Ross is 3 of 5. Kenosha St. Joseph showed some pluck here, but they're going to need a whale of a comeback in the final 6:11 to get back to even.
The lead is 51-38 for Mineral Point.
It's 37-33, Mineral Point, into a timeout with 10:12 to play
Kenosha St. Joseph will have the ball after a break, not long after Logan Werlinger cashed in a possession with a basket that featured two offensive rebounds. Both teams have done good work on the offensive glass; KSJ has eight offensive boards and Mineral Point has nine.
Eric Kenesie just 5 of 14 from the field now; you get the feeling he has another gear.
Mineral Point re-discovers its 3-point stroke to take 6-point lead
Eli Lindsey hit a 3-pointer after Mineral Point missed its first three triple attempts of the half, and after Eric Kenesie missed badly on the other end, Landon Thousand's shot rattled up in the air and down through for another 3-pointer and the 10th of the game for the Pointers.
That replenishes the Mineral Point lead to 37-31 with 11:30 to go in this game for the Division 4 gold ball.
We're tied! Kenosha St. Joseph has battled back from a 15-point deficit
Wow, things turned on a dime there.
Tommy Santarelli scored a bucket to make it a 2-point game, then stole it away at midcourt. As he approached the hoop, he fell down, but still had the presence of mind to get the ball to Chris Kenesie, who scored his first basket of the game on a layup that knots the score at 30-30.
There's 14:39 left.
Kenosha St. Joseph is really back in the game now
It's 30-26 with 16:04 to go in the game after Eric Kenesie just quickly converted a Mineral Point missed jumper into points on the other end. Kenesie is up to 13 points. Mineral Point has the ball but has suddenly seen its 15-point lead whittled to just four.
Some halftime numbers
Eric Kenesie has 11 points for the Lancers, but they've been hard-earned, on just 4 of 11 shooting. Overall, the Lancers are shooting just 36 percent from the field 2 of 10 from deep.
Landon Thousand has 10 points to lead Mineral Point, but the Pointers are 8 of 15 from deep, which is obviously the major difference in this game. The Pointers aren't tearing it up from the field (39.3%) and haven't gotten to the line at all, but they are firing on all cylinders from long distance.
St. Joe's does have a 14-6 advantage in fastbreak points and 8-2 edge on second-chance points. The teams are fairly even in turnovers and rebounds.
Kenosha St. Joseph with some huge momentum buckets before halftime
It's a 30-22 lead for Mineral Point at the break, but the final minute definitely belonged to Kenosha St. Joseph, which closed on a 7-0 run over the final 52 seconds.
Eric Kenesie scored and converted a foul shot for a 3-point play, and then Dante Williams (a sophomore big man who is definitely my favorite player on this floor) cleaned up a miss on a steal/fastbreak with a putback. Then, at the buzzer, Lowell Werlinger leaped up for an overshot 3-pointer by Tomas Baez and bounced it in off the glass just as the backboard turned red, giving St. Joseph some life at halftime.
Mineral Point now raining down 3-pointers, and the lead is 12 points with 3:07 to go
Four different players now have three-pointers for Mineral Point, shooting 7 of 11 from beyond the arc to build a 27-15 lead with 3:07 left before halftime. Jaxson Wendhausen just buried the triple that coaxed a timeout of out St. Joseph, but Landon Thousand and Eli Lindsey have both hit their two triples.
Eli is the younger brother of Wisconsin Badgers player Isaac Lindsey, whose team is playing right now in the Big Ten Tournament.
Lancers struggling to get into a groove, down 21-12 with 6:04 to play in the first half
Kenosha St. Joseph is just 5 for 15 from the field to start this game, and on the other end, Mineral Point is up to five offensive rebounds, allowing the Pointers to hold an 21-12 lead with a little less than 5 minutes to go in the first half.
Pointers up to 4 of 6 shooting from distance
Eric Kenesie of St. Joe's has his first points of the game on a 3-pointer, but Mineral Point has stayed hot and has a 14-7 lead with 10:27 to go in the first half. Mineral Point has hit 4 of 6 from 3-point range thus far.
Mineral Point suddenly has three triples and a 9-0 lead
Whoa, things turned quickly as Alex Ross just hit back-to-back 3-pointers for Mineral Point while St. Joseph has two turnovers and two empty shot attempts to their name thus far. It's now 9-0 with 13:51 left in the first half. Mineral Point has hit 3 of its first 4 attempts from deep.
First timeout and not much offense so far
Eli Lindsey of Mineral Point has hit a 3-pointer, but it's only a 3-0 game at our first stoppage, with 15 minutes to go in the first half.
Prep sports guru Dan Barwick advised on X that we should enjoy the D5 pace while it lasted, because the D4 game was perhaps destined to be a rock fight. And well...it's early, I guess.
We are under way in the D4 final
About 20 minutes behind schedule already, but Kenosha St. Joseph and Mineral Point are off and running at the Kohl Center, with the winner procuring the first WIAA gold ball in school history.
Both teams turn it over on their first possessions.
Up next in Division 4 final: Kenosha St. Joseph (20-9) vs. Mineral Point (27-2)
Kenosha St. Joseph will look for its first title after finishing as runner up last year. The Lancers scored a 46-37 win over top seed Marathon to get this far. It was a little different than last year's semifinal, when Eric Kenesie scored a state-record 51 points in a game to get his team through.
Mineral Point already got an amazing March Madness moment when Landon Thousand hit a 3-pointer with 6 seconds left and gave his team a 62-61 win over state-tournament staple La Crosse Aquinas. The Pointers and Lancers are both after their first state title.
Thousand leads the Pointers with 14.9 points per game, and Eli Lindsay is next at 11.8. It's a defensive-savvy team that has held opponents to less than 50 points on 20 occasions this year.
Kenesie averages 25.1 points per game for the Lancers, coached by Jose Garcia. He also has 5.1 assists per game, with three players averaging between 8 and 9 points (Dominic Santarelli, Tommy Santarelli and Christopher Kenesie). It's all in the family.
Just a ridiculous collection of 3-pointers from both teams
Columbus hit 14 of 31 from distance and Abundant Life had 12 of 22 for a wild barrage, though 17 of those 26 came before halftime. Emmitt Konieczny had 10 points at halftime but finished with 31, making all 10 free throws, half of his 10 3-point attempts and 8 of 14 overall. He added five rebounds and a pair of assists.
Charlie Moore added 18 points for the victorious Challengers. Blake Jakobi had 12 points and five assists. Cy Becker, who led the team in scoring in the semifinal, finished with 7 points and eight boards.
For Abundant Life, a team that shot 53% in this game, 55% from 3-point range and 82% at the line, Jonah Koon had 20 points, three assists and four boards. Jacob Koon had 17 with seven rebounds, and Jimmitrius Davison had 14 to go with 11 boards. Nolan Wallace made 4 of 7 from three-point range and had 14 points as well.
Abundant Life committed 15 turnovers to Columbus Catholic's 10. Columbus had a 22-3 advantage on fast breaks.
FINAL: Columbus Catholic 81, Abundant Life 75
Emmitt Konieczny finishes the game with 31 points, and the Dons hit 21 of 22 at the free-throw line to accompany 14 of 31 shooting from 3-point range. After setting the Division 5 record for 3-pointers in a state tournament game yesterday, they surpass that mark today, in the process setting a new all-division team tournament record with 27 makes from beyond the arc.
Jonah Koon had 20 points and Abundant Life played very well, but Columbus prevails for its first WIAA state title.
Jonah Koon with a rare miss at the line proves costly
Abundant Life got a turnover off the inbound, but Jonah Koon missed the front end of the bonus, allowing Columbus to get the ball back and add two more points at the line. Abundant Life is still 9 of 11 at the line today, but that miss was the dagger if there was any life left for the Challengers.
Abundant Life scored on its next possession, but it's a 79-72 lead for Columbus with 14.9 seconds left.
The Columbus lead is 7 points with 25.8 seconds to go
Emmitt Konieczny just hit two more free throws (the Dons are 17 of 18 now at the line) and Columbus will have the ball after a timeout with a 77-70 lead and 25.8 seconds to kill for a gold ball. Konieczny has 29 points.
Dons will be sent to the free-throw line ... where they have been nearly perfect
Abundant Life's only hope is that Columbus will miss some free throws down the stretch, but that would be a surprise; Columbus is 13 of 14 at the line today.
And sure enough, Charlie Moore cans both to make it 75-65 with less than a minute to play.
Abundant Life goes on 5-0 run but Columbus answers
Nolan Wallace is up to four triples for Abundant Life, which went on a 5-0 run to pull within 68-63 at the 2:10 mark in the second half. But then Charlie Moore hit an absolute gut punch of a 3-pointer to partially replenish the Columbus lead, and after a takeaway, Cy Becker scored to make it 73-63 with 1:17 to go.
Barring a fascinating meltdown, Columbus Catholic is going to win the Division 5 state title.
Pair of 3-pointers has Columbus getting closer to a state title
Charlie Moore and Emmitt Konieczny just hit 3-pointers to give Columbus Catholic its biggest lead yet at 10 points, 68-58, with 3:52 left to play. Abundant Life needs a timeout. The Dons are getting awfully close to their first WIAA state championship.
Emmitt Konieczny is up to 27 points, including 17 in this half. Totally caught fire.
It's 62-58, Columbus, with 6:02 to go
We have a timeout here as Columbus tries to hold off Abundant Life with 6 minutes to go for gold.
The Dons haven't hit a 3-pointer in a while but have been able to get some good looks inside, even though they haven't all fallen. Emmitt Konieczny has 24 points and brother Mac has 9. Blake Jakobi has 12 thanks to 3 of 4 shooting from deep.
The Koon brothers are up to 27 combined points for the Challengers.
Jacob Koon falls down, makes 3-pointer anyway, but Columbus still leads by 6
Abundant Life missed its first free throw of the day but came away with an offensive rebound on the ball out of bounds, and Jacob Koon used that opportunity to hit a 3-pointer while falling to the ground to pull his team back within 58-56.
But Emmitt Konieczny just got a steal and turned that into a Cy Becker layup, with Abundant Life now up to 13 turnovers. The lead for Columbus is 62-56 with 8 minutes to go after a Mac Konieczny bucket.
This time it's Mac Konieczny with a basket to give Columbus its biggest lead
Emmitt Konieczny is up to 24 points for Columbus, but it's his sophomore brother Mac whose bucket just gave the Dons a 58-52 lead, which is the squad's largest of the game with 10:34 to go in the Division 5 championship game.
On the other end, Abundant Life just got whistled for an offensive foul on the second consecutive possession. It's up to 11 turnovers for the Challengers.
Jacob Koon's 3-point play means it's back to a 2-point game with 14:28 to play
Jacob Koon scored and drew contact, then made the free throw to make his team 5 for 5 from the stripe today. Just amazing shooting from both teams, now 18 of 19 at the line and 20 of 35 from 3-point range.
The Columbus lead is 54-52 with 14:28 to play. The Dons have hit 11 triples in the game and 24 for the tournament, two shy of Kaukauna's all-division record for a state tournament.
Do we have more 3-pointers? Yes. Yes we do. Emmitt Konieczny has THREE more of them
Emmitt Konieczny has hit a trio of 3-pointers for Columbus, with a big fist pump and a scream after the most recent one, and he just drew a foul on another 3-point attempt that will send him to the free throw line. Jonah Koon insists he didn't touch the shooter, but that's a massive moment, because it means Jonah has his third foul with 15:22 to go, and Konieczny gets to build on the foothold Columbus Catholic has found in the second half.
Konieczny hits all three free throws and Columbus is now 13 of 14 in that department, with a 54-49 lead. Konieczny with 12 points already in this half and 22 overall.
Some other halftime numbers
Jonah and Jacob Koon, the Abundant Life leading scorers, weren't on the board with 8 minutes left in the half. They finish with a combined 16 points on 6 of 10 shooting. But Abundant Life is led by Nolan Wallace (11 points), while Jimmitrius Davison has eight with six rebounds.
Blake Jacobi has 12 points for Columbus, and Emmitt Konieczny has 10. The Dons have really helped themselves by going 10 of 11 at the free-throw line, getting fouled from deep on three different occasions. Abundant Life has made all four of its free throws as well. Shooting is the name of the game!
Columbus shooting 46.2%, and Abundant Life 57.7%, with Columbus at 50% from deep and Abundant Life at 64.3%. The Challengers do have six turnovers to the Dons' four, but it's the Challengers with the narrow one-point lead coming out of the break.
Halftime: Abundant Life 43, Columbus Catholic 42
It is raining inside the Kohl Center.
The two teams have combined for 17 3-pointers in the first half, and when the dust settled, it was Abundant Life with a 43-42 lead over Columbus Catholic. Abundant Life Christian won its semifinal 42-37, but it now has surpassed that mark in the first half alone.
Columbus, which hit 13 three-pointers to set a single-game tournament record in its semifinal win over Solon Springs, has hit 8 of 16 from deep here. The 21 makes is also a tournament record and getting pretty close to Kaukauna's 26 from 2016 as the all-division record record. Arrowhead had 23 in Division 1 in a three-game tournament in 2010, but all other division marks have been surpassed by Columbus.
But Abundant Life is 9 of 14 (!!) from deep.
Columbus Catholic has the tournament 3-point record. And more. But everyone is making 3-pointers
Friends, this is a showcase.
Blake Jacobi set the tournament record, and Mac Konieczny broke it. Everyone is hitting 3-pointers. But that includes Abundant Life, who keeps hitting their own. The teams have combined for seventeen 3-pointers in this half.
Columbus Catholic making threes and frees
If I had time to blink, I'd look up the tournament record for 3-pointers. Remember, Columbus Catholic hit 13 yesterday to set a single-game state tournament record in Division 5. And they have six thus far, plus just got fouled shooting a 3-pointer for the third time today, and they've converted every one of their eight free throws to this point.
Charlie Moore, however, misses the first. He makes the next two, though, giving his Dons the lead back at 34-33 with 2:40 to go in the first half. I am having fun.
OK, I just looked, and the D5 record is 19 by Racine Lutheran in 2012. Columbus already has that one tied, so the next triple sets a new WIAA tournament mark.
Arrowhead hit 23 in Division 1 in 2010 (that was three games, though), and Kaukauna hit 26 in Division 2 in 2018. All other divisions are stuck on 19, including the two-game record in Division 1 (Stevens Point in 2016).
Holy smokes, we have a barn burner at the Kohl Center
- Jonah Koon is finally on the board. He hits a 3-pointer.
- Charlie Moore, the namesake of a Milwaukee Brewers legend, hits one on the other end for Columbus.
- Jonah Koon comes back and hits another three for Abundant Life.
- Then Blake Jakobi hits a triple for Columbus.
- Then Nolan Wallace hits his third 3-pointer of the day for Abundant Life.
These are all on consecutive possessions. The Challengers have a 31-27 lead and just stole the ball from Columbus to end the magical run. There's 4:40 left.
Back and forth we go, with the Challengers taking the lead back
Conner Whitaker hits a 3-pointer for Abundant Life, and with 6:28 to go in the first half, the Challengers have reclaimed a 22-21 lead, and they have the ball under their hoop.
We're in the same spot; the Koon brothers still haven't scored for Abundant Life, which sure makes it feel like the Challengers have a lot left in the tank.
The Dons take the lead at the free-throw line, then add to it from the 3-point line
For the second time today, Columbus Catholic was fouled shooting a 3-pointer, and for the second time, the Dons made every freebie. They're up to 8 for 8 on the day, and their lead moved to 21-16 with a 3-pointer by Charlie Moore on the next possession.
It's Blake Jakobi who buried all of those free throws. The team's leading scorer gets his first points of the game.
Nolan Wallace is up to 8 points for Abundant Life as he answers with his second triple of the day, making it 21-19 in favor of Columbus Catholic with 7:35 to go in the first half.
Big-time block from Jimmitrius Davison
Is Jimmitrius Davison my favorite player on the court thus far? Who can say?
He just had an impressive block to thwart a Dons shot attempt, with the ball out of bounds back to Columbus. With 10:16 left, the Abundant Life lead is 16-12, with Blayne Wall's 3-pointer the latest scoring from the Challengers.
Again, it's not a bad spot to be in for Abundant Life, to have a 4-point lead and still zero points from your top two scorers (on only one shot, no less).
Ope, and Columbus threw away the inbound, so it's back to Abundant Life.
Back comes the Dons with eight quick points, and Abundant Life calls timeout
You didn't think this game was going to be a blowout did you?
Nay, it's already back to a 13-12 game, with the Challengers nursing their lead with 11:16 to go and needing a timeout after a lightning-quick 8-0 run for the Dons. Emmitt Konieczny was fouled on a 3-pointer and made all the free throws, Cy Becker hit a triple and a fastbreak opportunity led into a Mac Konieczny bucket.
Prepare yourself for the public/private school debate takes today
One of the more popular talking points in high-school sports (particularly basketball) is how private schools have a perceived advantage over public schools, and that's often reflected in the battle to get into these state championship games.
All five games today will feature at least one private school, and seven of the 10 finalists are private schools, including both in this Division 5 game.
It's a take as old as time, and I always feel it necessary to point out how many elite public-school teams also have players on them that transferred or open-enrolled at one point in their careers, but I digress before getting too in the weeds on that one. It's just notable that today is the first time we've had a private school in all five WIAA title games.
Anyway, it's 13-4, Abundant Life, and the Challengers' top two scorers still haven't scored with 12:30 left. Jimmitrius Davison has two 3-point plays.
Abundant Life is hot early, taking a 10-4 lead
Fortunately, it's not hard to tell Jonah and Jacob Koon apart for Abundant Life. Jonah is two inches taller with brown hair and a few locks of blond thrown in, while Jacob is a red head. Appreciate them helping the journalists out with the genetics.
But interestingly enough, though the twins are the team's top two scorers, the Challengers have a 10-4 lead without needing either to score a point yet.
Jonah just dished a gorgeous inside bounce pass to Jimmitrius Davison, who is easily the most imposing player on the court for either team. He scored and drew contact, then converted the free throw for a 5-4 lead for Abundant Life. Then, Nolan Wallace hit consecutive shots, including a 3-pointer. Abundant Life has hit 4 of its first 5.
There's 13:37 left in the first half and Columbus Catholic calls timeout.
The video montages before these games are on point
One thing I always loved about the "ring of honor" during state wrestling in this building was the hype video that shows on the scoreboard just before the main event. Very professional, very in-tune with the storylines and definitely gets the adrenaline pumping.
They do them for boys basketball, too, with the lights off in the building before introducing starting lineups. I'm here for it. I'm guessing they've done these for a while, but I admit I don't remember them from past years.
Division 5 final: Columbus Catholic (28-2) vs. Abundant Life Christian (28-2)
We start with some local flavor for the Madison fans with Abundant Life Christian looking for a title against Columbus Catholic of Marshfield. Neither has ever won a state title in WIAA play, and it's the first visit to state for Abundant Life.
Columbus crushed a Division 5 record with 13 three-pointers in a state tournament game in yesterday's semifinal, hitting 50% from deep, and Cy Becker had 24 points to lead Columbus to a 78-65 win over Solon Springs.
Abundant Life, meanwhile, won far more methodically, topping Almond-Bancroft, 42-37, despite 17 points and 22 rebounds from Ayden Phillips in a losing effort.
The Challengers of Abundant Life are led by Jonah Koon (14.3 points per game plus 5.5 rebounds) and twin brother Jacob Koon (14.1 points, 3.6 rebounds), plus 10.0 points per game from Blayne Wall. The Koon brothers also lead the team in assists, while Jimmitrius Davison (10.1 boards per game) leads the squad in rebounding. The 6-4 big man is the tallest player on the roster.
Love this mascot matchup: the Challengers against the Dons.
Columbus Catholic (the Dons in this equation) are led by Blake Jakobi (14.6 points per game, 4.0 rebounds), Emmitt Konieczny (14.2 ppg) and Charlie Moore (12.6). Becker, who had the big day yesterday, scores 9.2.
Their numbers indicate this is a team that shoots 42% from 3-point range, so it's perhaps no surprise they lit it up from beyond the arc yesterday. Abundant Life, by comparison, is at 31%.
Check out a great story from Mark McMullen on Emmitt Konieczny, who was in a head-on auto collision with his mother that left both with bad injuries. He needed part of his intestine removed and is grateful to even have this opportunity.
Let's do some championship basketball
Today we bid farewell to the WIAA winter sports season for 2024 and crown five champions. And it's one of those rare years where I don't know if I feel I can confidently pick any of the five outcomes. Hope you enjoyed yesterday's blog (four overtime madness!) but let's do this one more time.
Wisconsin high school boys basketball state tournament scores Friday
Division 5
Division 2
Division 1
Wisconsin high school boys basketball state tournament scores Thursday
Division 3
Division 4
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.
WIAA basketball state tournament tickets 2024
Want to see all the talent in-person at the Kohl Center? Here's ticket info:
Tickets cost $13.50 per 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
If you go to the game, here's what you should know about what you can carry in:
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
