The WIAA Girl’s State Basketball tournament tipped off Thursday at the Kohl Center in Madison with the Division 4 and 5 semifinals.
In Division 5, Owen-Withee (25-3) got by Newman Catholic (25-2) 49-46 in the first semifinal. Owen-Withee will play in their 4th state final Saturday looking for their first gold ball. Playing in Madison for the first time in school history, Heritage Christian (23-4) knocked off Seneca (26-1) 50-41 in the other semifinal.
In Division 4, Oshkosh Lourdes (26-1) eliminated Eau Claire Regis (24-3) 70-63 in an overtime thriller. Lourdes is looking for the schools first ever WIAA Gold Ball Saturday as they will take on unbeaten Neilsville. Neillsville(27-0) defeated Howards Grove (25-2) 50-41. This is Neilsville 3rd ever trip to state and will be their first final.
Friday at the Kohl Center will be the Division 3,2, and 1 semifinals.
In Division 3, Barron (26-1) and Kewaunee(22-4) take the floor at 9:05 AM in the first game. Both teams are making their school’s second appearance at state; Barron in 2001 and Kewaunee in 2002 with each team losing the only games they played. East Troy (24-2) and Oostburg (22-4) play in the second semifinal. Oostburg has made the state finals for the 6th straight year and 10th time in school history. They won it all three times (1990, 1994, & 2008) East Troy is in Madison for the first time in school history.
In Division 2, New London (26-0) takes on Notre Dame (21-5) at 1:35 PM in the first semifinal. New London is the defending state champ as they make their 4th trip to Madison. Notre Dame also makes their fourth trip to the State Finals having won it all in 2001. The second semifinal features Reedsbrug Area (23-3) and New Berlin Eisenhower (26-0). Eisenhower plays in the schools 3rd state finals having won it all in 2010. Reedsburg is taking part in the schools first ever trip to state.
In Division 1, Oshkosh West (20-6) faces De Pere (22-4) in first semifinal at 6:35 PM. Both teams are making their 7th trip to state and each has two titles to show. De Pere won it all in 1983 and 2005 while West won back-to-back crowns in 2003 and 2004. Milwaukee King (20-6) takes on Middleton (21-5) in the other semifinal. King is playing in the schools 4th state tournament looking for their first gold ball. Middleton is playing in their 5th straight and 8th overall state tournament but still looking for their first state title.