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NOW's JR Radcliffe takes a weekly look at the top five boys and girls teams in the NOW and Lake Country Publications coverage area and ranks the schools, updated every Sunday.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Germantown, 28-0; Last week: 1

 The 2013 Division 1 state champion became just the third program in state history and first since Cassville in the early 90s to go back-to-back undefeated seasons, running a winning streak to 56 games. Center Luke Fischer was named Mr. Basketball in the state of Wisconsin and enjoyed a tremendous tournament as the Warhawks looked unfazed by Oshkosh North and Mukwonago in their two state games. What's more: the team started four juniors. Could that 62-game winning streak by Dominican -- believed to be a state record -- be in jeopardy? Tune back next year.

Dominican, 24-4; Last week: 2

Wins over undefeated Cuba City and a determined Auburndale team cemented the Knights' second consecutive state championship, with Marquette University recruit Duane Wilson and super sophomore Dimaond Stone leading the way. First-year coach Derek Berger guided his team through a number of tough tests -- including losses to state champions Aquinas and Germantown and D3 qualiifer Little Chute -- en route to a tremendous tourney run.

Mukwonago, 23-5; Last week: 4

The Indians made everybody believers in their bruising style of play when they shocked Milwaukee King in the state semifinal, leading most of the way before pulling away late. Though Mukwonago ultimately fell to Germantown in the state final, the Indians capped a remarkable season just one year removed from its first winning season in Classic 8 play ... ever.

Arrowhead, 20-5; Last week: 3

The Warhawks got as far as they could, falling to Germantown, as it seems any program in the state would. What's so impressive about Arrowhead is its ability to consantly reload and compete for conference titles without any front line players, demonstrating a balance that made both the football and basketball teams so dangerous this year. 

Sussex Hamilton, 21-3; Last week: 4

Last year, the upstart Chargers shocked Arrowhead in the regional final. This year, the tables turned, with Arrowhead holding down Hamilton and bringing its tremendous season to a close in a 49-36 outcome Feb. 23. Hamilton brings back some quality players next year, including one of the area's best juniors in Brady Ellingson, and the team can hang its hat on scoring its first conference title since 1979.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

  Mukwonago, 25-3; Last week: 1

Mukwonago dispatched Arrowhead in the state semifinal, 64-44, and reached the state championship game for the first time in program history. Though the Indians ultimately fell to Milwaukee Riverside, 55-41, it was a remarkable showing for the Indians, which also reached the state final on the boys side.

New Berlin Eisenhower, 25-3; Last week: 2

Eisenhower was unable to top Green Bay Notre Dame in the Division 2 state championship and fell for the second straight year on the doorstep of a state championship. It was nonetheless a remarkable season for the Lions, which got back to the final game despite graduating Miss Basketball Nicole Bauman from the preceding year. The talented crew of Jenny Weiland, Katie Lang, Sammy Kozlowski and Erin Ganzke helped the Lions stage one of the biggest upsets of the year, a victory over undefeated New London in the semifinal.

Oak Creek, 23-2; Last week: 3

In one of the tournament's bigger upsets, Oak Creek lost a large late lead against conferenece foe Franklin in the sectional semifinal, incurring just its second loss of the year but one damaging enough to prevent the Knights from reaching the state tournament. They're not alone -- each of the top three teams in the final state rankings in Division 1 and four of the top five missed the state tourney. Pictured: Steph Kostowicz.

Arrowhead, 18-9; Last week: 4

What a tremendous late season run by the Warhawks. Starting Jan. 29, Arrowhead defeated New Berlin Eisenhower and Mukwonago (both state finalists), as well as state-ranked teams Sussex Hamilton (No. 3) and Kimberly (No. 5) and a Waukesha West team that was ranked much of the year, twice. It was all capped by Ally May's buzzer-beating basket to shock Kimberly in the sectional final and sent Arrowhead to state, where it fell to Mukwonago in a rematch.

Sussex Hamilton, 21-3; Last week: 5

Few playoff losses were more heartbreaking than Hamilton's setback against Arrowhead on March 2, 46-40. Not only did the team see its second straight conference title season come to an end, the squad lost a late lead when star player Mackenzie Latt crumpled to the ground with an apparent knee injury in the fourth quarter. It was a somber conclusion, but the Chargers return a wealth of talent -- including Latt -- next year.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK



Mukwonago players celebrate on the bench during their defeat of Arrowhead in the WIAA Division 1 state semifinal, 64-44. Photo by Russ Pulvermacher.

BY THE NUMBERS

  • AREA LEADERS

  • CAREER SCORING

  • STATE RANKINGS

AREA LEADERS

Girls

  1. Allazia Blockton, Dominican, 21.3 ppg
  2. Mary Hirt, Lake Country Lutheran, 20.1
  3. Cassidy Mihalko, Franklin, 19.5
  4. Mackenzie Latt, Sussex Hamilton, 19.2
  5. Jessica Kelliher, Waukesha North, 18.2
  6. Katie Salmon, Wauwatosa East, 16.9
  7. Ashley Markowiak, Whitnall, 16.4
  8. Briana Gray, Nicolet, 16.3
  9. Mishayla Jones, Dominican, 15.3
  10. Steph Kostowicz, Oak Creek, 15.3
  11. Jessica Cattani, Muskego, 15.1
  12. Abby Gerrits, Pewaukee, 15.0
  13. Liz Hafemann, Martin Luther, 15.0
  14. Jenny Weiland, New Berlin Eisenhower, 14.9
  15. Tamya Sims, Oak Creek, 14.8

Boys

  1. Reed Timmer, New Berlin Eisenhower, 24.7 ppg
  2. Duane Wilson, Dominican, 23.8
  3. Brady Ellingson, Sussex Hamilton, 22.7
  4. Sean Clarey, Brookfield Academy, 22.6
  5. Domonique Criss, Brookfield Academy, 21.9
  6. Luke Fischer, Germantown, 21.3
  7. Riley LaChance, Brookfield Central, 20.6
  8. Jordan Perez, Greendale, 20.6
  9. Danny Weymier, Whitnall, 20.5
  10. Ty Sabin, Catholic Memorial, 19.0
  11. Mike Novak, Brookfield East, 18.4
  12. Keenan Bell, St. Francis, 18.3
  13. Paul Miller, Kettle Moraine, 17.9
  14. Daymeann Stewart, Thomas More, 17.1
  15. Trayvon Palmer, Brown Deer, 17.1

Averages are taken from the Wissports.net online database. Adjustments will be made only if submitted by that player's coach to JR Radcliffe at jradcliffe@jcpgroup.com. Averages through March 18. Teams covered on Roundball Rankings include those by NOW Newspapers (including extended coverage zone involving Dominican, Cudahy, Thomas More, Martin Luther, St. Francis, South Milwaukee, Sussex Hamilton and Brookfield Academy) and Lake Country Publications.

CAREER SCORING

Current active leading scorers among all NOW-area high schools. All seniors, unless noted.

Boys

  1. Duane Wilson, Dominican, 1,801 (pictured)
  2. Reed Timmer, New Berlin Eisenhower, 1,433*
  3. Sean Clarey, Brookfield Academy, 1,256*
  4. Domonique Criss, Brookfield Academy, 1,184
  5. Luke Fischer, Germantown, 1,178
  6. Brady Ellingson, Sussex Hamilton, 1,177*
  7. T.J. Schlundt, Oconomowoc, 1,053*
  8. Ricky Santiago, Greenfield, 1,036
  9. Riley LaChance, Brookfield Central, 1,025*
  10. Anthony Carroll, Wauwatosa East, 958

Girls

  1. Cassidy Mihalko, Franklin, 1,285
  2. Mackenzie Latt, Sussex Hamilton, 1,135*
  3. Emily Pusheck, South Milwaukee, 1,094
  4. Mishayla Jones, Dominican, 1,061
  5. Allazia Blockton, Dominican, 997**
  6. Mary Hirt, Lake Country Lutheran, 958*
  7. Jenny Weiland, New Berlin Eisenhower, 943
  8. Jenny Tuttle, Mukwonago, 928
  9. Michelle Farrow, Waukesha West, 890
  10. Jenny Eickhorst, Franklin, 831

* juniors in 2012-13
**sophomore

Stats accumulated from Wissports.net database through March 18.

STATE RANKINGS

Several NOW teams have popped up on the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association rankings (Feb. 19 girls, Feb. 12 boys).

Division 1 girls
2. Oak Creek (20-1)
3. Sussex Hamilton (20-1)
4. Mukwonago (20-1)
10. Waukesha West (17-3)

Division 2 girls
2. New Berlin Eisenhower (19-2)

Division 1 boys
1. Germantown (21-0)
3. Sussex Hamilton (19-1)
9. Brookfield Central (17-3)

Division 3 boys
9. Brown Deer (15-3)

Division 4 boys
2. Dominican (16-4)
6. Brookfield Academy (18-2)

BEST OF THE REST BOYS

Rating the rest of the boys teams:

Brookfield Central, 20-4
New Berlin Eisenhower, 21-4
Brown Deer, 21-4
Brookfield Academy, 21-3
Catholic Memorial, 18-7
Whitefish Bay, 17-7
Waukesha West, 14-9
Homestead, 15-9
Pewaukee, 16-8
Whitnall, 15-8

Others (alpha): Brookfield East (8-15); Cudahy (2-21); Franklin (10-13); Greendale (10-14); Greenfield (10-13); Kettle Moraine (12-11); Lake Country Lutheran (15-8); Martin Luther (0-23); Menomonee Falls (7-16); Muskego (6-17); New Berlin West (6-17); Nicolet (14-9); Oak Creek (12-11); Oconomowoc (9-15); Shorewood (13-10); South Milwaukee (10-14); St. Francis (4-18); St. John's Northwestern (8-15); Thomas More (9-15); University School (15-8); Waukesha North (8-16); Waukesha South (4-20); Wauwatosa East (14-10); Wauwatosa West (6-17); West Allis Central (10-14); West Allis Hale (10-13)

Last update: March 18

BEYOND THE BOX

 It appears only Oostburg (2011) has been able to do what Mukwonago did this season since the WIAA-WISAA merger in 2000, qualifying the boys basketball, girls basketball and wrestling team for their respective state tournaments. Mukwonago mirrored what Milwaukee King did last year, taking a pair of runner-up finishes from state hoops.

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The NOW/Lake Country commercial from Time-Warner's Sports32.

BEST OF THE REST GIRLS

Rating the rest of the girls teams:

Franklin, 21-5
  Waukesha West, 19-6
Brookfield Central, 16-8
Germantown, 18-6
Pewaukee, 20-5
Whitefish Bay, 16-9
Dominican, 17-8
Lake Country Lutheran, 22-3
South Milwaukee, 16-8
Whitnall, 16-8

Others (alpha): Brookfield Academy (10-13); Brookfield East (7-16); Brown Deer (8-16); Catholic Memorial (5-19); Cudahy (10-14); Greendale (3-20); Greenfield (4-19); Homestead (8-15); Kettle Moraine (10-13); Martin Luther (12-12); Menomonee Falls (13-10); Muskego (10-14); New Berlin West (13-10); Nicolet (13-11); Oconomowoc (9-14); Shorewood (12-11); St. Francis (3-21); Thomas More (7-17); University School (5-18); Waukesha North (12-13); Waukesha South (12-11); Wauwatosa East (5-18); Wauwatosa West (10-14); West Allis Central (3-21); West Allis Hale (5-18)

Last update: March 18
 

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

 Jenny Tuttle of Mukwonago netted a spot on the All-Tournament team after she scored 22 points in a semifinal blowout win over Arrowhead at the WIAA Division 1 state tournament. The senior leader, who was also named Player of the Year in the Classic 8, scored 10 points with 8 rebounds in the championship loss to Milwaukee Riverside. The All-State performer was one of the breakout stars of the 2012-13 season.

Previous winners:

  • Ally May, Arrowhead girls
  • Duane Wilson, Dominican boys
  • Danny Weymier, Whitnall boys
  • Paul Miller, Kettle Moraine boys
  • Riley LaChance, Brookfield Central boys
  • Mackenzie Latt, Hamilton girls
  • Tamya Sims, Oak Creek girls
  • Ruben Ortiz, Waukesha North boys
  • Kyle Keranen, Arrowhead boys
  • Michelle Farrow, Waukesha West girls
  • Cassidy Mihalko, Franklin girls
  • Allazia Blockton, Dominican girls
  • Elijah Goodman, Brookfield Central boys
  • Jenny Weiland, New Berlin Eisenhower girls
  • Luke Fischer, Germantown boys

POLL

What's been the biggest surprise of 2012-13?

Germantown boys remaining undefeated

Mukwonago boys reaching state

Arrowhead girls topping several ranked teams late

Waukesha North beating Brookfield Central boys

Pewaukee girls win 20 games without a senior

Germantown girls winning 18 games

Other

Photo Galleries

POINTS OF INTEREST

 Top scorersScoring leaders

Check out our interactive map for a look at the all-time scoring leaders of boys and girls basketball teams at high schools in the suburban Milwaukee area.

THE ROAD TO STATE

Boys state championships

Division 5: Randolph (27-2) 48, Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran (28-1) 42 Box Score
Division 4: Dominican (24-4) 57, Auburndale (26-2) 44 Box Score
Division 3: Aquinas (24-4) 53, Lodi (24-4) 48 Box Score
Division 2: Pulaski (24-4) 48, Wisconsin Lutheran (24-4) 40 Box Score
Division 1: Germantown (28-0) 57, Mukwonago (23-5) 28 Box Score

 

Girls state championships

Division 5: Assumption (28-1) 39 Barneveld (27-2) 35 Box Score 
Division 4: Algoma (26-2) 46; Colfax (26-2) 30 Box Score 
Division 3: Kewaunee (27-1) 60; East Troy (26-2) 58 Box Score
Division 2: Notre Dame (22-6) 42; New Berlin Eisenhower (25-3) 33 Box Score
Division 1: Milwaukee Riverside (24-4) 55; Mukwonago (25-3) 41 Box Score

 

 

BY THE NUMBERS

State appearances by area teams:

Boys

  • 16: Wauwatosa East (last: 2008)
  • 9: Brookfield Central (last: 2008)
  • 8: Shorewood (last: 1981), South Milwaukee (last: 1996)
  • 6: Whitefish Bay (last: 2011)
  • 5: Dominican (last: 2013), Sussex Hamilton (last: 1987)
  • 4: Germantown (last: 2013)
  • 3: Arrowhead (last: 2010), Brookfield East (last: 1979), Mukwonago (last: 2013), Whitnall (last: 2004)
  • 2: Brown Deer (last: 2002), Catholic Memorial (last: 2010), Homestead (last: 1994); New Berlin Eisenhower (last: 2008), Nicolet (last: 1993), West Allis Hale (last: 1970)
  • 1: Greendale (1995), Muskego (1986), New Berlin West (2000), Oak Creek (1980), Pewaukee (2001), West Allis Central (1947), Cudahy (1981), St. Francis (1976), Waukesha South (1999 -- Waukesha High School made 14 trips), Waukesha West (1998)
  • 0: Brookfield Academy, Greenfield, Franklin, Kettle Moraine, Lake Country Lutheran; Martin Luther, Menomonee Falls, Oconomowoc, Thomas More, Waukesha North, Wauwatosa West

Girls

  • 8: Arrowhead (last: 2013)
  • 7: West Allis Hale (last: 2000), Whitefish Bay (last, 2011)
  • 6: Kettle Moraine (last: 2004), Mukwonago (last, 2013)
  • 5: Brookfield East (last: 2004), Greendale (last: 2007)
  • 4: Oak Creek (last: 2008), Nicolet (last: 2011), New Berlin Eisenhower (last, 2013)
  • 3: Brookfield Central (last: 2009), Franklin (last: 2007), Whitnall (last: 2005), Waukesha South (last: 2005)
  • 2: Brown Deer (last: 1993), Homestead (last: 1995); Wauwatosa East (last: 1981)
  • 1: New Berlin West (1986)
  • 1: Dominican (2011)
  • 1: Catholic Memorial (2005), South Milwaukee (1985), St. Francis (1981), Waukesha North (1994)
  • 0: Brookfield Academy, Cudahy, Germantown, Greenfield, Lake Country Lutheran, Martin Luther, Menomonee Falls, Muskego, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, Shorewood, Sussex Hamilton, Thomas More, Wauwatosa West, West Allis Central

State titles:

Boys

  • 4. Dominican (2004, 2005, 2012, 2013(
  • 3. Wauwatosa East (1948, 1989, 2008), Whitefish Bay (1996, 1998, 2011)
  • 2: Catholic Memorial (2004, 2010), South Milwaukee (1952, 1976), Germantown (2012, 2013)
  • 1: Arrowhead (2010), New Berlin Eisenhower (2008), New Berlin West (2000), St. Francis (1976), Shorewood (1942), Whitnall (1988), Waukesha (1944)

Girls

  • 1: Arrowhead (1991), Brookfield Central (1985), Kettle Moraine (1999), Wauwatosa East (1981), New Berlin Eisenhower (2010); Nicolet (2011)