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WAUKESHA − Sometimes the rubber match is just the place to find a bounce-back. It certainly was for one player in Wauwatosa West's 63-58 sectional semifinal win over Brookfield Central on Thursday.
Tosa West senior Jake Hansen had put up two uncharacteristic games against Greater Metro Conference rival BC earlier in the year, combining for 17 points on just 5-of-28 shooting. Trojans head coach Christopher Newbauer's advice to the crucial piece to Tosa West's attack was to avoid forcing shots, as he had seen a bit in those two previous outings.
WIAA girls state, Day 1: 2025 Wisconsin high school girls basketball state tournament updates, live results
"Sometimes it seems like when we play some of these Brookfield schools or conference teams, he tends to force it a bit. I just said to be patient and let the game come to him, step into his shot when we feed him," Newbauer said.
There is a bit of history there for the Brookfield born and raised Hansen. While some generally good-natured exchanges took place with him and the BC student section Thursday night, the senior wanted to make his loudest impression on the court.
"A game like this, I feed off energy, so if I hit a shot, my meter's going up, I'm getting into it with the crowd, I'm hyping our crowd up," Hansen said. "If other people want to say stuff to me, I use that stuff as fuel to keep going."
It was undoubtedly a get-right game for Hansen at a critical time, as he led the Trojans with 23 points, 15 of which came on five converted threes. His efforts combined with 22 points from Jalen Brown to lead a gritty effort fueled by the types of opponents in and out of conference that Tosa West had faced all year long.
"Our conference is one of the best in the state, and we played a really challenging nonconference schedule. We played Whitnall, we played De Pere, we played Edgerton, we played Waterford," Newbauer said. "I think that, with our conference, prepared us for this stuff."
The Trojans will face No. 1 Mount Horeb, which beat No. 7 Monona Grove in a 49-45 final, in Saturday's sectional final at Oconomowoc at 1 p.m.
Ten total games Wednesday and Thursday night held the fates of 17 area teams' seasons in the balance, with nine programs moving another critical step closer to the Kohl Center in Madison with wins. Here is a look at a competitive slate of contests to determine the sectional final participants. All sectional finals are scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
The Prairie School nearly saw a late lead slip from its grasp as Cambridge's Matt Buckman was fouled nearly as time expired with his team trailing, 50-47. He hit all three free throws to tie the game, but The Prairie School would take the lead back with 31.6 seconds remaining in overtime on a reverse layup by Dalton Ahlensdorf.
Sectional final: The Prairie School vs. Cedar Grove-Belgium, 5 p.m. at Whitefish Bay.
Carmen Northwest's Cinderella run continued with a narrow win over Oostburg, led by a second half in which the Eagles outscored the Flying Dutchmen 34-28 after halftime.
Sectional final: Carmen Northwest vs. Milwaukee Academy of Science, 1 p.m. at Brown Deer.
Sun Prairie East knocked off the Lasers at Mukwonago, ending KM's bid at a third straight WIAA state tournament appearance, as well as a perfect season. It was KM's first loss in nearly a calendar year, dating back to the state semifinal loss to Marquette last postseason.
Sectional final: Sun Prairie East vs. Waunakee, 1 p.m. at Oregon.
Led by 25 points from Zavier Zens, the Vikings expanded a slim 26-23 halftime lead over the second half to pull away from the Knights. Wisconsin Lutheran has a familiar foe in between it and a return to the Kohl Center after winning last year's WIAA D2 state title.
The Bulldogs earned a third meeting with Woodland Conference foe Wisconsin Lutheran by handling Westosha Central at Racine St. Catherine's. It is WAC's second trip to the sectional final in as many years.
Sectional final: Wisconsin Lutheran vs. West Allis Central, 4 p.m. at Waukesha South.
Cedarburg shocked a North Shore rival that beat it twice in the regular season with a nearly double-digit win over the Owls. The Bulldogs are a win away from the program's fourth state tournament appearance and first since 2017.
Sectional final: Cedarburg vs. Notre Dame, 1 p.m. at Manitowoc Lincoln.
Waterford kept the quest for a program-first WIAA state tournament appearance alive by outlasting Whitnall, a program with experience at state just two seasons ago.
Racine Park is a win away from its first WIAA state tournament appearance since 1960 after edging past Greenfield in overtime. Park sophomore Zare Gwinn was fouled while taking a potential game-tying three in the closing seconds of regulation, and hit all three free throws to end regulation tied at 59. Gwinn also converted a driving layup in overtime to take a four-point lead that the Panthers would hold on to through the final minute at the line.
Sectional final: Waterford vs. Racine Park, 1 p.m. at Whitefish Bay.
The Novas are a win away from returning to state for the third time in four years after beating Racine Lutheran, which was chasing a second program appearance at WIAA state. MAS will face Carmen Northwest in an all-area D3 Sectional 4 final.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Sectional final boys basketball Wauwatosa West Brookfield Central
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Tosa West senior Jake Hansen had put up two uncharacteristic games against Greater Metro Conference rival BC earlier in the year, combining for 17 points on just 5-of-28 shooting. Trojans head coach Christopher Newbauer's advice to the crucial piece to Tosa West's attack was to avoid forcing shots, as he had seen a bit in those two previous outings.
WIAA girls state, Day 1: 2025 Wisconsin high school girls basketball state tournament updates, live results
"Sometimes it seems like when we play some of these Brookfield schools or conference teams, he tends to force it a bit. I just said to be patient and let the game come to him, step into his shot when we feed him," Newbauer said.
There is a bit of history there for the Brookfield born and raised Hansen. While some generally good-natured exchanges took place with him and the BC student section Thursday night, the senior wanted to make his loudest impression on the court.
"A game like this, I feed off energy, so if I hit a shot, my meter's going up, I'm getting into it with the crowd, I'm hyping our crowd up," Hansen said. "If other people want to say stuff to me, I use that stuff as fuel to keep going."
It was undoubtedly a get-right game for Hansen at a critical time, as he led the Trojans with 23 points, 15 of which came on five converted threes. His efforts combined with 22 points from Jalen Brown to lead a gritty effort fueled by the types of opponents in and out of conference that Tosa West had faced all year long.
"Our conference is one of the best in the state, and we played a really challenging nonconference schedule. We played Whitnall, we played De Pere, we played Edgerton, we played Waterford," Newbauer said. "I think that, with our conference, prepared us for this stuff."
The Trojans will face No. 1 Mount Horeb, which beat No. 7 Monona Grove in a 49-45 final, in Saturday's sectional final at Oconomowoc at 1 p.m.
State hopes alive for nine teams after other action Wednesday and Thursday
Ten total games Wednesday and Thursday night held the fates of 17 area teams' seasons in the balance, with nine programs moving another critical step closer to the Kohl Center in Madison with wins. Here is a look at a competitive slate of contests to determine the sectional final participants. All sectional finals are scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
Wednesday
D4, Sectional 4: No. 6 The Prairie School def. No. 1 Cambridge, 57-52 (OT)
The Prairie School nearly saw a late lead slip from its grasp as Cambridge's Matt Buckman was fouled nearly as time expired with his team trailing, 50-47. He hit all three free throws to tie the game, but The Prairie School would take the lead back with 31.6 seconds remaining in overtime on a reverse layup by Dalton Ahlensdorf.
Sectional final: The Prairie School vs. Cedar Grove-Belgium, 5 p.m. at Whitefish Bay.
D3, Sectional 4: No. 5 Carmen Northwest def. No. 2 Oostburg, 68-63
Carmen Northwest's Cinderella run continued with a narrow win over Oostburg, led by a second half in which the Eagles outscored the Flying Dutchmen 34-28 after halftime.
Sectional final: Carmen Northwest vs. Milwaukee Academy of Science, 1 p.m. at Brown Deer.
Thursday
D1, Sectional 3: No. 5 Sun Prairie East def. No. 1 Kettle Moraine, 80-71
Sun Prairie East knocked off the Lasers at Mukwonago, ending KM's bid at a third straight WIAA state tournament appearance, as well as a perfect season. It was KM's first loss in nearly a calendar year, dating back to the state semifinal loss to Marquette last postseason.
Sectional final: Sun Prairie East vs. Waunakee, 1 p.m. at Oregon.
D1, Sectional 4: No. 1 Wisconsin Lutheran def. No. 4 Oak Creek, 59-47
Led by 25 points from Zavier Zens, the Vikings expanded a slim 26-23 halftime lead over the second half to pull away from the Knights. Wisconsin Lutheran has a familiar foe in between it and a return to the Kohl Center after winning last year's WIAA D2 state title.
D1, Sectional 4: No. 2 West Allis Central def. No. 3 Westosha Central, 93-79
The Bulldogs earned a third meeting with Woodland Conference foe Wisconsin Lutheran by handling Westosha Central at Racine St. Catherine's. It is WAC's second trip to the sectional final in as many years.
Sectional final: Wisconsin Lutheran vs. West Allis Central, 4 p.m. at Waukesha South.
D2, Sectional 2: No. 3 Cedarburg def. No. 1 Slinger, 75-66
Cedarburg shocked a North Shore rival that beat it twice in the regular season with a nearly double-digit win over the Owls. The Bulldogs are a win away from the program's fourth state tournament appearance and first since 2017.
Sectional final: Cedarburg vs. Notre Dame, 1 p.m. at Manitowoc Lincoln.
D2, Sectional 4: No. 1 Waterford def. No. 2 Whitnall, 56-49
Waterford kept the quest for a program-first WIAA state tournament appearance alive by outlasting Whitnall, a program with experience at state just two seasons ago.
D2, Sectional 4: No. 1 Racine Park def. No. 2 Greenfield, 73-69 in OT
Racine Park is a win away from its first WIAA state tournament appearance since 1960 after edging past Greenfield in overtime. Park sophomore Zare Gwinn was fouled while taking a potential game-tying three in the closing seconds of regulation, and hit all three free throws to end regulation tied at 59. Gwinn also converted a driving layup in overtime to take a four-point lead that the Panthers would hold on to through the final minute at the line.
Sectional final: Waterford vs. Racine Park, 1 p.m. at Whitefish Bay.
D3, Sectional 4: No. 1 Milwaukee Academy of Science def. No. 3 Racine Lutheran, 86-71
The Novas are a win away from returning to state for the third time in four years after beating Racine Lutheran, which was chasing a second program appearance at WIAA state. MAS will face Carmen Northwest in an all-area D3 Sectional 4 final.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Sectional final boys basketball Wauwatosa West Brookfield Central
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