Division 5 Boys Basketball Tournament Preview: Unbeaten NEW Lutheran looking for first state title
By: Nick Goddard
Updated: February 17, 2013
The NEW Lutheran Blazers boys basketball team made a pair of WIAA state tournament appearances in 2010 and 2011, only to see their runs end at the hands of the powerhouse Randolph Rockets.
Tuesday night, the 22-0 Blazers will hope to begin another run toward the program's first ever state title.
Ranked #2 in the state in the coaches' poll, NEW Lutheran is a #1 seed in Division 5, and will host Lena Tuesday in round 1 of the tournament. Also in the Blazers' half of the bracket is #2 seed Suring. The Eagles are 19-3, with their only losses coming to D-3 conference rival Peshtigo (twice, by a combined 2 points) and D-4 squad Shiocton by 7.
Suring and NEW could meet in a sectional semifinal, if the Eagles can get past a regional which includes #3 seed Sheboygan Lutheran, the defending D-5 state champs. The Crusaders (15-7) don't have last year's Mr. Basketball, Sam Dekker, any longer, but still had a solid season.
The other side of the area sectional is led by #1 seeds Wausaukee (16-6) and Almond-Bancroft (17-5) with the sectional final taking place on March 2nd in Menasha.
Around the state in Division 5 - #1 ranked Randolph had their 175 game conference win streak snapped this past Friday by Pardeeville, but still will be a favorite to make it back to the Kohl Center. They could possibly face NEW Lutheran or the winner of the area sectional in the state title game.
For the complete Division 5 bracket, click here
WFRV will have complete coverage of the boys basketball tournament on Local 5 News, Scheels High School Sports Xtra, and here on wearegreenbay.com
