By Reagan Hoverman

The Wisconsin high school boys basketball season is less than a week away from beginning the postseason and local teams including River Falls, Prescott, Ellsworth, Spring Valley and Elmwood/Plum City have received their seeding assignments for the playoffs.

The Prescott Cardinals, now 20-2, have put together one of the best high school basketball resumes in Wisconsin this season. On Monday, Feb. 21, the Cardinals played a non-conference game on the road against the River Falls Wildcats, one of the best teams in the state for Division 2.

The Monday night 59-58 victory for Prescott technically changed nothing. The seeds had already been distributed and since it was a non-conference game, it didn’t impact the Middle Border standings. However, the victory once again demonstrated just how dominant the Cardinal varsity squad can be. Prescott head coach Nick Johnson spoke about the win on the road in a hostile environment.

“I think the confidence purpose, in a hostile environment, on the road, this team, we’re clicking on all cylinders and we’re a tough team to beat, I don’t care who we’re playing,” Johnson said. “Confidencewise it’s a huge win and it’s always been a rivalry. We’re the smaller school, they’re our neighbor and I’m just proud of (my team).”

Beating River Falls was a good example as to why Prescott was given the #1 seed in its region of the Division 3 playoff bracket. The Cardinals’ then 19-2 record spoke for itself, not to mention the leaguebest 12-1 record in the Middle Border Conference this season. Coach Johnson spoke about locking up the top seed for the playoffs.

“I think the bracket played out where we kind of thought it would,” Johnson said. “We’re going to play the winner of Osceola and Ellsworth and those are conference games. Throw the records away. We know if Osceola wins they played us tough last time at home, we won by 10. Ellsworth played us tough and now (Jack) Janke is back.”

As Johnson stated, Prescott hosts the winner of Ellsworth and Osceola on Friday, March 4. That game will begin at 7 p.m.

River Falls, #2 seed

Although River Falls suffered a one-point loss to Prescott on Monday night, the Wildcats still received the #2 seed in their region for the upcoming Division 2 playoff bracket. The only school with a higher seed than River Falls is La Crosse Central, a team that defeated River Falls 60-45 on Tuesday, Jan. 18.

The Wildcats’ 18-4 record at the time of seeding, now 18-5 after the Prescott loss, was the driving factor in earning the #2 seed. Holding sole possession of second place in the Big Rivers Conference also helped River Falls. They trail only Eau Claire Memorial (12-1), the #2 seed in the Division 1 bracket.

After the loss against Prescott on Monday night, River Falls head coach Zac Campbell spoke about his team receiving the #2 seed for the playoffs and where his team is at right now.

“We’re happy with the two (seed),” Campbell said. “Anytime we can play here on our home court is big. We got it last year, but it had been probably eight years before that since a region has run through our home court. We always end up going to La Crosse Central or Onalaska.”

According to the official WIAA bracket, River Falls will host the winner of either La Crosse Logan or Holmen on Friday, March 4, at 7 p.m. River Falls has already played and defeated both of those teams this season.

On Thursday, Dec. 23, River Falls beat La Crosse Logan 64-37 at home and on Tuesday, Jan. 11, River Falls defeated Holmen at home in a 66-44 win. Campbell spoke about a potential rematch with either of those programs.

“We’re going to have a rematch with either Holmen or Logan,” Campbell said. “We need to be able to grind. Those teams have gotten better. Yes, we have too, but we can’t – Friday night playoff games are different. Everyone tightens up. They will have a game under their belt, and we will not. That’s always scary. We’re happy that we have it on our home court and happy that we avoided Menomonie (early in the tournament). They’re playing really well right now.”

Overall, River Falls has played well throughout the last month and when the team is crisp, it has the potential to be one of the best Division 2 teams in the state. Campbell spoke about the potential ceiling for his senior-laden roster.

“Defensively, you know what we are,” Campbell said. “There aren’t many teams that really give us too much trouble on that side of the ball. Offensively, our action has been really good. It’s a matter of are we going to finish it and are we going to shoot it. Our ceiling is extremely high if we’re shooting the basketball really well, which we did this last summer. This last month we just haven’t shot to our capability.”

River Falls has home-court advantage and a defense that will travel effectively anywhere in the state. Regardless of how the Wildcats shoot the ball, River Falls will be a tough tournament opponent for any program in the state.

Ellsworth, #9 seed

Ellsworth goes into the postseason with an 8-13 overall record, including a 5-8 record in the outstanding Middle Border Conference. Because of the record, Ellsworth received the #9 seed in its region of the Division 3 playoff bracket.

The Panthers’ first-round playoff game is on Tuesday, March 1, on the road against Osceola. The two teams have already met twice this season. In both contests, Osceola defeated Ellsworth. The Chieftains defeated Ellsworth 60-50 in Ellsworth on Friday, Jan. 7, and then again 71-45 in Osceola on Friday, Jan. 21.

Perhaps the biggest difference in those two games and what could happen in the third game is the return of star senior point guard Jack Janke. Since Janke’s return, the Panthers’ offense has been revitalized and appears to be gaining steam as Ellsworth enters the postseason.

The game between Osceola and Ellsworth will be played at the Osceola High School on Tuesday, March 1. Tip-off for that game is slated for 7 p.m.

Spring Valley, #1 seed

The Spring Valley Cardinals boys basketball team received the #1 seed in its region of the WIAA Division 4 playoff bracket. Spring Valley enters the playoffs with an 18-4 overall record and a 12-1 record in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference.

Head coach Rob Bosshart’s varsity squad has been excellent this season and has performed at its best in some of the biggest games of the season. The senior-laden team includes senior guard Tyler Bowman and senior forward Connor Ducklow. Throughout the season Bosshart has spoken highly of his team and their experience, which he has said will be critical to any playoff success the Cardinals have this season.

Because Spring Valley has the #1 seed, Bosshart’s roster has a first-round bye and will play the winner of #9 Augusta and #8 Regis. Spring Valley hasn’t played either of those teams yet this season.

The Cardinals’ first playoff game will be on Friday, March 4, at 7 p.m. in Spring Valley.

Elmwood/Plum City, #5 seed The Elmwood/Plum City Wolves received the #5 seed for their region of the Division 4 postseason bracket. The Wolves enter the playoffs with a 16-6 overall record and a 9-4 record in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference, a third-place finish in the standings behind only Spring Valley and Durand, the #1 and #2 seeds in the same region.

The Wolves will play their first-round game against the #12 seed Cadott on Tuesday, March 1. It will be Elmwood/Plum City and Cadott’s first meeting of the season. The winner of that game will go on to play the #4 seed, Whitehall, in the second round of the playoffs on Friday, March 4. As for the Tuesday night first-round game, that will be in Elmwood/Plum City and is slated to begin at 7 p.m.

to by Reagan Hoverman

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Spring Valley boys basketball senior forward Connor Ducklow calls for the ball in the post during a game against Durand earlier this season. Ducklow and the Cardinals earned the #1 seed for the playoffs and will have home-court advantage until neutral site games begin. Photo by Reagan Hover-