No. 6 West Salem boys basketball team looks to play spoiler against 3-time defending state champs, No. 2 Pewaukee
It’s currently ranked No. 2 in Division 2. The Pewaukee High School boys basketball team has captured the last three Division 2 Wisconsin state titles.
Two of those were against local teams — Onalaska in 2021 and Central in 2022.
On Friday, sixth-ranked West Salem (25-3) will get its chance to end the Pewaukee (24-4) run in the Division 2 state semifinals at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Tipoff is set for around 3:15 p.m.
WKTY will have live coverage of the game from the Kohl Center. Tip off is set for around 3:15 p.m.. You can also listen on the website and the WKTY app.
The winner goes on to face either No. 1 Wisconsin Lutheran (28-0) or fifth-ranked Nicolet (24-4) at 6:35 p.m. Saturday for the state title.
The Panthers graduated four starters from last year’s team, which finished runners-up in Division 3. Not only had they moved up a division this season, the roster came in with a lack of game experience.
West Salem Mark Wagner was confident from the beginning.
“People outside the program are surprised, but no one inside the program is,” Wagner said. “We saw those kids practice everyday so we knew we just needed to get them game experience and we thought we’d have as good a chance as anyone in our sectional.”
Senior Tamarrien Henderson averages 19 points and has dished out over 90 assists this season for West Salem. Wagner points out there has been obvious growth from his experienced point guard.
“We had all those seniors last year and he didn’t have to lead the team, so I think his leadership on and off the floor has really made us better, and I think he’s become such a better playmaker,” Wagner said.
And, as the Panthers take the floor with Pewaukee a little after 3 PM Friday, could youth actually be a good thing?
“They’ve got a great basketball team and great tradition, but our guys don’t know any better. I know a lot of people probably aren’t giving us much of a chance in Madison but our kids will fight and play hard, and lay it all out on the floor”, Wagner said.