Our sports editor Steven Okonek with the assistance Jason Zaleski of the Zaleski Sports Show sat down and projected out the playoff field if the season ended on Sunday. We based our projection on Overall Record, Conference Record, the strength of the conference and non-conference games played. Today we release our projections for Boys Basketball in Divisions Three, Two, and One.
Division 3
Stratford 16-0 (12-0 Marawood South)
Projected Seed: 1
Remaining Games: @Chequamegon, @Newman Catholic, Marathon, @ Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau, Auburndale
Stratford has so far run the table this season, and are the only undefeated team in their group, but at the same time, they have yet to play any Division 3 opponents. Stratford has some huge games upcoming, Hosting Marathon and Auburndale, along with a trip down the GET, the only Division 3 opponent on their schedule. A loss anywhere along the way could cost them the 1 seed.
Division 2
Medford 5-11 (3-4 Great Northern)
Projected Seed: 8
Remaining Games: @Menomonie, @Lakeland, Rhinelander, @Northland Pines, Tomahawk
Medford is the beneficiary of the weak bottom of their group, a 5-11 record gets them a home playoff game. They do have some tough games upcoming that could move them around a bit.
Mosinee 11-4 (8-0 Great Northern)
Projected Seed: 1
Remaining Games: @Marshfield, Antigo, Tomahawk, @Wittenberg-Birnamwood, @Lakeland, Green Bay Preble, Rhinelander
Mosinee currently sits at the top of the Great Northern Conference, a position they would like to keep. The top of this group is fluid as you have three teams all with similar resumes, so it will be imperative that they hold serve and keep winning. A huge help will be winning at Marshfield tonight.
Division 1
Wisconsin Rapids 4-13 (2-7 WI Valley)
Projected Seed: 16
Remaining Games: D.C Everest, @Hudson, @Wausau East, Wausau West
Currently, Wisconsin Rapids sits in the equivalent of a playing game with 17 teams in their section. They have some winnable games here over the next two weeks that could get them out of the bottom of the section.
Stevens Point 10-6 (6-2 WVC)
Projected Seed: 6
Remaining Games: @Appleton East, @Merrill, Wausau East, EC Memorial, @Wausau West, @Marshfield
Stevens Point currently sits third in the WI Valley, behind Marshfield and Merrill, both of whom they play again. Along with other winnable games, SPASH has a chance to move up the bracket.
Marshfield 11-4 (7-2 WVC)
Projected Seed: 4
Remaining Games: Mosinee, Wausau West, Eau Claire North, @Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire Memorial, Stevens Point
Marshfield gets the nod for the higher seed as they have the win over SPASH back in January. They have some big non-conference games that will help solidify where they stand, including games against Mosinee and a huge showdown with Stevens Point to end the season. An advantage to the Tigers as that will come after the playoff brackets are released.
