Whitnall Middle Schools Boys Basketball Team Wins State Title

The Whitnall seventh-grade boys basketball team was crowned the Wisconsin State Invitational Championship Tournament champion in La Crosse March 16- 17.

It was the team's third consecutive state title.

The tournament, which was organized by The Great Northwest Basketball League, brought together 89 of the top community-based seventh-grade boys basketball teams from across Wisconsin.  State champions were crowned in four divisions based on enrollment of the high school into which each team feeds.

Whitnall went 6-0 to win the Division 2 title. The Falcons defeated Pewaukee, 37-32, in the championship game after knocking off Waterford, 38-29, and Onalaska, 38-27, in the semifinals and quarterfinals, respectively.

Whitnall, led by head coach Chris Herro and assistant Zac Mallmann, also defeated Tomah, Seymour and Monona Grove en route to its title.

The Falcons’ Daniel Alexopoulos and Tyler Herro were named to the all-tournament team for Division 2, along with Jared Antonneau (Cedarburg), Seth Bickett (Pewaukee), Drew Blair (Waterford), D'Angelo Hurt (Wauwatosa East), Mitch Listau (Waunakee), Conley Malone (Onalaska), Bryce Miller (New Berlin Eisenhower), Mason Steffen (Waunakee), Carlos Teran (Pewaukee), Owen Theune (Waupun), Jimmy Thome (Monona Grove) and Sam Wilke (Beaver Dam).

Also playing for Whitnall were Will Kegel, Daniel Wolff, Sean Damro, Andrew Mallmann, Lucas Merritt, Joey Tilley, Peter Mueller and Nick Sullivan.

The Wisconsin State Invitational Championship Tournament is an annual event, held in February, March or April of each year, pitting the top community-based teams in Wisconsin against each other.

Separate tournaments are held for fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade boys and girls.