The 10th Three-peat member
Wisconsin Lutheran has joined the three-peat club as the 10th member after its soaring victory over the Madison Memorial Spartans. They are also the third team ever to have a perfect 30-0 season, cementing themselves in WIAA lore as one of the best teams in history, solidifying their claim as one of the best programs in the country.
First Half – Vikings Underwhelming
The Spartans scored first with a three from Miller before Kager Knueppel responded with a three. Madison Memorial held an 8-5 lead early on as the Vikings struggled shooting beyond the arc. Zavier Zens then made a three-pointer to take the lead for the first time of the game.
Halfway through the period, both offenses fell into a stalemate as the Vikings still held a 10-8 lead before the Spartans took it back with a three from Will Lisowski-Semb. Jamail Sewell gave the Vikings the lead back with a layup in the paint.
Madison Memorial took the lead back again after two free throws, putting the score at a tight 16-14 deficit for the Vikings. The Spartans held down the Vikings to a 22-20 lead at the end of the period with a last-second bucket in the paint from Kimyora Cross Jr.
Anthony Miller led the Spartans with 11 points. Zavier Zens topped the Vikings with six points.
Second Half – Zensational
The Spartans began to slow down their offense, which helped them take the lead. Shortly after the Spartans retook the lead, Zavier Zens responded with a three-pointer to put the Vikings up 25-24. Zens was not done and made another three to be ahead 28-26.
Both offenses started to attack the paint midway through the half. By the nine-minute mark, the Vikings were up 36-30. Then, Wisconsin Lutheran went on a 12-0 run due to the Spartans missing nine straight shot attempts. Braun was able to break the cold streak with a layup.
In the last three minutes of regulation, the Vikings started to manage the clock as the Spartans desperately fought back. At the end of the buzzer, the Vikings brought in their third title in a 57-37 victory.
This year’s Mr. Basketball, Zavier Zens, led the team tonight with 20 points, and also stands as the third all-time scorer in program history with his performance. Anthony Miller was three points away from breaking the tournament record for total three-pointers made in the tournament. He had six in the semifinals and four in the championship.