Another week of action is in the books and with the state tournament picture continuing to round into shape junior guard Matthew Thomas of Onalaska has elevated his play.  In addition to another strong week of performances by the sharpshooting guard, Germantown passed a couple more tests, Dominican continued to roll, and Milwaukee King took care of business on their end.  That and more in today’s news and notes

HEADLINES

(1)    THOMAS SOARING
One of the hottest 2013 prospects in the country right now, Thomas continues to pour in big numbers while helping Onalaska to victory after victory.  It was much of the same last week as the sharpshooting guard dropped 22 on Chippewa Falls in a win and then turned his attention to St. Paul Johnson (MN) where he delivered a 30 piece in helping the Hilltoppers to a 12-1 mark on the year.  As hot as he was on the court Thomas was equally the same off of it as he added an offer from Wisconsin last week and the same from Virginia and Northwestern the week before.

(2)    KING STAYS HOT
The Generals continued their stellar play on the year despite not having senior guard Arroyo Edwards as they defeated Milwaukee Hamilton on Friday to run their record to 11-1 on the season.  Jim Gosz and company have already defeated Milwaukee Vincent, Milwaukee Riverside, and Milwaukee Hamilton, the ladder two of which were thought to be superior heading into this season.  Sitting at 5-0 on the season with those three wins in the pocket already, King is rolling right now and an undefeated mark in the City Conference looks like a strong possibility.  One thing that’s for certain, this is the team no one wants to play come tournament time as they generated chaos with their defensive pressure and create all kinds of problems for opposing teams.  When it’s all said and done this could very well be one of Jim Gosz best coaching performances to date as he has them clicking right on all cylinders.

(3)    NOLAN CLEARED
One of the top seniors in the state and a highly regarded big man left on the board regionally and nationally by most accounts, 2012 PF Phillip Nolan returned to Milwaukee Riverside over the weekend as the WIAA cleared him for play the rest of the season.  While this may not be enough to get Riverside another City Conference Championship having lost to undefeated Milwaukee King already, Nolan is a boost to a Riverside squad that has struggled at times this year due to various missing pieces.  Noland dropped 10 and grabbed 3 in a victory over St. Paul Central (MN) on Friday but Hopkins (MN) rolled through the Tigers the following day.  In an up and down season for Coach Lewis, Nolan’s return could be the boost he needed and if they can get everything together in the right direction before tournament time Milwaukee Riverside could make the deep run many expected before the season started.

(4)    GERMANTOWN ROLLS
One can never underestimate the value of experience and the Warhawks proved that this past weekend as they hosted an upstart Homestead squad on Friday and traveled to East Troy on Saturday for perhaps their biggest tests to date given the fact that they are without junior big man Luke Fischer and the fact that Homestead was 12-1 heading into the game and East Troy was 11-1.  The end result was Wisconsin bound senior guard Zak Showalter dropping 36 and 28 respectively as the Warhawks rolled to a 38 point win and a 22 point win to run their mark to 15-0.  

(5)    DOMINICAN STAYS HOT
Despite being a Division 4 school due to the small size, Dominican could very well challenge for the Division 1 state title if they wanted to by the end of the year as they are absolutely blistering opponents right now.  Last weekend it was St. Paul Johnson (MN) who they rolled by 32 and last week it was University School and HOPE Christian who they dropped by 25 and 47 respectively.  Senior guard Jamall Taylor is scoring a little over 20 PPG, Junior guard Duane Wilson Jr. is a little over 19 PPG, and Freshman big man Diamond Stone is delivering at close to 12 PPG.  While those three garner most of the headlines, senior guard Breon Jordan has been an excellent contributor as well at close to 12 PPG this season.  Their only loss having come to Germantown earlier in the year, barring injury anything less than a state championship for Dominican this season would be a surprise as this team is loaded and rolling right now.

UPDATED RANKINGS
(1)    GERMANTOWN
15-0 and rolling right now, despite not having junior big man Luke Fischer.  They are the team to beat.

(2)    MADISON MEMORIAL
11-1 and quietly taking care of business weekly while everyone focuses on how good Germantown is.  Exactly how they like it and a return trip to Madison and a legit run at another state championship are a distinct possibility.

(3)    ONALASKA
Sitting at 12-1 with one of the premiere guards in the country and a solid inside punch with senior Nick Arenz, the Hilltoppers are rolling right now.

(4)    DOMINICAN
They can fill it up with the best of them, have arguably the best backcourt in state, and have size in freshman big man Diamond Stone.  They are 11-1 right now and delivering night in and night out.

(5)    MILWAUKEE KING
While their lack of size could eventually be their undoing in state tournament play, no one can discount the fact that they have passed all tests to date and are a very dangerous team.  Sitting at 11-1, a City Conference title seems like a lock barring a major collapse and/or injuries and they present all kinds of matchup problems for teams with their quickness and defense.

OTHERS TO WATCH:  DE PERE, MILWAUKEE HAMILTON, MILWAUKEE RIVERSIDE, MILWAUKEE VINCENT, HOMESTEAD, BOOKFIELD CENTRAL, PULASKI, RICE LAKE, WHITNALL, PIUS XI, WAUWATOSA EAST, LITTLE CHUTE, EAST TROY, GALE-ETTRICK-TREMPEALEAU, LODI, CUBA CITY

PLAYER OF YEAR WATCH
JUNIOR LOMOMBA – G – MADISON MEMORIAL
Averaging close to 17 PPG for the defending Division 1 state champions, Lomomba has been the catalyst for the Spartans who sit at 11-1 on the season.  He continues to deliver solid performances every time out and has Memorial focused on another run towards the state championship this season.

RECRUITING NOTES
2013 PG Duane Wilson Jr. of Dominican will take an unofficial visit to Memphis this weekend.

2013 G Matthew Thomas of Onalaska added offers from Wisconsin, Virginia, and Northwestern to his collection the past couple of weeks.  He also holds the same from Iowa State, Minnesota, Marquette, Drake, Creighton, UW-Green Bay, Boston College, and Colorado State.

2013 SG Cody Wichmann of Pulaski picked up an offer from UW-Green Bay last week.

GAME OF THE WEEK
WAUWATOSA EAST @ WEST ALLIS CENTRAL – JANUARY 27, 2012
The blue collar Red Raiders head to Central on Friday for a battle between the 2nd and 3rd place teams in the Greater Metro Conference standings.  While Brookfield Central sits atop the standings this one is a must win for both squads who still have the Lancers in their sights.  

BROOKFIELD CENTRAL @ MENOMONEE FALLS – JANUARY 27, 2012
While the Falls has struggled this year with a 5 and 7 mark they still boast the exploits of North Carolina bound senior SF Jean-Pierre Tokoto and a high flying act that pours in close to 27 PPG.  Tokoto and company will be looking for revenge after falling 57-51 earlier in the year to Central and the Lancers need this win to stay atop the conference standings with games still left against Tosa East, West Allis Central, and Brookfield East.  

UPCOMING EVENTS
2012 SWISH N DISH SPRING WARM-UP – APRIL 6-8, 2012 – MILWAUKEE, WI
The annual hoops gala returns this April for its 7th installment in what has become one of the premiere tournaments in the country for 9u-17u teams each year.  With a list of alumni that includes the likes of Evan Turner, Trent Lockett, Jamil Wilson, Harrison Barnes, Wayne Blackshear, Branden Dawson, Mitch McGary, Brad Beal, Johnny O’Bryant, Aaron Craft, Paul Jesperson, Perry Ellis, etc. the tournament is once again set to rock the state of Wisconsin with a ridiculous amount of talent at every age group.  It offers a 3 game guarantee and will serve as a qualifier for 9u-14u teams for the Generation Next Invitational Championships July 5-8, 2012 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  For more information CLICK HERE

2012 NY2LA SPORTS SPRING EXTRAVAGANZA – APRIL 20-22, 2012 – MINNEAPOLIS, MN
A new event debuts this April in Minnesota for 9u-17u teams with a loaded field of teams already confirmed to attend from various parts of the country.  This will be an NCAA Certified Event for Division 1 College Coaches to attend at the high school levels and will also be a qualifier for 9u-14u teams for the Generation Next Invitational Championships July 5-8, 2012 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  For more information CLICK HERE

2012 NY2LA SPORTS INVITATIONAL – MAY 18-20, 2012 – MILWAUKEE, WI
One of the premiere tournaments to wrap the spring travel season returns once again to the Greater Milwaukee Area for 9u-17u teams.  The list of alumni for this 7th annual event is stellar as well and includes the likes of Wayne Blackshear, Korie Lucious, Jamil Wilson, Paul Jesperson, Josh Gasser, Trent Lockett, Sam Dower, Sam Thompson, Kendrick Nunn, Harrison Barnes, etc.  The tournament offers a 3 game guarantee and will also serve as the last qualifier of the spring for the Generation Next Invitational Championships July 5-8, 2012 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  For more information CLICK HERE

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