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Middleton shocks East to get to Memorial

Middleton High School’s boys basketball team had fallen decisively to Madison East twice this season in Big Eight Conference play.

On Friday night, the fourth-seeded Cardinals (18-7) came through against the top-seeded Purgolders (20-4) when it counted most, posting a 50-40 victory in the WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinals at Middleton.

For many, but not the Cardinals, that spoiled what they had considered the dream matchup—East against defending state champion Madison Memorial (20-4) for the third time this season in tonight’s sectional finals.

Instead, it will be Middleton against the Spartans for trip to next week’s state tournament. Memorial has made that trip the last six years—something Middleton hasn’t done since being the 1998 state runner-up to Milwaukee Vincent.

Middleton overcame a 32-28 deficit entering the fourth quarter by outscoring East 22-8 in the final period.

Shane Adler sank a three-pointer from the corner with about 2:30 remaining to give the Cardinals the lead for good. Skylar Yaktus’ three-pointer about 10 seconds earlier tied the game.

Middleton hit four of six free throws in the final two minutes to secure the victory.

Adler finished with a game-high 15 points, including three three-pointers, while Matt Everson scored six of his 10 points in the fourth quarter for Middleton. Ian Joyce added nine points.

Marquis Mason and Jeff Hull each scored 12 points to lead East’s Big Eight co-champions, who played their final game under retiring 22nd-year coach Rich Cleveland.

Nimrod Hilliard IV of the Purgolders was held to just three points. Hilliard picked up two fouls in the first quarter, a third in the second and finished with four.

MIDDLETON 50, EAST 40

Middleton (50)—Coyne 1-0-2, Adler 6-0-15, Owen 4-1-9, Everson 3-4-10, Nelson 0-2-2, Joyce 4-1-9, Yaktus 1-0-3. Totals 19-8-50.

Madison East (40)—Bentley 0-1-1, Hilliard 1-1-3, Dorley 1-2-4, McAdams 3-0-8, Mason 4-4-12, Hull 5-1-12. Totals 14-9-40.

Middleton 10 11 7 22—50

Madison East 8 14 10 8—40

Three-point goals—Middleton 4 (Adler 3, Yaktus), East 3 (McAdams 2, Hull 1). Free throws missed—Middleton 3, Madison East 8. Total fouls—Middleton 17, East 16. Fouled out—Hull.

n Memorial 55, Sun Prairie 47—Third-ranked Madison Memorial is set for a shot at its seventh straight trip to the Division 1 state tournament.

Marquette University recruit Vander Blue scored 21 points to lead the defending state champions past Sun Prairie in the second sectional semifinal at Middleton.

The No. 3-ranked Spartans (20-4), who shared the Big Eight title with Madison East, play Middleton tonight for a trip to state.

Chris Hawkins had 12 points to lead the Cardinals (15-10), who had beaten Memorial, 79-78 in overtime, during the Big Eight season.

MEMORIAL 55, SUN PRAIRIE 47

Sun Prairie (47)—Schaffner, 3-0-7; Noskowiak, 4-3-11; Hawkins, 5-2-12; Boos, 3-3-9; Fuller, 3-2-8. Totals: 18-10-47.

Memorial (55)—Ortiz, 1-0-2; Chamberlain, 1-2-4; Cramer, 6-0-13; Blue, 7-6-21; Lamomba, 2-1-5; Morris, 5-0-10. Totals: 22-9-55.

Sun Prairie 10 11 6 20—47

Memorial 13 13 9 20—55

Three-point goals—Sun Prairie 1 (Schaffner), Memorial 2 (Creamer, Blue). Free throws missed—Sun Prairie 5, Memorial 6. Total fouls—Sun Prairie 16, Memorial 16. Fouled out—Hawkins.

Greenfield Sectional

n Racine Park 72, Waterford 68—The victory lifts the Panthers (15-10) to a meeting tonight with Milwaukee Hamilton (19-3) for a berth in the Division 1 state tournament.

Beau Steffens scored a game-high 30 points for Waterford (20-4), the Southern Lakes Conference champion.

Park was undefeated but forfeited 10 games for using ineligible players.

RACINE PARK 72, WATERFORD 68

Waterford (68)—Steffens, 9-8-30; Plantz, 4-3-13; Vaccaro, 5-2-13; Sturino, 1-4-6; Ciano, 2-0-4; Fisher, 0-2-2. Totals: 21-19-68.

Racine Park (72)—Cameron, 6-8-20; Bridges, 4-6-16; McKenzie, 5-3-13; Tre Edwards, 4-0-10; Taron Edwards, 2-1-5; Marshall, 1-0-4; Gutierrez, 0-2-2; Scott. 0-2-2. Totals: 22-24-72

Waterford 16 8 20 24—68

Racine Park 16 21 14 21—72

Three-point goals—Waterford 7 (Steffens 4, Plantz 2, Vaccaro), Park 4 (Bridges 2, Tre Edwards 2). Free throws missed—Waterford 7, Racine Park 5. Total fouls—Waterford 22, Park 22.