By Jacob Heid

Sports Writer

PORTAGE COUNTY – The 2022-23 WIAA boys’ basketball season is nearing the start of the playoffs. 

The race to the Kohl Center starts on Tuesday, Feb. 28, where teams will begin battling it out to be named state champions. 

Schools around the state found out where they were placed over this past weekend. 

The Pacelli boys’ basketball team, a division five school, was rewarded with the No. 2 seed in their sectional, the top-seeded team in the coverage area.

Starting with the Cardinals, coach John Schurk and his team will end this season with one of the lowest loss totals for the program since the 2013-14 season. 

Pacelli has three scorers that average over 13 points per game, led by sophomores Jaydon Awe and Camden Schurk at nearly 18 apiece. 

Junior Logan Mayer is also piling up the points as of late, having 29 and 28-point performances in two of his last five games. He averages 13.1 points per game. 

Pacelli tries to get to state with a young and athletic team, starting with hosting Gresham, the No. 15 seed, on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. 

The next division five school is Almond-Bancroft, the 2021-22 CWC-South champions. 

The Eagles couldn’t defend their title but finished in the top half of the conference. They also have several impact players. 

Sophomore big man Ayden Phillips is a matchup nightmare in the post. Phillips averages nearly 20 points per game this year.

Guard TJ Lamb has grown into his role for the Eagles. The junior averages 7.5 assists per game and looks to bring that unselfishness into the playoffs. 

Almond-Bancroft, the No. 5 seed, hosts No. 12-seeded Bowler on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. 

The last team in the division five brackets is Rosholt. 

The Hornets dealt with a coaching change for the 2022-23 season, mixed with five seniors leaving from last year’s team.

Rosholt won three games this season and got the No. 14 seed in sectional two. 

The Hornets will travel to Athens to face the No. 3 seed on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m.

Sliding over to a different division, Amherst competes in division three when the playoffs roll around. 

The Falcons competed in a tough and balanced CWC-East this season.

A Falcon team that averages nearly 60 points per game got rewarded with the No. 7 seed in a loaded sectional. The senior-led team hosts No. 10 Freedom on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. The winner moves on to play at No. 2 Little Chute on Friday, Mar. 3. 

The division one SPASH Panthers will likely need to make waves on the road this postseason. SPASH holds the No. 11 seed in sectional one. 

If the Panthers can make it to the sectional semi-final, they have a game on their home floor.

A young squad led by leading scorer Grant Chandonais will open the playoffs at No. 6 Neenah on Friday, Mar. 3, at 7 p.m. 

For more information on the playoffs and seedings, visit the WIAA’s website and look for boys’ basketball under the tournaments tab.