Gerrard Diaz, gdiaz@shawanoleader.com
The Shawano Community High School boys basketball team has earned a No. 1 seed in the WIAA Division 2 Regional tournament.
The top-seed comes with a first round bye for the Hawks (13-8, 11-4 Bay Conference). Shawano will host a playoff game Feb. 28 and play the winner of Tuesday’s game between No. 4 Antigo (13-5, 6-4 Great Northern) and No. 5 New London (7-13, 6-9 Bay).
“We are still going to have to go out and compete,” Shawano coach Christopher Kellett said. “To be honest, we’ve struggled at home a little bit. Hopefully we’ll get that corrected, but it’s a great accomplishment and I’m proud of our guys.”
Shawano was 2-0 against New London in league play, including a 59-48 win Tuesday in New London.
In the Division 3 tournament, Clintonville earned a No. 2 seed and a bye. The Truckers (9-11, 5-10 Eastern Valley) will host either No. 3 Tomahawk (8-11, 1-9 Great Northern) or No. 6 Northland Pines (0-18, 0-9 Great Northern), which play Tuesday in Tomahawk.
No. 5 Wittenberg-Birnamwood (6-15, 2-11 Central Wisconsin Conference-8) will play No. 4 Oconto Falls (3-16, 2-13 Bay) on Tuesday in Oconto Falls for a chance to take on No. 1 Peshtigo (19-1, 14-0 Marinette & Oconto).
No. 8 Bonduel (10-10, 5-7 Central Wisconsin Conference-8) and No. 9 Menominee Indian (11-10, 9-8 Central Wisconsin Conference-10) will face off Tuesday to open their Division 4 regional. Bonduel will host the game, and the winner will face No. 1 Auburndale on the road Friday.
In Division 5, No. 2 Gresham (15-6, 12-5) will host No. 7 Tigerton (4-17, 3-14 Central Wisconsin Conference-10) on Tuesday. The winner will play either No. 6 Bowler (5-16, 3-14 Central Wisconsin Conference-10) or No. 3 Wisconsin Valley Lutheran (10-10), which play Tuesday in Mosinee.
No. 5 Marion (6-16, 6-12 Central Wisconsin Conference-10) will travel to No. 4 Elcho (10-10, 8-6 Northern Lakes) on Tuesday. The winner will face either No. 1 Newman Catholic (16-5, 10-4 Marawood-South) or No. 8 Lincoln Hills (record unavailable).