Wisconsin Lutheran stays atop area boys hoops rankings off tourney win

6 days ago 2

It may be a new calendar year, but the No. 1 Milwaukee area high school boys basketball team remains the same after a tremendous display on the national stage.

Wisconsin Lutheran keeps hold of its No. 1 spot in our area rankings after winning the Beach Ball Classic, becoming the first Wisconsin-based team to do so in the tournament held annually since 1981.

West Allis Central holds at two despite a 74-72 loss to Appleton North in the Rick Majerus WBY Shootout on Dec. 30. Another result from the WBY Shootout had Slinger leaping back into the top five as it knocked off Arrowhead, 71-69. Dropping out of our top 10 this week are Brookfield Central and Homestead, with the former taking a rough 74-58 loss at the WBY Shootout to Freedom and the latter dropping two-of-three to Appleton North and Arrowhead. Taking their places are Hartford Union and New Berlin West, two programs off to strong starts with opportunities to see if they are certified contenders in the coming weeks.

Falling off of others considered this week are Milwaukee Academy of Science (5-4) and Oak Creek (4-4), who each experienced slides over the holidays. Joining the others considered are Golda Meir and Nicolet.

Here are our full area rankings, others considered, team of the week winner and matchups to watch over the coming week.

AREA RANKINGS

Team (W-L), placement in previous rankings

West Allis Central (7-1), 2
Greendale (8-0), 4
Slinger (7-2), 9
Arrowhead (8-1), 3
Brookfield East (7-1), 8
Kettle Moraine (8-2), 7
New Berlin West (8-1), –
Hartford Union (9-1). –

Others considered: Brookfield Central (4-3), Golda Meir (6-2), Homestead (7-3), Milwaukee Bay View (6-2), Milwaukee Juneau (7-1), Milwaukee Lutheran (6-1), Nicolet (5-3), Port Washington (8-1), Racine Case (6-3), Whitefish Bay (6-3).

TEAM OF THE WEEK

Greendale Panthers

Greendale kept its streak alive with a narrow 71-68 win over Mukwonago in the Culver's Winter Invite at Kettle Moraine High School on Dec. 28. Senior 6-foot-6 guard Zavier Castillo scored a team-best 32 points to lead three in double figures for the Panthers, with 6-2 senior guard Brandon Harper (18) and 6-3 senior guard Tyler Roche (11) rounding out the top three. The Panthers had 12 team steals in the win, led by three from junior 6-4 guard Korben Pfeifer, who also had a team-best seven rebounds.

The eight-game winning streak to start the season is Greendale's best start in at least the past two decades, according to available records. The Panthers started 5-0 in the 2015-16 season.

Greendale had a pair of games scheduled entering the week, including a home date at 6 p.m. Jan. 7 against Holy Redeemer and a Jan. 9 road game at Waukesha South.

COMING UP

Dominican at New Berlin West, 7 p.m. Jan. 7: After a close 82-79 loss to Pewaukee last time out for the Knights, they head on the road to face another tough Woodland West team in a matchup that should feature a couple top guards in Dominican's Zeak Jones and New Berlin West's Evan Kern and Jayce Cook.

Nicolet at Slinger, 7 p.m. Jan. 9: Slinger swept two meetings with the Knights last year, but Nicolet is reloaded and ready to challenge the Owls in the North Shore.

Brookfield East at Wauwatosa West, 7 p.m. Jan. 9: Greater Metro Conference foes that fought to the end while splitting two meetings for the league title last year renew their rivalry amid strong 2025-26 campaigns.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: High school boys basketball rankings, team of the week in Milwaukee

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