FOCUS ON BOYS BASKETBALL
AREA RANKINGS LW 1. Milwaukee Vincent (4-2) 1 2. Milwaukee Riverside (3-3) 2 3. Cedarburg (7-1) 3 4. Milwaukee Washington (6-2) 4 5. Oak Creek (7-1) 5 6. Pewaukee (10-1) 6 7. Brookfield Central (8-0) 7 8. Pius XI (8-1) — 9. Destiny (9-1) 10 10. Beaver Dam (9-0) — NOTABLE Player of the week: A.J. Makinen, Muskego. The 6-foot-1 sophomore guard has been prone to the ups and downs most underclassmen experience, but last week he played at a high level in two games and led the Warriors to the title at the Beloit Memorial Tournament. Makinen averaged 22.5 points per game in victories over West Allis Hale and Beloit Memorial. In a 66-53 victory over Memorial on Wednesday in the championship game, he scored a season-high 24 points while dishing out four assists and grabbing four rebounds. His previous season high was the 21 points he scored in a 65-59 victory over Hale on Tuesday. “I think the biggest thing was when he attacked, good things happened,” Muskego coach Andy Capes said. “He was making his three-pointers, driving, pulling up, everything we need him to do. He kind of controlled the whole game. I’m really proud of him for the two games, he’s been really, really consistent”. Team of the week: Pius XI. The Popes defeated La Crosse Central, which was ranked No. 2 in the state at the time in the wissports.net coaches poll, 57-56, Thursday on a short jumper in the lane by senior guard Victor Nwagbaraocha with 1.9 seconds left. The victory displayed the potential of the Popes. They never trailed in the first half when they led by as many as 12 points. In the second half, Central came back to take the lead and led by as many as four points in the final minutes before Pius came back. Nwagbaraocha, who lead the Woodland West in scoring with 19 points per game, finished with 16. Senior guard Michael Pitrof added 15 and senior forward Zach Zavada had 11. “On the positive side we play up to the level of our (competition), but the down side is sometimes we play down,” Pius coach Joel Claassen said. “I’m really happy with them. They showed that they belong.”
Welcome return: One of Milwaukee Riverside’s challenges this season has been finding consistent help for senior wing Terrence Lewis and junior guard Carlos Curtis. The Tigers received good news in that regard with the return of senior forward Alondes Williams, who missed the first five games due to a broken wrist. Williams saw his first action of the season in the second half of Riverside loss Thursday to Oshkosh North, the top-ranked Division 1 team in the state according to the wissports poll. He finished with six points, went 2 of 4 from threepoint range and made two assists. Last season Williams ranked fourth on the team with 11.6 points, tied for second with 3.2 assists and ranked third with 4.7 rebounds per game. “He can take a lot of pressure off Terrence and Carlos. …” Riverside coach Tyrone “Rock” Lewis said. “We’re looking forward to him getting back and getting into shape and ready to go real soon.”
The first step: Former Milwaukee Bradley Tech player Rashon Haralson got his first win as Trojans coach on Friday, 65-54, over Calumet (Ind.) Christian. Junior guard Mikell Cooper finished with 25 points for Tech.
Strong showing: Milwaukee Washington sophomore Deontay Long made the all-tournament team at the St. Hope Elite Classic in Sacramento last week. Washington went 3-1 in the event and finished third.
Offered: Arrowhead senior point guard Trevell Cunningham, who is averaging 22.6 points per game, recently received a scholarship offer from Division II Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo. COMING UP Kenosha St. Joseph at Dominican, 7:15 p.m. Tuesday: Both teams are undefeated in the Metro Classic.
Mukwonago at Arrowhead, 7 p.m. Wednesday: The two teams picked to finish at the top of the Classic 8 play the first of two meetings. University School at Brookfield Academy, 7:15 p.m. Friday: The winner gets sole possession of first-place in the Midwest Classic.
Oak Creek at Racine Horlick, 7 p.m. Friday: No trip to a Racine school will be easy this season.
Wisconsin Lutheran at Beaver Dam, 7:15 p.m. Friday: The Vikings and Beavers have been the best teams in the Wisconsin Little Ten so far. Pius XI at Pewaukee, 7:15 p.m. Friday: These state-ranked squads will meet with an opportunity to gain an early edge in the Woodland West.