MADISON, Wis. (NBC 26) – Arrowhead beats Neenah 99-95 in a WIAA state tournament record game with 13 ties, 11 lead changes and four overtimes to advance to Saturday’s Division 1 state championship game. advanced.
- It was the longest game and highest scoring game in the 108-year history of the WIAA state tournament.
- Nina led by 12 points at halftime and led for over 32 minutes of game time.
- The Rockets had chances to win the game at the end of each of the first three overtimes, but came up short.
- Senior guard Brady Corso paced Nina with 30 points and seven assists. Luke Jung added 22 points.
- Big man Jace Gilbert led the Warhawks with 34 points and 14 rebounds. Bennett Basic, a UWGB commit, had 24 points before fouling out in the final overtime.
- Nina finished the season with 21 wins and 8 losses. After starting 4-6, the Rockets won 17 of their last 19 games.
“Kimberly handed me the backside on December 1st, our first home game in our new facility,” Rockets head coach Lee Labas said after the game. “If you would have walked outside that night and told me we were in Madison, you would have called me crazy. The growth we’ve had this year has been phenomenal.”
“Tonight we settled it,” Labas added. “Personally, I’m disappointed that I couldn’t have done a better job in terms of hitting better shots at the end (of the first three overtimes). That’s something I have to live with. But those guys, I’m just proud of them.”The fight they showed. ”
“It’s a heartfelt feeling,” said Corso, who will play for Division II San Leo next season. “I know all of our players were giving it their all.
“We were doing it for each other,” Corso added. “We came up short, but I know that everyone in the locker room at the end of that game gave it their all.”
Corso ends his high school career with three consecutive state tournament appearances. He was a starter on Neenah’s state championship team in 2022 as a sophomore.
Arrowhead will play Marquette on Saturday night for the Division 1 championship. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. at the call center.
