By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

The brackets for the 2017 WIAA boys basketball playoffs were released on Sunday night.

Play begins with regional quarterfinals on Tuesday, Feb. 28. Regional semifinals are Friday, March 3, with regional finals set for Saturday, March 4.

Sectionals will be on March 9 and March 11 with the sectional champions qualifying for the 2017 WIAA State Boys Basketball Tournament at the Kohl Center in Madison on March 16-18.

Locally, Marshfield (13-8) earned a No. 5 seed in the Division 1 Sectional 1 bracket. The Tigers will host No. 12 Hudson (9-11) in a regional semifinal on March 3.

The matchup features two teams on opposite planes. Marshfield is 11-2 since starting the season slow at 2-6, and Hudson recently broke a seven-game losing streak with a one-point win over Eau Claire Memorial on Feb. 17.

Marshfield coach Scott Scheuer said if his team stays focused, it should be fine.

“(Football coach Bill) Belichick has signs all over the New England complex, ‘Don’t believe the noise,’” Scheuer said. “Now, these guys are hearing they are pretty good, ‘You’ve won five in a row. Rhinelander is a tough place to play, and you handled them (on Feb. 14).’ Don’t believe the noise. I’m more worried about success, not that I don’t want to be successful because my guys can’t handle it, but if they are starting thinking, ‘OK, we’re pretty good,’ then you are in trouble when that happens.

“We can be pretty good. There’s stretches where we can be pretty good.”

Marshfield also has to deal with a long layoff. After playing their regular-season finale at Mosinee on Monday, the Tigers have an 11-day break before their playoff opener March 3. The Tigers won their sixth game in a row on Feb. 17 against Wausau West to secure second place in the Wisconsin Valley Conference.

“We don’t play for 11 days. That scares me,” Scheuer said. “I’ve never had to deal with 11 days off. Anytime you get a win, it’s good for the kids. I can get on them a little harder, more so than after a loss.”

In Division 4, Spencer, Stratford, and Auburndale are in the same Sectional 2 bracket.

No. 7 seed Stratford (12-8) will host No. 10 Spencer (7-13) in a regional quarterfinal on Feb. 28 with the winner moving on to face No. 2 Edgar (17-3) on March 3.

Auburndale (13-7) is the sixth seed and will host No. 11 Crandon (8-12) on Feb. 28. The winner will play at No. 3 Crivitz (14-6) on March 3.

Marshfield Columbus Catholic (19-1) is the No. 1 seed in the Division 5 Sectional 2 field and will play at home against No. 16 Bowler (1-19) on Feb. 28 in a regional quarterfinal.

Columbus began the season 19-0 before losing to Cloverbelt Conference East Division rival Loyal 66-60 on Feb. 17. The game was the Dons’ first without senior point guard Hunter Schultz, who is out with an injury. He leads the team in scoring at 24.4 points per game.

Fellow senior Tyler Fuerlinger has carried the scoring load as of late, putting up 30 points or more five times in the past month, including three straight earlier in February. He is averaging 23.4 points per game for the Dons, who won the Cloverbelt East for the second year in a row.

Paul Lecker is publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com, a contributor to Hub City Times Sports. You can reach him by email at paul@marshfieldareasports.com.

2017 WIAA Boys Basketball Playoffs

Division 1

Sectional 1

Regional semifinals, March 3

No. 16 Appleton North at No. 1 Oshkosh North
No. 9 Wisconsin Rapids at No. 8 Wausau West
No. 12 Hudson at No. 5 Marshfield
No. 13 Appleton East at No. 4 Neenah
No. 14 D.C. Everest at No. 3 Eau Claire North
No. 11 Oshkosh West at No. 6 Appleton West
No. 10 Eau Claire Memorial at No. 7 Chippewa Falls
No. 15 Superior at No. 2 Stevens Point

Sectional 3

Regional quarterfinals, Feb. 28

No. 17 Lake Geneva Badger vs. No. 16 Kenosha Tremper at Kenosha Indian Trail
No. 18 Janeville Parker at No. 15 Madison La Follette

Regional semifinals, March 3

Badger-Tremper winner at No. 1 Sun Prairie
No. 9 Watertown at No. 8 Madison East
No. 12 Verona at No. 5 Beloit Memorial
No. 13 Madison West at No. 4 Muskego
No. 14 Kenosha Bradford at No. 3 Middleton
No. 11 Oconomowoc at No. 6 Janesville Craig
No. 10 Kenosha Indian Trail at No. 7 Mukwonago
La Follette-Parker winner at No. 2 Madison Memorial

Sectional 2

Regional quarterfinals, Feb. 28

No. 17 Waukesha South at No. 16 Green Bay Preble
No. 18 Hartford at No. 15 Green Bay East

Regional semifinals, March 3

Waukesha South-Preble winner at No. 1 Kimberly
No. 9 Mequon Homestead at No. 8 Germantown
No. 12 Sheboygan South at No. 5 Fond du Lac
No. 13 Waukesha West at No. 4 Menomonee Falls
No. 14 Manitowoc at No. 3 Hartland Arrowhead
No. 11 Sussex Hamilton at No. 6 De Pere
No. 10 Kettle Moraine at No. 7 Sheboygan North
Green Bay East-Hartford winner at No. 2 Bay Port

Sectional 4

Regional quarterfinals, Feb. 28

No. 17 West Allis Hale at No. 16 Milwaukee King
No. 18 Milwaukee Juneau/Reagan at No. 15 Milwaukee Bradley

Regional semifinals, March 3

Hale-King winner at No. 1 Brookfield Central
No. 9 Brookfield East at No. 8 Racine Horlick
No. 12 Racine Park at No. 5 Racine Case
No. 13 Milwaukee South at No. 4 Milwaukee Riverside
No. 14 Milwaukee Marquette at No. 3 Oak Creek
No. 11 West Allis Central at No. 6 Franklin
No. 10 Greenfield at No. 7 Milwaukee Hamilton/Audubon
Bradley-Juneau/Reagan winner at No. 2 Milwaukee Vincent

Division 2

Sectional 1

Regional quarterfinals, Feb. 28

No. 9 New Richmond at No. 8 Holmen
No. 11 Ashland at No. 6 Sparta
No. 10 Menomonie at No. 7 River Falls
No. 9 Mosinee at No. 8 Shawano
No. 11 Waupaca at No. 6 Hortonville
No. 10 New London at No. 7 Antigo

Regional semifinals, March 3

New Richmond-Holmen winner at No. 1 La Crosse Central
No. 5 Tomah at No. 4 La Crosse Logan
Ashland-Sparta winner at No. 3 Rice Lake
River Falls-Menomonie winner at No. 2 Onalaska
Mosinee-Shawano winner at No. 1 Wausau East
No. 5 Merrill at No. 4 Rhinelander
Hortonville-Waupaca winner at No. 3 Lakeland
Antigo-New London winner at No. 2 Medford

Sectional 3

Regional quarterfinals, Feb. 28

No. 9 Oregon at No. 8 Monroe
No. 11 Reedsburg at No. 6 Portage
No. 10 Baraboo at No. 7 Sauk Prairie
No. 9 Waterford at No. 8 Jefferson
No. 11 Milton at No. 6 Delavan-Darien
No. 10 Wilmot at No. 7 Fort Atkinson

Regional semifinals, March 3

Oregon-Monroe winner at No. 1 Waunakee
No. 5 Mount Horeb at No. 4 DeForest
Portage-Reedsburg winner at No. 3 Monona Grove
Sauk Prairie-Baraboo winner at No. 2 Stoughton
Jefferson-Waterford winner at No. 1 Westosha Central
No. 5 Union Grove at No. 4 Elkhorn
Delavan-Darien-Milton winner at No. 3 Burlington
Fort Atkinson-Wilmot winner at No. 2 McFarland

Sectional 2

Regional quarterfinals, Feb. 28

No. 9 Seymour at No. 8 Marinette
No. 11 Green Bay West at No. 6 Ashwaubenon
No. 10 Menasha at No. 7 Green Bay Southwest
No. 9 Slinger at No. 8 West Bend East
No. 12 Milwaukee Madison at No. 5 Grafton
No. 11 Kewaskum at No. 6 Plymouth
No. 10 Port Washington at No. 7 West Bend West

Regional semifinals, March 3

Seymour-Marinette winner at No. 1 Pulaski
No. 5 Green Bay Notre Dame at No. 4 West De Pere
Green Bay West-Ashwaubenon winner at No. 3 Kaukauna
Green Bay Southwest-Menasha winner at No. 2 Luxemburg-Casco
Slinger-West Bend East winner at No. 1 Beaver Dam
Milwaukee Madison-Grafton winner at No. 4 Glendale Nicolet
Kewaskum-Plymouth winner at No. 3 Brown Deer
West Bend West-Port Washington winner at No. 2 Cedarburg

Sectional 4

Regional quarterfinals, Feb. 28

No. 9 Waukesha North at No. 8 South Milwaukee
No. 12 Milwaukee St. Anthony at No. 5 Greendale
No. 11 Milwaukee Pulaski at No. 6 New Berlin West
No. 10 Cudahy at No. 7 Milwaukee Bay View/Lifelong Learning
No. 9 Milwaukee Lutheran at No. 8 Whitefish Bay
No. 12 Milwaukee Arts at No. 5 Wauwatosa East
No. 11 Shorewood at No. 6 Milwaukee North
No. 10 Milwaukee Morse-Marshall at No. 7 Milwaukee Messmer

Regional semifinals, March 3

Waukesha North-South Milwaukee winner at No. 1 Pewaukee
Greendale-St. Anthony winner at No. 4 Waukesha Catholic Memorial
Milwaukee Pulaski-New Berlin West winner at No. 3 Whitnall
Bay View/Lifelong Learning-Cudahy winner at No. 2 New Berlin Eisenhower
Milwaukee Lutheran-Whitefish Bay winner at No. 1 Milwaukee Washington
Wauwatosa East-Milwaukee Arts winner at No. 4 Wauwatosa West
Milwaukee North-Shorewood winner at No. 3 Wisconsin Lutheran
Messmer-Morse-Marshall winner at No. 2 Milwaukee Pius XI

Division 3

Sectional 1

Regional quarterfinals, Feb. 28

No. 9 Baldwin-Woodville at No. 8 Barron
No. 11 Spooner at No. 6 Ellsworth
No. 10 Somerset at No. 7 Amery
No. 9 West Salem at No. 8 Black River Falls
No. 10 Viroqua at No. 7 Arcadia

Regional semifinals, March 3

Baldwin-Woodville-Barron winner at No. 1 Prescott
No. 5 St. Croix Central at No. 4 Osceola
Spooner-Ellsworth winner at No. 3 Hayward
Amery-Somerset winner at No. 2 Northwestern
West Salem-Black River Falls winner at No. 1 Bloomer
No. 5 Mauston at No. 4 Westby
No. 6 Altoona at No. 3 Elk Mound
Arcadia-Viroqua winner at No. 2 Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau

Sectional 3

Regional quarterfinals, Feb. 28

No. 9 River Valley at No. 8 Richland Center
No. 11 Wautoma at No. 6 Lodi
No. 10 Nekoosa at No. 7 Westfield
No. 9 Marshall at No. 8 Whitewater
No. 12 St. John’s Northwest Military Academy at No. 5 Lakeside Lutheran
No. 13 Brodhead at No. 4 Madison Edgewood
No. 14 Palmyra-Eagle at No. 3 Beloit Turner
No. 11 Big Foot at No. 6 East Troy
No. 10 Clinton at No. 7 Edgerton

Regional semifinals, March 3

River Valley-Richland Center winner at No. 1 Prairie du Chien
No. 5 Dodgeville at No. 4 Platteville
Wautoma-Lodi winner at No. 3 Wisconsin Dells
Westfield-Nekoosa winner at No. 2 Adams-Friendship
Marshall-Whitewater winner at No. 1 Lake Mills
Edgerton-Clinton winner at No. 2 Evansville

Sectional 2

Regional quarterfinals, Feb. 28

No. 9 Tomahawk at No. 8 Fox Valley Lutheran
No. 11 Oconto Falls at No. 6 Oconto
No. 10 Northland Pines at No. 7 Clintonville
No. 9 Sheboygan Falls at No. 8 Cedar Grove-Belgium
No. 12 Brillion at No. 5 Wrightstown
No. 13 Chilton at No. 4 Sturgeon Bay
No. 14 Kewaunee at No. 3 Southern Door
No. 11 Kiel at No. 6 Denmark
No. 10 Oostburg at No. 7 Two Rivers

Regional semifinals, March 3

Tomahawk-Fox Valley Lutheran winner at No. 1 Appleton Xavier
No. 5 Amherst at No. 4 Freedom
Oconto Falls-Oconto winner at No. 3 Peshtigo
Clintonville-Northland Pines winner at No. 2 Little Chute
Sheboygan Falls-Cedar Grove-Belgium winner at No. 1 New Holstein
Two Rivers-Oostburg winner at No. 2 Valders

Sectional 4

Regional quarterfinals, Feb. 28

No. 9 Omro at No. 8 Lomira
No. 12 St. Lawrence Seminary at No. 5 Berlin
No. 13 North Fond du Lac at No. 4 Columbus
No. 11 Poynette at No. 6 Winneconne
No. 10 Mayville at No. 7 Watertown Luther Prep
No. 9 St. Francis at No. 8 Milwaukee St. Thomas More
No. 12 Kenosha Reuther at No. 5 Kettle Moraine Lutheran
No. 13 Milwaukee Tenor/Veritas at No. 4 University School of Milwaukee
No. 11 Milwaukee Carmen/Northwest at No. 6 Brookfield Academy
No. 10 Milwaukee School of Languages at No. 7 Milwaukee Obama SCTE

Regional semifinals, March 3

Omro-Lomira winner at No. 1 Ripon
Poynette-Winneconne winner at No. 3 Campbellsport
Luther Prep-Mayville winner at No. 2 Waupun
St. Francis-St. Thomas More winner at No. 1 Greendale Martin Luther
Carmen/Northwest-Brookfield Academy winner at No. 3 Whitefish Bay Dominican
Obama-School of Languages winner at No. 2 Racine St. Catherine’s

Division 4

Sectional 1

Regional quarterfinals, Feb. 28

No. 9 Ladysmith at No. 8 Cumberland
No. 12 Colby at No. 5 St. Croix Falls
No. 13 Athens at No. 4 Grantsburg
No. 11 Abbotsford at No. 6 Chetek-Weyerhaeuser
No. 10 Chequamegon at No. 7 Washburn
No. 9 Colfax at No. 8 Glenwood City
No. 12 Osseo-Fairchild at No. 5 Mondovi
No. 11 Fall Creek at No. 6 Cadott
No. 10 Boyceville at No. 7 Plum City/Elmwood

Regional semifinals, March 3

Ladysmith-Cumberland winner at No. 1 Phillips
Chetek-Weyerhaeuser-Abbotsford winner at No. 3 Unity
Washburn-Chequamegon winner at No. 2 Cameron
Colfax-Glenwood City winner at No. 1 Stanley-Boyd
Mondovi-Osseo-Fairchild winner at No. 4 Durand
Fall Creek-Cadott winner at No. 3 Eau Claire Regis
Plum City/Elmwood-Boyceville winner at No. 2 Spring Valley

Sectional 3

Regional quarterfinals, Feb. 28

No. 9 Coulee Christian at No. 8 La Crosse Aquinas
No. 12 Whitehall at No. 5 Brookwood
No. 11 Montello at No. 6 Onalaska Luther
No. 10 Boscobel at No. 7 Melrose-Mindoro
No. 9 Lancaster at No. 8 Cambridge
No. 12 Waterloo at No. 5 Wisconsin Heights
No. 11 Parkview at No. 6 Iowa-Grant
No. 10 Cuba City at No. 7 Belleville

Regional semifinals, March 3

Coulee Christian-Aquinas winner at No. 1 Cochrane-Fountain City
Brookwood-Whitehall winner at No. 4 Fennimore
Luther-Montello winner at No. 3 Necedah
Melrose-Mindoro-Boscobel winner at No. 2 Pardeeville
Lancaster-Cambridge winner at No. 1 Darlington
Wisconsin Heights-Waterloo winner at No. 4 Mineral Point
Parkview-Iowa-Grant winner at No. 3 Deerfield
Belleville-Cuba City winner at No. 2 New Glarus

Sectional 2

Regional quarterfinals, Feb. 28

No. 9 Menominee Indian at No. 8 Wittenberg-Birnamwood
No. 12 Coleman at No. 5 Neillsville
No. 13 Bonduel at No. 4 Wabeno/Laona
No. 11 Crandon at No. 6 Auburndale
No. 10 Spencer at No. 7 Stratford
No. 9 Weyauwega-Fremont at No. 8 Manitowoc Lutheran
No. 12 Mishicot at No. 5 Neenah St. Mary Catholic
No. 11 Manawa at No. 5 Stevens Point Pacelli
No. 10 Reedsville at No. 7 Gibraltar

Regional semifinals, March 3

Menominee Indian-Wittenberg-Birnamwood winner at No. 1 Marathon
Auburndale-Crandon winner at No. 3 Crivitz
Stratford-Spencer winner at No. 2 Edgar
Weyauwega-Fremont-Manitowoc Lutheran winner at No. 1 Shiocton
St. Mary Catholic-Mishicot winner at No. 4 Iola-Scandinavia
Manawa-Pacelli winner at No. 3 Manitowoc Roncalli
Gibraltar-Reedsville winner at No. 2 Algoma

Sectional 4

Regional quarterfinals, Feb. 28

No. 9 Random Lake at No. 8 Winnebago Lutheran
No. 12 Wayland Academy at No. 5 Markesan
No. 13 Princeton/Green Lake at No. 4 Howards Grove
No. 11 Dodgeland at No. 6 Kohler
No. 10 Horicon at No. 7 Oshkosh Lourdes
No. 9 Milwaukee Golda Meir at No. 8 Lake Country Lutheran
No. 11 Kenosha Christian Life at No. 6 Racine Lutheran
No. 10 Shoreland Lutheran at No. 7 Milwaukee Collegiate Academy

Regional semifinals, March 3

Random Lake-Winnebago Lutheran winner at No. 1 Laconia
Dodgeland-Kohler winner at No. 3 Ozaukee
Lourdes-Horicon winner at No. 2 Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs
Golda Meir-Lake Country Lutheran winner at No. 1 Milwaukee Destiny
No. 5 Milwaukee Hope Christian at No. 4 Kenosha St. Joseph
Kenosha Christian Life-Racine Lutheran winner at No. 3 Milwaukee Young Coggs Prep
Collegiate Academy-Shoreland Lutheran winner at No. 2 Racine The Prairie School

Division 5

Sectional 1

Regional quarterfinals, Feb. 28

No. 16 Lac Courte Oreilles at No. 1 Drummond
No. 9 Siren at No. 8 Frederic
No. 12 Bayfield at No. 5 South Shore
No. 13 Shell Lake at No. 4 Luck
No. 14 Butternut at No. 3 Mellen
No. 11 Webster at No. 6 Northwood
No. 10 Hurley at No. 7 Mercer
No. 15 Winter at No. 2 Solon Springs
No. 16 New Auburn at No. 1 Chippewa Falls McDonell
No. 9 Lake Holcombe at No. 8 Rib Lake
No. 12 Prairie Farm at No. 5 Turtle Lake
No. 13 Flambeau at No. 4 Owen-Withee
No. 14 Bruce at No. 3 Prentice
No. 11 Birchwood at No. 6 Thorp
No. 10 Gilman at No. 7 Cornell
No. 15 Clayton at No. 2 Clear Lake

Sectional 3

Regional quarterfinals, Feb. 28

No. 16 Weston at No. 1 Bangor
No. 9 Blair-Taylor at No. 8 Hillsboro
No. 12 Gilmanton at No. 5 Eleva-Strum
No. 13 Cashton at No. 4 Alma/Pepin
No. 14 New Lisbon at No. 3 Royall
No. 11 Wonewoc-Center at No. 6 Lincoln
No. 10 Eau Clarie Immanuel Lutheran at No. 7 Independence
No. 15 Granton at No. 2 Augusta
No. 16 Belmont at No. 1 Seneca
No. 9 North Crawford at No. 8 Kickapoo
No. 12 Wauzeka-Steuben at No. 5 Ithaca
No. 13 La Farge at No. 4 Potosi
No. 14 Cassville at No. 3 Highland
No. 11 Southwestern at No. 6 River Ridge
No. 10 Benton at No. 7 De Soto
No. 15 Riverdale at No. 2 Shullsburg

Sectional 2

Regional quarterfinals, Feb. 28

No. 16 Bowler at No. 1 Marshfield Columbus Catholic
No. 9 Wisconsin Valley Lutheran at No. 8 Rosholt
No. 12 Greenwood at No. 5 Wild Rose
No. 13 Tigerton at No. 4 Loyal
No. 14 Marion at No. 3 Wisconsin Rapids Assumption
No. 11 Wausau Newman Catholic at No. 6 Pittsville
No. 10 Tri-County at No. 7 Port Edwards
No. 15 Northland Lutheran at No. 2 Almond-Bancroft
No. 16 Three Lakes at No. 1 Gresham
No. 9 Elcho at No. 8 Niagara
No. 12 Wausaukee at No. 5 Phelps
No. 13 White Lake at No. 4 Oneida Nation
No. 14 Sevastopol at No. 3 Lena
No. 11 Goodman/Pembine at No. 6 Green Bay NEW Lutheran
No. 10 St. Thomas Aquinas at No. 7 Florence
No. 15 Gillett at No. 2 Suring

Sectional 4

Regional quarterfinals, Feb. 28

No. 16 Johnson Creek at No. 1 Barneveld
No. 9 Oakfield at No. 8 Randolph
No. 12 Argyle at No. 5 Fall River
No. 13 Madison Abundant Life Christian/St. Ambrose at No. 4 Rio
No. 14 Madison Country Day at No. 3 Black Hawk
No. 11 Monticello atNo. 6 Cambria-Friesland
No. 10 Albany at No. 7 Juda
No. 15 Central Wisconsin Christian at No. 2 Pecatonica
No. 16 University Lake/Trinity Academy at No. 1 Hilbert
No. 9 Faith Christian at No. 8 Burlington Catholic Central
No. 12 Milwaukee Eastbrook Academy at No. 5 Oshkosh Valley Christian
No. 13 Milwaukee Heritage Christian at No. 4 Milwaukee Salam
No. 14 Stockbridge at No. 3 Sheboygan County Christian
No. 11 Williams Bay at No. 6 Sheboygan Area Lutheran
No. 10 Living Word Lutheran at No. 7 Hustisford
No. 15 Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah at No. 2 Milwaukee Academy of Science