Bangor headlines boys’ basketball playoff bracket release by earning No. 1 seed

As the Bangor boys’ basketball team prepares to try and make another deep postseason run, they’ll do so from a familiar position: as a No. 1 seed.

The Cardinals (19-4) were awarded the top seed in their Division 5 region when the WIAA released brackets this past Sunday for this year’s high school playoffs.

Their potential path to the Kohl Center begins when they host No. 16 seed Wonewoc-Center (3-17) in the regional quarterfinals Tuesday, March 1 at 7 p.m. in Bangor. The Cardinals twice beat the Wolves during the regular season: 81-36 on January 11 in Wonewoc and 86-40 on February 18 in Bangor.

A win there and the Cardinals advance to the regional semifinals to face either No. 8 seed Loyal (10-13) or No. 9 seed Gilmanton (6-15) Friday, March 4 at 7 p.m.

In that same region, Brookwood (6-18) is a 10 seed and opens play against No. 7 seed Coulee Christian (7-12) — who the Falcons toppled 65-54 February 18 — next Tuesday in West Salem.

The winner moves on to face either No. 2 seed Blair-Taylor (15-9) or No. 15 seed Independence (1-19) in the regional semifinals.

In Division 4, the Cashton Eagles (18-6) are a No. 5 seed and host No. 12 seed Iowa-Grant (7-17) in the opening round. If they win, the Eagles then get either No. 4 seed Cuba City (22-2) or No. 13 seed Boscobel (3-19) in the regional semifinals.

At the Division 2 level, Sparta (4-19) was given the No. 11 seed in its region and hits the road next Tuesday to play No. 6 seed Menomonie (10-14), with the winner advancing to play No. 3 seed Onalaska (17-5) in the ensuing round.

Tomah (13-11) was awarded a No. 5 seed and a bye into the regional semifinals. The Timberwolves will go on the road to clash with No. 4 Rice Lake (14-9) Friday, March 4 at 7 p.m.

Regional final matchups are to be held on Saturday, March 5 at 7 p.m.

Sectional semifinals are scheduled to take place Thursday, March 10 at 7 p.m., with sectional finals to follow Saturday, March 12 at 7 p.m.

The 2022 WIAA State Boys’ Basketball Tournament will be held from Thursday, March 17 to Saturday, March 19 at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Additional postseason information and full brackets for all five divisions can be found on the WIAA website.