Honestly, if you're looking at Wisconsin high school basketball scores from last night and thinking you’ve got the March bracket figured out, you're probably kidding yourself. We just crossed the mid-January threshold—specifically Wednesday, January 14, 2026—and the parity across the WIAA landscape is getting a little ridiculous.
Take a look at the girls' side first. People love to talk about the blue bloods, but the real story is the sheer dominance of teams like Wauwatosa East and Oostburg. Tosa East (12-0) just kept the train rolling on Tuesday night against Menomonee Falls. They aren’t just winning; they are systematically dismantling opponents with a 12-game streak that has the Greater Metro conference looking over its shoulder. Meanwhile, Oostburg is sitting at 13-0 after a Tuesday night clash with Sheboygan Lutheran.
Scores tell you who won, but they don't always tell you how much a team is "cheating" the inevitable slump.
Why Raw Scores Don't Always Equal State Gold
Every year, fans get obsessed with the WIAA scoreboard. You see a 30-point blowout in Division 4 and think, "Okay, that's the favorite." But in Wisconsin, conference strength varies so wildly that a three-loss team in the Big Eight or the FVA might actually be more dangerous than an undefeated squad in a smaller, rural conference.
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Look at Wisconsin Lutheran. As of this week, the Vikings are basically the gold standard in Division 1, sitting at 11-0. They’re led by Zavier Zens, a Northern Iowa commit who is legitimately making a case for Mr. Basketball. He’s putting up nearly 28 points a game. When you see a Wisco score, it's usually high-octane. But they aren't just out-talenting people; coach Ryan Walz has those guys moving off the ball better than most college teams I've watched lately.
The Powerhouse Rankings (As of Jan 14, 2026)
If you're tracking the top of the pile, here is how the landscape looks right now. These aren't just guesses; they're based on the latest Bound and MaxPreps data:
- Division 1: Wisconsin Lutheran is the undisputed #1. Kaukauna and West Allis Central are nipping at their heels.
- Division 2: Onalaska is currently the team to beat, though Slinger and West De Pere are within striking distance.
- Division 3: The Freedom Irish are sitting pretty at #1, led by Donovan Davis and his 25 PPG average.
- Division 4: Bonduel has emerged as a serious threat.
- Division 5: Reedsville and Kickapoo are currently the heavyweights.
Tuesday Night's Biggest Eye-Openers
If you were refreshing the scoreboard on January 13th, you saw some heavy hitters in action. Arrowhead moved to 11-0 on the girls' side after taking care of Hartford. On the boys' side, we had a massive Top-10 showdown between #5 Arrowhead and #1 Wisconsin Lutheran. These are the games that define the "strength of schedule" metric that the seeding committees obsess over in March.
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It’s easy to get caught up in the big names like Yusef Gray Jr. at West Allis Central (an Iowa State commit) or Chris Pohl from Marshfield. But the scores from the "middle of the pack" teams are where the upsets are brewing.
I was looking at the Badger-Large scores recently. Verona is quietly sitting at 12-1 on the girls' side. They’ve won seven straight. If you aren't paying attention to those Janesville or Middleton scores, you’re going to be shocked when one of them makes a deep run in the sectionals.
The "Dooney Johnson" Effect
You can't talk about current Wisconsin high school basketball scores without mentioning Dooney Johnson over at Milwaukee Juneau. The kid is averaging 34 points per game. Think about that for a second. In a 32-minute high school game, he's basically accounting for more than a point per minute.
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When Juneau's scores come across the wire, they are often lopsided because Johnson is a walking mismatch. But here is the nuance: can one superstar carry a team through the WIAA regional gauntlet? Historically, the answer is "sorta." You need the supporting cast to hit those corner threes when the double-teams come.
How to Actually Use This Data
If you’re a bettor, a scout, or just a parent trying to keep up, don't just look at the final number. Look at the quarters.
- Check the 1st Quarter: Does a team start fast? Teams like Pewaukee (10-1) tend to smother people early.
- Free Throw Percentages: Late-season games in Wisconsin are often decided by who can hit 15-footers in a cold gym in Wausau or Eau Claire.
- The "Home Gym" Factor: Winning a conference game on the road in the North Shore or the Classic Eight is worth double what it looks like on paper.
Important Dates for Your Calendar
- Girls Regionals: March 3, 6, & 7
- Boys Regionals: Also early March, with Sectionals following on March 12 and 14.
- State Championships: The girls hit the floor March 12-14, 2026, and the boys follow March 19-21 at the Kohl Center in Madison.
What to Do Next
Keep your eyes on the Fox Valley Association matchups this Friday. The FVA is a meat grinder this year, and the scores coming out of those games will likely flip the rankings again by Sunday.
If you want the most accurate, up-to-the-minute data, I usually stick to WisSports.net or the WIAA official scoreboards. They tend to be faster than the national apps for the small-town Division 5 scores that actually matter for the state point system.
The most actionable thing you can do right now? Look at your local team’s "Points Against" average. If they are giving up more than 60 in January, they probably aren't making it to Madison. Defense is what travels when the Wisconsin winter gets nasty and the shooting percentages start to dip.