The WIAA girls state basketball tournament tips off on Thursday at the Resch Center in Green Bay. Western Wisconsin will be represented by a pair of teams at the tournament.
In division four, the Colfax girls are making the program's third trip to state, after the Vikings defeated Colby 42-34 on Saturday night. While the team will take some time to celebrate its upcoming trip, they say their season's goal is still two wins away.
"We're going to be back in practice Monday, working hard, playing against some older guys that come in. We're going to take it hard this week," says senior guard Hannah Hover.
Coach Joe Doucette adds: "We want to be state champs and that's what our goal is. Whether we can do that or are talented enough, that's what we're going to do. Give it our best shot down there. "
The Vikings will face The Prairie School in a state semifinal, Thursday, at around 8:15 p.m.
Neillsville won the division four state championship a year ago. The Warriors are headed back to state following a 37-25 win over Ladysmith in the sectional final. This year's tourney trip will be a little different because the team is now in division three. But they Warriors hope the end result is the same.
"You know, it's a different look of squads that we have to play from last year to this year," says head coach John Gaier. "This team has really done a nice job of getting its own identity and putting last year in the past and trying to build and improve every day. So I don't think they're so much focused on division, as they are just making sure at this time of year, they can play one more game."
Neillsville takes on East Troy on Friday around 10:30 a.m. You can watch the entire tournament live on WQOW 18, online at www.wqow.com, or on your mobile device.
Colfax makes the program's 3rd trip to state
Colfax head coach Joe Doucette
Colfax senior guard Hannah Hover
Neillsville returns to state, this time in Division 3
Neillsville head coach John Gaier
