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Now in it's eighth year, the Midwest Player's Classic, fueled by Muscle Milk, held at the La Crosse Center on Saturday, January 13th continues to grow, and once again features an incredible mix of team and individual talent from around the Midwest.

WisSports.net is happy to once again join the event as a statewide media sponsor, and we will have coverage leading up to and throughout the event.

Featuring seven games and 14 teams in a single-day format, it is a great opportunity to see outstanding teams and players in a single setting. Last year's event featured eventual WIAA Division 2 state champion La Crosse Central and eventual MSHSL Class AA state champion Minnehaha Academy, while Waunakee boys team plus the Bangor and Aquinas girls teams also made the state tournament..

Tickets will be sold at the door on the day of the event, with no pre-sale of tickets. All tickets are general admission seating and are good for all seven games of the event. Adult tickets are $10, Students are $5, and under age five is free. Floor seats are reserved for the corporate sponsors of the event. You must have a hand stamped to re-enter.

2018 Midwest Player's Classic Schedule
January 13, 2018

10:00am    Aquinas Blugolds   vs.    Bangor Cardinals (Girls game)  
11:35am    La Crosse Logan Rangers                 vs.    Bloomer Blackhawks
  1:10pm    Aquinas Blugolds            vs.    Spring Grove Lions 
  2:55pm    Caledonia Warriors         vs.    The Prairie School Prairie Hawks
  4:40pm    Stoughton Vikings           vs.    Minnehaha Academy Redhawks
  6:25pm    Waunakee Warriors        vs.    Stevens Point Panthers
  8:15pm    La Crosse Central Red Raiders        vs.    Woodbury Royals

The day begins with an excellent girls hoops showdown between D4 top-ranked Aquinas and Division 5's third-ranked team in the WisSports.net Coaches Poll, Bangor. Aquinas sophomore Lexi Donarski is already committed to Iowa State, while classmate Courtney Becker holds a D1 offer from North Dakota State. Bangor senior Emma Wittmershaus is committed to UW-Milwaukee.

While both teams saw outstanding sophomore players leave via transfer in the off-season, but Bloomer and La Crosse Logan still have plenty of talent in the 11:35 am game. Logan's C.J. Siegel is an outstanding hoops player and has signed with North Dakota for football. Bloomer's Payton Dachel is also an outstanding two-sport player who is over 1,000 points in his basketball career.

Spring Grove (MN) won a football state championship in the fall and has been one game short of the basketball state tournament the last two years, and the Lions match-up with perennial contender Aquinas.

Caledonia (MN) has won four straight football state championships and features an outstanding basketball team as well. Ranked #2 in the pre-season in Minnesota, the Warriors feature the King brothers, including senior Owen, a South Dakota State commit, and sophomore Noah, who holds an offer from South Dakota State. They meet up with top five Division 4 team The Prairie School, featuring D1 recruit J.C. Butler.

Minnehaha Academy (MN) won a state title in Minnesota last year, and feature the #1-rated sophomore in the country, Jalen Suggs. Senior Javanni Bickham is a Denver commit, while sophomore Terry Lockett is a D1 recruit as well. Stoughton is ranked in the top ten of Division 2.

Three-time defending Division 1 state champion Stevens Point is without Marquette commit Joey Hauser, but senior Drew Blair is among the top scorers in the state so far this year. Waunakee has been to the last two Division 2 state tourneys and moves up to D1 this season, where they are ranked sixth. Mitch Listau is a Belmont commit, while Mason Steffen just committed to Minnesota-Duluth. Their 6:25 pm match-up should be outstanding.

Defending Division 2 state champion La Crosse Central features a trio of sophomore D1 prospects in Johnny and Jordan Davis and Terrance Thompson. Woodbury (MN) features Davidson recruit Michael Jones and standout junior point guard Noah Parcher. They'll close the event at 8:15.

2017 Results

Aquinas Lady Blugolds - 69             VS    Bangor Lady Cardinals - 43
La Crosse Logan Rangers - 57         VS    Rushford-Peterson Trojans - 56 (OT)
Onalaska Hilltoppers - 77                VS    Minnehaha Academy Redhawks - 65
Aquinas Blugolds - 46                       VS    Assumption Royals - 34
Wauwatosa West Trojans - 74         VS    Caledonia Warriors - 68
Woodbury Royals - 82                       VS    Milwaukee Riverside Tigers - 65
Central Red Raiders - 75                   VS    Waunakee Warriors - 54

For all past results, please click here.