Show summary Hide summary
A Milwaukee Juneau junior emerged as the clear favorite in a fan poll after leading his team to its first-ever state title, a result that underlines the growing profile of the program and could shape attention from scouts and local supporters. The week-long vote and the state finals both highlighted individual performances that decided championships across WIAA divisions.
The fan poll, conducted April 2–9 and featuring 12 nominees from the state tournament, gave Dooney Johnson of Milwaukee Juneau half of all votes, an emphatic margin over the rest of the field. Johnson delivered the headline performance of the Division 4 final on March 21, finishing with 23 points and seven rebounds at the Kohl Center.
In a key stretch of the first half, Johnson poured in 14 straight points across roughly six minutes — a sequence that swung momentum and helped Juneau secure a 62–54 win over Cambridge. The victory capped a 28–1 season and marked the program’s inaugural state championship.
State question 832 draws intense scrutiny as voters voice worries at May forum
Insurance billing overhaul set to expose hidden charges for consumers
| Player | School | Class | Key stat (Final) | Poll share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dooney Johnson | Milwaukee Juneau | Junior | 23 pts, 7 reb; 14 straight points in first half | 50% |
| Jaden Hardiman | Milwaukee Juneau | Senior | 17 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast | 14% |
| Ben Prochnow | Reedsville | Senior | 19 pts, 8 ast | 12% |
| Arden Strenn | Reedsville | Senior | 20 pts, 14 reb (double-double) | 9% |
| Kyler Marks | Seymour | Senior | 13 pts, 11 reb (double-double) | 3% (tie) |
| Zavier Zens | Wisconsin Lutheran | Senior | 20 pts, 6 reb; 4 threes | 3% (tie) |
Other standout performances
Across divisions, several players turned in finals performances that propelled their teams to titles or kept them close.
Jack Brodersen (Whitefish Bay, junior) posted a double-double in Division 2 — 23 points and 10 rebounds — as Whitefish Bay rolled past top-seeded Slinger, 77–46.
Bryson Fogle (Slinger, senior) hit four 3-pointers and finished with 20 points and six rebounds, despite Slinger falling to Whitefish Bay in that Division 2 final.
Lamont Hamilton (Racine St. Catherine’s, senior) led Racine with 26 points, including four triples, while adding seven rebounds, five assists and three steals in a 61–41 Division 3 title game win over Seymour.
Anthony Miller (Madison Memorial, senior) drilled four 3-pointers in the Division 1 final and set a Division 1 tournament mark with 10 made 3s across the event, though Madison Memorial lost to Wisconsin Lutheran, 57–37.
Reedsville’s balanced attack in Division 5 featured both Ben Prochnow and Arden Strenn, who combined for a strong showing in the 56–48 championship victory over Southwestern.
- Jett Horton (Cambridge) — 14 points, three 3s in the Division 4 final.
- Aiden Keleher (Southwestern) — 13 points, five rebounds in the Division 5 final.
- Kyler Marks (Seymour) — double-double in Division 3 final despite the loss.
What this means going forward
The vote and the state finals underscore where attention is focused in Wisconsin high school basketball: individual performances on the biggest stage can quickly raise a player’s profile. For Milwaukee Juneau, a first-ever championship and a 28–1 record provide tangible momentum for the program.
For college recruiters and local media, strong showings at the Kohl Center — and clear fan interest reflected in the poll — will likely shape offseason conversations. For communities, those championship nights are already being remembered as watershed moments.
The poll was fan-driven and open for one week following the tournaments, and while votes reflect public sentiment rather than formal awards panels, the results highlight who captured the public imagination during the 2026 WIAA state finals.
