Interesting match-ups highlight Friday's prep basketball postseason action

Join The Post-Crescent on Friday for our Coverit Live chat during the WIAA boys' state tournament and girls' sectional semifinals. Here are our local match-ups:
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
When: Friday
What: State semifinals
Division 1
* Appleton East (22-5) vs. Madison Memorial (22-4) at Kohl Center, Madison, 6:35 p.m.: Appleton East finished second at 14-4 in the Fox Valley Association. The Patriots are led in scoring by 5-8 junior point guard Johnny Coenen and 6-2 junior forward Caleb Zeegers at 11 ppg. and 10.7 ppg., respectively. Junior Trent Schmidt, a 6-3 forward, averages 10.2 ppg. East advanced to the state semifinals with a 54-46 win over previously unbeaten Antigo on Thursday. It is the school’s sixth state appearance and first since 1996. East was a state runnerup in both 1986 and 1990. The Patriots are on a 12-game winning streak. East’s last loss was a 72-62 setback at home against Kaukauna on Jan. 26. Appleton East coach John Mielke is in his 10th season as Patiots coach. He has a 138-92 record at the school and is 275-178 overall.
Madison Memorial, the defending state champions, are making their seventh straight state appearance. Memorial also won a state championship in 2005 and finished as runner-up in 2004, 2006 and 2008. The Spartans advanced to the state semifinals with a 58-41 win over Neenah. Memorial tied for the Big Eight championship with Madison East, both at 15-3. The Spartans are led in scoring by Marquette University recruit Vander Blue at 17.2 ppg., Tre Creamer at 14.7 ppg. and Junior Lomomba at 10.4 ppg. Spartans coach Steve Collins is in his 12th year at the school and has a 231-59 overall record.
Division 3
* Eau Claire Regis (22-5) vs. Brillion (23-4) at Kohl Center, Madison, approximately 10:45 a.m.: Eau Claire Regis placed second in the Cloverbelt-West with a 13-3 record. Regis is led in scoring by 6-3 senior forward Adam Ganske at 14.5 ppg., 6-2 junior point guard Connor Miller at 13.7 ppg. and 5-11 senior guard Jack Eaton at 13.4 ppg. The Ramblers are making their third straight state appearance, falling in the state semifinals the past two years.
Brillion finished third in the Olympian Conference at 14-4. The Lions are led in scoring by 5-9 sophomore guard Trevor Krizenesky at 10.3 ppg., 6-0 senior guard Jacob Hebbard at 8.8 ppg. and 6-2 junior forward Brian Krueger at 8.4 ppg. Brillion advanced to state with a 66-63 sectional final win over previously unbeaten Marathon last Saturday. This is the Lions’ first-ever state appearance.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
When: Friday
What: Sectional semifinals
Division 1
* (No. 4 seed) Kimberly vs. (No. 1 seed) De Pere at the Kress Center, Green Bay, 6 p.m.: Kimberly tied for third place in the Fox Valley Association with Kaukauna at 13-5 and is 17-7 overall. The Papermakers are led in scoring by 5-7 junior guard Nateah Beimborn at 11.2 ppg. The Papermakers beat Green Bay Preble 38-31 in a regional final on Saturday.
De Pere tied for the Fox River Classic Conference championship with Pulaski at 15-1. The Redbirds are 22-1 overall. They are led in scoring by 6-1 senior center Kristin Tischer at 15.7 ppg. De Pere advanced to sectionals with a 50-34 win over Appleton North on Saturday. De Pere beat Kimberly 32-31 on Nov. 28 at the Kress Classic at the Kress Center in Green Bay. It was the second game of the season for both teams.
* (No. 3 seed) Kaukauna vs. (No. 2 seed) Pulaski at the Kress Center, Green Bay, 8 p.m.: Kaukauna tied with Kimberly for third place in the Fox Valley Association at 13-5. The Ghosts are 18-5 overall. Kaukauna is led in scoring by 5-6 senior guard Lindsey VanRooy at 10.8 ppg and 6-0 junior forward Abbey DeBruin at 10 ppg. The Ghosts advanced to sectionals with a 55-49 win over Ashwaubenon on Saturday.
Pulaski tied for first place in the Fox River Classic Conference with De Pere at 15-1 and is 21-3 overall. The Red Raiders are led in scoring by 6-1 junior center Brooke Lauritzen at 10.5 ppg. and 5-6 senior guard Kristin Halla at 9.5 ppg. Pulaski advanced to sectionals with a 58-30 win over Appleton East on Saturday.