MADISON - Martin Luther lived up to its No. 1 state ranking with a record-setting 96-61 win over Northwestern in the Wisconsin Division 3 boys basketball state quarterfinals Thursday at Kohl Center.
The Spartans (24-3) set a Division 3 tournament record for points in a game, and senior guard Trequan Carrington netted a record-setting 41 points, breaking the old mark of 36 by Marshall's Jon Krull in 2002.
Martin Luther, which is located in Greenfield, will play Waupun (26-1) in the championship game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Waupun advanced with a 60-43 win over Denmark in the second semifinal. Waupun took a 21-game winning streak to state, following a 79-64 loss to Martin Luther in its sixth game.
"They jumped on us right away," Tigers coach Nolan Graff said. "We tried to anticipate their speed and their quickness, but once we got on the floor with the bright lights and all the people, we were a bit shell-shocked. But, ultimately, we were a little bit overmatched by a very good team."
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The Tigers (21-6) were led by senior Brody Payton's 19 points, which included a 5-for-6 effort on 3-pointers. Junior Andrew Klobucher was next with 11 points, including three 3-pointers.
"Brody played a great game today," Graff said. "Sam (Risley) had three early fouls and that put us in a bad spot right from the beginning. But Brody put us on our shoulders; he was our offense."
Martin Luther missed four shots on the game's first possession, but then scored six straight points and 16 of the next 18 for a 16-2 lead. The only Tigers points in the opening five minutes were two Risley free throws.
Following a Tigers time out, Payton nailed a 3-pointer from the left corner and came up with a steal and layup, which cut the Spartans lead to 16-7.
The Tigers made back-to-back 3-pointers from Andrew Klobuchar and field goals from Payton and Jagar Stillson to get within 23-17.
But the Spartans followed with an 8-0 run and quickly pushed the lead back to 31-17.
"We settled in there and made a nice little run," Graff said. "Andrew's a nice player, an instant offense-type of guy for us, he's been that way for us all season. He provided a little spark, and made some big shots for us."
The Spartans gradually built a 17-point lead before Jenner Graff's 3-pointer with 1:15 left in the first half, which ended at 46-31.
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"We also made a push to get within nine right before the half, but we had a couple of bad turnovers that led to them getting their lead back to 15," Nolan Graff said.
Payton hit three more 3-pointers in the second half.
"We had a good season, but it's over," Payton said. "I'm a little shook right now, but we played well as a team throughout the season."
"For me, in my first year coaching at high school, it's been a storybook year," coach Graff said. "I've been coaching these guys since they were seventh-graders, so it's been a special time.
"I'm so proud of my guys. The way the battled and played right until the end."
Martin Luther 46-50-96
Northwestern 31-30-61
Martin Luther - Trequan Carrington 41, Ace Evens 21, Xavier Jones 7, Garrett Moore 1, Joey Immekus 9, Shaun Harrison 4, Ryan Scholfield 5, Omovie Backstrom 2, Jeramie King 4, Tywon Robinson 2. Totals: 40 12-20 96.
3-point goals - Immekus 3, Schofield.
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Northwestern - Brody Payton 19, Jagar Stillson 8, Jake Brill 3, Jenner Graff 3, Andrew Klobucher 11, Sam Risley 6, Dayne Evanson 1, Nolan Gustafson 2, Greg Ruhman 3, Gervase Thompson 2, Carsen Nykanen 3. Totals 21 6-9 61.
3-point goals - Payton 5, Klobucher 3, Stillson 2, Brill, Graff, Nykanen.
