State Basketball preview: Mosinee looks to knock off a 3rd straight #1 seed in state semifinal vs. Oostburg.

What: Division 3 girls' basketball state semifinal

Who: Mosinee (24-4 overall, 4th seed for state tournament) vs. Oostburg (28-0 overall, 1st seed)

Where: Resch Center, Green Bay

When: Thursday, 3/12 @ 1:35 pm

The first game of the 2026 WIAA girls' basketball state tournament will feature a giant of recent Wisconsin basketball against a giant-killer of this playoff season. Oostburg is the defending Division 3 state champion and the undefeated top ranked team in the state while Mosinee is the underdog that survived a preseason season-ending injury to their top player and beat a pair of #1 seeds last week in the sectionals to earn their first trip to state in 18 years.

It was just last Thursday that Mosinee faced an undefeated squad with visions of a perfect season in their heads. It was a sectional semifinal vs. Wittenberg-Birnamwood. Not only had the top seeded Chargers beaten 3rd seeded Mosinee by 19 points in the first game of the season, W-B had not lost since then. However, Mosinee came away with a 58-53 win to earn a trip to the sectional final vs. St.Croix Central on Saturday. Like the semifinal, Mosinee was facing a #1 seed. Like the semifinal Mosinee was down at halftime. Like the semifinal Mosinee won the game. Outscoring St. Croix Central by 18 points over the last 18 minutes, Mosinee won 69-53 to earn their spot at the state tournament.

The story for Oostburg is winning. Winning a lot over the last two years. A season ago Oostburg went 28-2 with wins over Laconia (66-57) in the semifinal and Xavier (49-36) in the championship game to earn the D-3 state crown. This year has been even better for the Lady Dutch with 28 straight wins, including wins over three of the four teams competing this weekend in the Division 1 state tournament. Notre Dame Academy (43-42), Arrowhead (69-60) and Pewaukee (65-37) all were victims of the Oostburg machine this season.

Mosinee will be prepared as the Indians played a tough non-conference schedule in preparation for the postseason run. Coach Josh Hau and the team were able to overcome the full season loss to injury of multi-sport standout senior Taelyn Jirschele. Sophomore Paetyn Jirschele stepped up with a team-high 16 points per game. Freshman Pacyn Stoffel nearly averaged a double-double with 10.7 points and 9 rebounds per game. A key has been getting production up and down the line-up with players such as junior Addy Henrich, junior Bridget Frye, sophomore Megan Treu and others to improve throughout the season. Mosinee started 5-4 but enters state with a 19 game winning streak.

Mosinee with have to stop Ketterhagen. A lot of Ketterhagens. It starts on the bench with coach Isaiah Ketterhagen but it's the players that Mosinee will have to deal with. Seniors Ady and Riley Ketterhagen and sophomore Kinsley Ketterhagen are all sharing the successes. Both Ady and Riley Ketterhagen will be playing Division 1 college basketball at UW-Green Bay next year. Ady Ketterhagen had a huge state championship game vs. Xavier last March with 27 points and 9 rebounds and this season is averaging 20.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Fellow senior Riley Ketterhagen averages 11 points per game but the sophomore Kinsley has stepped up to score 17 points per game this season. Mosinee will need to slow down Ketterhagen time 3 to have a chance in the semifinal.

The winner of this game will meet the winner of the 2nd D-3 semifinal between 2nd seed Kettle Moraine Lutheran and 3rd seed Wisconsin Dells in the state championship game on Saturday afternoon.