De Pere’s State run ends in hard fought semifinal at Kohl Center

MADISON — De Pere’s season came to a close Friday night at the Kohl Center, as the Redbirds (25-4) fell 75-62 in the WIAA Division 1 state semifinal.

For De Pere, the loss marked the end of a memorable run that included conference, regional and sectional championships, along with a return trip to state for the second time since 2023.

Despite the final score, the Redbirds were right in the game early.

De Pere trailed by just one point at halftime, 33-32, after battling through a fast-paced first half. The Redbirds held their own defensively and mustered up enough offense to stay within striking distance heading into the break.

Head coach Brian Winchester believed his team was in position to make a push.

“We talked about it at halftime,” Winchester said. “We just had to not lose shooters and get hands on guys.”

However, the second half proved to be the difference.

Madison Memorial caught fire from beyond the arc, knocking down key three-pointers that quickly created separation. What had been a one-possession game turned into a double-digit deficit, as the Redbirds struggled to slow the momentum.

“They just kept making shots,” Winchester said. “I told our guys at halftime, ‘If we guard well, water will find its level,’ but it just didn’t. Credit to them, they shot the heck out of it.”

Even as the deficit grew, De Pere continued to compete.

Senior Jack Bookter led the Redbirds with 19 points, attacking offensively and providing a steady presence throughout the game. Will Krueger added 13 points, while Noah Maniscalco and Isaac Herlache each contributed 11.

Maniscalco said the team stayed locked in defensively despite the challenge.

“We just had to dig in on defense, we did our best,” he said. “They made shots.”

While the outcome was not what De Pere hoped for, the season itself stood as a testament to the group’s resilience and growth.

Entering the year, the Redbirds were not expected by many to make a deep postseason run. With limited experience and no clear standout name, De Pere instead leaned on team chemistry and collective effort.

“To come into this season not having a lot of game experience, it just kind of proved that if you work hard and you're in it together, working for each other, connected, you can do anything,” Bookter said.

That mindset carried the Redbirds through a successful season, culminating in a trip to Madison and a chance to compete on one of the state’s biggest stages.

“I think a lot of people looked at us and we didn’t have a big name on the team,” Maniscalco said. “I think we used that to our advantage. We played as a team and we did a great job of that throughout the year.”

Winchester echoed that sentiment, reflecting on what the group accomplished.

“I’m very proud of our season, I can’t say enough,” he said. “Special group of kids; conference champions, regional champions, sectional champions.”

Although the season ended short of a state championship, the Redbirds’ run highlighted a team that exceeded expectations and stayed connected from start to finish.