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Appleton North senior Nathan Ramus. (AppletonSportsPage.com file photo/Paul Lecker)
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Appleton North boys basketball blows past Kimberly to win WIAA Division 1 regional title

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AppletonSportsPage.com

APPLETON – The Appleton North boys basketball team’s quest for a first-ever trip to the state tournament continued Saturday with a dominating 73-54 victory over Fox Valley Association-rival Kimberly in a WIAA Division 1 regional final at North High School.

No. 2 seed Appleton North (22-4) will play No. 3 Marshfield (21-5) in a Division 1 sectional semifinal on Thursday at Stevens Point. No. 4 Kaukauna (23-3) will take on No. 9 Neenah (17-9) at Kimberly in the other semifinal, with the winners meeting on Saturday, March 14, to play for a berth in the state tournament.

The Lightning rolled out to a 12-point lead at halftime as Nathan Ramus scored 15 points and Matt Rosplochowski added 14 as they took a 40-28 lead into the break.

Senior Ben Zdzieblowski made all eight of his free throw attempts and scored 14 of his team-high 18 points after halftime to help Appleton North seal the regional championship.

Ramus finished with 17 points, Rosplchowski had 16 and Will Sweeney added 12 in the win for the Lightning.

Cayden Vosters hit four 3-pointers and scored 18 points for Kimberly, which ends its season with a 16-10 record.

Click here to view the statewide regional scoreboard

Lightning 73, Papermakers 54
Kimberly   28   26   –   54
Appleton North   40   33   –   73
KIMBERLY (54): Lucas Wong 0 0-0 0, Jaxson Wyngaard 1 0-0 2, Hunter Holschuh 1 0-0 2, Kegan Pleau 6 0-1 12, Maddox Mendoza 0 0-0 0, Alex Krause 3 3-8 9, Sam Voskuil 0 0-0 0, Kian Buchanan 3 0-1 8, Roman Holzschuh 0 0-0 0, Cayden Vosters 5 4-4 17, Noah Dudek 1 0-0 3, Mason Barbisch 0 0-0 0. FG: 20. FT: 7-14. 3-pointers: 7 (Vosters 4, Buchanan 2, Dudek 1). Fouls: 21. Fouled out: none. Record: 16-10.
APPLETON NORTH (73): Will Sweeney 6 0-1 12, Matt Rosplochowski 6 3-5 16, Nathan Ramus 6 4-6 17, Grant Hardy 1 3-4 6, Ethan Eisenberg 0 0-0 0, Evan Ryan 0 0-0 0, Sam Kuehl 1 2-5 4, Howie Guilbeault 0 0-0 0, Ben Zdziewblowski 5 8-8 18, Ethan Arft 0 0-0 0, Gryphon Armon 0 0-0 0. FG: 25. FT: 20-29. 3-pointers: 3 (Rams 1, Rosplchowski 1, Hardy 1). Fouls: 14. Fouled out: none. Record: 22-4.