Sheboygan Lutheran wins state berth

WALES – The Sheboygan Lutheran Crusaders earned their second trip to the Division 5 boys state basketball tournament in the last three years with a 67-56 win over Central Wisconsin Christian (Waupun) in a sectional title game here Saturday afternoon.

Junior Jacob Jurss ignited the Crusaders’ attack with 23 points, including four three-point goals. Seniors Tyler Zastrow and Jeff Hess contributed 15 and 13 points, respectively.

Lutheran, 25-2, blew out to a 24-7 lead after one quarter and then staved off a second-half comeback by CWC. Jurss sparked Lutheran’s offense in the opening period with 14 points, including four treys. The Crusaders built a 38-17 halftime cushion.

Jurss had a team-high six steals, eight assists and six rebounds.

Cody Zonnefeld led CWC in scoring with 16. CWC ended its season at 20-7.

Lutheran will face Green Bay Northeast Wisconsin Lutheran (26-1) in the state semifinals Thursday at 1:35 p.m. at the Kohl Center in Madison. NEW outlasted the Crusaders, 98-91, in an earlier-season matchup.

Lutheran won the D-5 state championship in 2012 behind senior standout Sam Dekker who is a key sophomore on the Wisconsin Badgers’ outstanding team this season.