The WIAA State Boys Basketball Tournament continues on Friday, March 20 at the Kohl Center, in Madison.

Slinger (24-4) faces McFarland (23-5) at 1:35 p.m. in a Division 2 matchup. 

The Owls were issued the top seed in the bracket, qualifying for the first time since its only other appearance 49 years ago, in 1977. That experience resulted in a loss in the Class B semifinals. Slinger won the North Shore Conference title this season, and they qualified for state with a 53-42 win over Notre Dame in the Sheboygan North Sectional final.

Owls head coach Alex Lavine said he's proud of his team, during the WIAA Coaches Video Conference.

"We have a group of players that are committed, and have been stepping up in important situations. It means a lot to us and many people in the community."

Slinger's Kohnen brothers have been hard to handle this season. Jack is a junior and Joey is only a sophomore and they are hoping to bring home the program's first-ever state championship in boys basketball.  

Fourth-seeded McFarland returns to the state tournament for the third time and for the first time since the second of back-to-back Class B championships 1973 and 1974. Their advancement to the state semifinals this season comes by virtue of an 86-60 win over New Berlin West in the Oconomowoc Sectional final. The Spartans are the champions of the Badger Conference this season.