Cochrane-Fountain City Advances to First State Championship Game

MADISON, Wis. (WEAU) – The Cochrane-Fountain City boys basketball team made history Friday by securing their first-ever spot in the state championship game after defeating Turtle Lake 66-54 in the WIAA Division 5 semifinals at the Kohl Center.

The Pirates set a Division 5 record with 17 steals, showcasing their fast-paced and aggressive defense. Senior Cameron Lipinski led the team with 24 points, seven rebounds, and five steals, proving instrumental in the victory.

Cochrane-Fountain City’s accomplishment marks only their second trip to the state tournament, the first being in 2014. They will face Sheboygan Lutheran in the championship game Saturday at 11:05 a.m.

Turtle Lake, making its initial appearance at the state tournament, was led by Angela Wagner, the first female coach to take a boys’ team to the state finals. The Lakers put up a strong fight, with junior Brandon Wagner scoring 27 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.

The game unfolded with intense back-and-forth action. Although the Pirates lost a double-digit lead in the second half, they rallied back just in time. With 2:28 remaining, Porter Ehrat nailed a crucial turnaround jumper, effectively sealing the victory.

“Just get the ball and go,” guard Reed Schmidtknecht said, highlighting the team’s strategy to maintain a fast pace. “We knew we had a lot more stamina and subs than they did.”

Cochrane-Fountain City’s defense was relentless, forcing Turtle Lake into six turnovers during the final minutes of play. Head coach Jesse Cyrus emphasized the importance of defense, stating, “Our defense leads and it has all season.”

The Pirates capitalized on turnovers, scoring 29 points off turnovers throughout the game, with 17 fast-break points. Lipinski was particularly dominant in the first half, scoring 18 points while shooting 75% from the field.

“We set the tone, got the intensity up, which obviously fueled us some more,” Lipinski remarked about their strong start.

In contrast, Turtle Lake adjusted in the second half, leveraging Brandon Wagner’s size to their advantage. Wagner delivered a powerful performance, including two three-pointers, but his efforts were not enough to overcome the Pirates’ lead.

Cochrane-Fountain City now holds a season record of 27-2, while Turtle Lake finished with a commendable 22-5 record.