Milwaukee Academy of Science boys basketball team wins program's first title with gritty 57-54 victory over Freedom

MADISON - For the first time in program history, Milwaukee Academy of Science boys basketball has a won a WIAA gold ball.

The Novas defeated Freedom, 57-54, in the WIAA Division 3 boys state basketball title game at the Kohl Center on Saturday. It was the third WIAA state tournament appearance for MAS in four seasons.

In 2022, the Novas lost 55-45 to Roncalli in the D4 state title game. The following year MAS made it back to state, but fell by a 93-65 margin to West Salem in the D3 semifinal. Another promising bid in 2024 was derailed by a sectional semifinal run-in with eventual D3 state champion St. Thomas More.

After three years of near misses, the sun finally shined on the Novas. MAS head coach Agape Keys thanked God and gave kudos to Freedom for a title game that was competitive to the very end.

"We had to fight today, we had to show some real resiliency," Keys said. "It's different winning the championship, and I know for us to be on this side of the playing field and them be on the other side, I feel like they're still champions too. They played a real good game."

Few fought harder or gave more to the cause than Devin Brown, who led the Novas with 17 points and 19 rebounds despite missing the final five minutes of the game. While defending 6-foot-8 Donovan Davis, who Brown held to four second-half points after a 13-point first half, Brown came down awkwardly on a previously fractured left foot he said was not fully healed.

Milwaukee Academy of Science's Devin Brown (12) dunks against Freedom in their WIAA Division 3 state championship basketball game, Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.

"I'm in a little pain right now, but I just wanted a gold ball. It was worth it," Brown said. "It wasn't 100% I would say, about 90. I rushed it to just come back and be with my team and win the state championship, but it will be OK."

Coach Keys shifted to a guard-heavy lineup after Brown's exit with 4:59 remaining, with D'Anthony Brown taking the floor for Devin in the paint. Devin Brown's four-year batterymate, Jamarion Batemon, reminded teammates they have been in similar situations before as the Novas clung to a 52-46 advantage.

"It just gave me another reason why I got to get it done," Batemon said of Brown's injury. "He couldn't finish out, so I'm like, 'Make it worth it. Make that injury going as hard as you can worth it to get the win.' "

Freedom inched closer on layups by Drew Kortz and Davis to get within 55-50 with 1:27 remaining, followed by another Kortz layup with 59 seconds remaining. After a jump ball with possession favoring the Irish on the ensuing MAS inbound, Kortz knocked down a jumper to pull within 55-54 with 26.1 remaining. Amare Jackson scored a layup with 19 seconds left on a fast break to pull the lead back out to a full possession, before a close call with 10 seconds left all but clinched things for the Novas.

Block or charge? #wiaabb pic.twitter.com/oevNGeGdVs
— Zac Bellman Ⓜ️ (@ZacBellman_WNY) March 22, 2025

Kortz, who had 29 points for the game, drove the lane and drew a charge on contact with Novas guard Deuce Burkes. Freedom head coach Andrew Gibbons was asked about the close call after the game.

"We talk about things we can control, things we can't," Gibbons said. "Doesn't really matter if we agree with it, that was the call and we came up short."

Jackson missed the front-end of a one-and-one on the ensuing MAS possession, giving Freedom one last shot with nine seconds remaining. Irish senior AJ Wesoloski put up a last-second three that came up short of the basket, clinching the Novas' four-year ascent to the D3 state title.

Batemon followed Brown with 16 points, with Jackson adding 10, Agape Keys Jr. scoring seven, Burkes with six and D'Anthony Brown adding one.

Coach Keys said Saturday's title was the culmination of years of hard work, particularly for seniors Batemon, Brown, Jackson and Keys Jr..

"These kids coming from inner city Milwaukee, we all know it's not promising for kids of their ages every day," Keys said. "For them to wake up and say, 'Hey, I want to play basketball. Hey, I want to be a 4.0 student, I want to go play college basketball.' That's a (difficult) decision to make, you know, in the city."

Devin Brown was relishing the moment through the pain he was experiencing well after postgame festivities.

"Winning a state championship, period, is an awesome feeling, but especially since we lost in this championship freshman year and then next year we came up again and lost," Brown said. "We know how it feels to lose. This year, we were like, 'OK, we really got to buckle down, do whatever it takes to get over the hump,' and we did it this year."

Heroic effort for Devin Brown and the Milwaukee Academy of Science Novas finally gets it done. WIAA D3 state champions. pic.twitter.com/S8esiNfc75
— Zac Bellman Ⓜ️ (@ZacBellman_WNY) March 22, 2025

The Novas reached the state final with a 65-61 win over Lake Mills on Thursday in the state semifinal. Batemon hit a go-ahead three to make it 63-61 with just under two minutes to play, before Devin Brown clinched the win with a pair of free throws in the final seconds.

On a team full of heroic performers in key moments, coach Keys said the lasting message to future teams will be to be a difference maker.

"Who gonna be a difference maker? You can dunk, you can shoot, you can slide ... who gonna be the difference maker? And that's gonna be the way the program is gonna be from here on out: Who gon' make a difference?" Keys said. "That's it, to get us from here to there. Who's gonna embrace the complications to get us from here to there. That's gonna be the message moving forward."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: High school boys basketball: Milwaukee Academy of Science wins title

Topics

Freedom boys basketball captures silver at state

(WFRV) – The #1 Freedom boys basketball team fell in the division three state championship game on Saturday afternoon 57-54 to #2 Milwaukee Academy of Science. Senior Drew Kortz scored 29 points, ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Wauwatosa West captures first state boys basketball title in OT thriller over Racine Park

Wauwatosa West won its first state boys basketball title in program history with a 60-57 OT victory over Racine Park in the Division 2 title game.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Columbus Academy boys basketball advances to first OHSAA state final since 1981

The Columbus Academy boys basketball team is one win away from its first OHSAA state championship.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15
Laurel boys basketball wins first title in 45 years

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (DC News Now) — On Saturday in College Park, the Laurel boys basketball team beat Whitman, 68-53 in the MPSSAA 4A final — for the Spartans, it’s their first state title victory ...
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 16
Boys basketball: Dawson-Boyd Blackjacks battle with returning Heritage Christian Academy

Mar. 18—MINNEAPOLIS — After ending a 34-year state absence, the Dawson-Boyd boys basketball team is zoned in. Fresh off a 59-52 win over Hills-Beaver Creek in the Section 3A championship, the ...
Yahoo Sports - 5d
How Hillsboro wrote its name in Metro Nashville history with program's first TSSAA basketball state title

Hillsboro etched its name into Metro Nashville public school history Saturday with a TSSAA boys basketball state championship win over Oak Ridge.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Class M girls basketball: Bacon Academy tops Windham for championship

UNCASVILLE – The second-seeded Bacon Academy girls basketball team won its first state championship since 2012 with a 39-25 victory over ECC opponent Windham Saturday morning at Mohegan Sun Arena. ...
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15
IHSAA basketball: Monroe Central holds off Daleville to win its first regional in 15 years

Monroe Central won its first boys basketball regional title since 2010 with a hard-fought victory over Daleville at the New Castle Fieldhouse.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 16
Windsor boys basketball quiets Green Mountain to win long-awaited Colorado state title

The Windsor boys basketball team won its first state championship in 101 years, smothering Green Mountain for the Colorado 5A title.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 16
Class 3A boys basketball: Millwood defeats Cascia Hall to win state championship

Millwood won its 18th state championship in program history with a 60-57 win over Cascia Hall in the Class 3A boys basketball title game Saturday at State Fair Arena.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15
Albany victorious in boys basketball championship over previously undefeated Waseca

In a matchup between two undefeated teams, Albany won its second Class 2A state title Saturday at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. The Huskies beat Waseca.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Get to know the men's basketball teams headed to Milwaukee for March Madness

These are the 10 teams ticketed for Milwaukee (or for Dayton, with a chance to play in Milwaukee) in the first round of the 2025 NCAA tournament.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 16
NMCA boys basketball's Ferraiuolo, Tucker make all-Northern Lakes Conference first team

Boys basketball players from Mackinaw City, Burt Lake Northern Michigan Christian Academy and Wolverine recently made the all-Northern Lakes team.
Yahoo Sports - 6d
Class 4A boys basketball: Weatherford defeats Crossings Christian to win first state title

Weatherford beat Crossings Christian 46-44 for the Class 4A boys basketball state title Saturday at State Fair Arena.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15
Lancaster Bruins win first state championship in boys’ basketball

The Lancaster Bruins boys’ basketball team has made history by winning their first state championship, marking a significant achievement for Lancaster High School.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 13
Class 6A boys basketball: Deer Creek defeats Tulsa Union to win first state title since 1974

Deer Creek won its first state championship since 1974 after defeating Tulsa Union 78-69 in the Class 6A boys basketball title game Saturday night at State Fair Arena.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 16
Hankinson boys' hoops beat Oakes 58-45 to win Region 1 title

Mar. 13—JAMESTOWN — The Hankinson boys' basketball team pulled away late to get a 58-45 win over Oakes High School on Thursday, March 13, in the championship game of the 2025 NDHSAA Class B Region ...
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14
Bergen Catholic rallies in fourth to win state boys basketball title over Camden Catholic

Bergen Catholic rallied from a nine-point deficit to beat Camden Catholic, 52-49, and capture the Non-Public A state boys basketball title.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15
Why the wait was sweet for Jackson County in 1st win of TSSAA boys basketball state tournament

It was a program first on Wednesday when Jackson County's boys defeated Jackson Central-Merry in the TSSAA boys basketball state tournament.
Yahoo Sports - 4d
San Gabriel Academy wins Division III state basketball crown

The Eagles, behind 6-foot-11 sophomore center Mahamadou Diop, defeat King's Academy in the CIF Division III boys' basketball championship game.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14
NYSPHSAA boys basketball championships: Woodlands takes on Marcellus for Class B title

The Falcons are back after falling in the semifinals a year ago and are playing for the program's first title since 2015.
Yahoo Sports - 16h
Class MM girls basketball: Sheehan holds off East Catholic for championship victory

UNCASVILLE – The Sheehan girls basketball team won the Class MM championship game with a 56-51 victory over top-seeded East Catholic Sunday afternoon at Mohegan Sun Arena. It was Sheehan’s first ...
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 16
Artesia downs Highland to win program's first state title since 1997

Mar. 15—As far as the Bulldogs are concerned, the blue trophy is going back right where it belongs. Artesia knocked off defending champion Highland 55-48 in the boys 4A final Saturday at the Pit, ...
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 16
Okananwa, gritty defense power No. 2 Duke to lopsided win over No. 15 Lehigh, 86-25

Oluchi Okananwa scored 15 points as second-seeded Duke's defense powered it to a lopsided 86-25 victory over 15th-seeded Lehigh on Friday night in the first round of the women's NCAA Tournament. ...
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Okananwa, gritty defense power Duke to lopsided 86-25 win over Lehigh

Oluchi Okananwa scored 15 points as second-seeded Duke’s defense powered it to a lopsided 86-25 victory over 15th-seeded Lehigh on Friday night in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament
ABC News - 2d
Cooper boys basketball team wins Ninth Region title for embattled head coach

Cooper and Lloyd Memorial played for the KHSAA Ninth Region boys basketball championship. Here's who advanced to the Sweet 16 next Thursday.
Yahoo Sports - 5d
'We did some amazing things': Plainfield boys basketball cruises to Group 4 title

The Plainfield boys basketball team left no doubt with a dominant win in the Group 4 championship game at Rutgers
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 17
Fowler boys basketball reaches state title game with win over Allen Park Inter-City Baptist

Fowler advances to face Wyoming Tri-unity Christian in the Michigan high school boys basketball Division 3 championship game Saturday.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14
North Jersey HSSA: Bergen Catholic wins sixth boys basketball state title

Bergen Catholic boys basketball team topped Camden Catholic for sixth New Jersey state basketball championship. Declan Wucherpfennig had 16 points.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15
France v Scotland LIVE: Score and updates from Six Nations title decider as England hope for favour

Fabien Galthie’s team will win the title with victory over Gregor Townsend’s side
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15
Twelve Dakota Gold Academy gymnasts, Xcel Diamond team win titles in Spring-In Classic

Watertown's Dakota Gold Academy gymnastics got ready for state competition with a strong performance in a meet at Yankton
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Cheboygan’s Carson Kiefer makes Northern Shores boys basketball first team

Four Cheboygan boys basketball players recently earned nods on the All-Northern Shores Conference team, including one player who made the first team.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Binghamton boys one win from NYSPHSAA Class AA basketball title after beating Tappan Zee

Zubayr Griffin scored 22 points for Binghamton, which took control in the second quarter to earn a shot at program's third state title.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Sherwood boys basketball falls in title game

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (DC News Now) — After an incredible season in the Maryland 3A, the Sherwood boys basketball team fell in the state title game to Baltimore City College Saturday, 70-61. “We had a ...
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 16
Olentangy Orange boys basketball cruises past Reynoldsburg to first OHSAA state title

Ellis Appiah's career-high 20 points carried Olentangy Orange to a 56-41 win over Reynoldsburg in the OHSAA Division I state final Saturday night.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Teams with back-to-back NCAA women's basketball titles: 3 programs dominate March Madness

If the South Carolina women's basketball team repeats as national champion this season, they'd join these teams with consecutive national titles.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Summit Country Day falls to undefeated team in Division V boys basketball state semifinals

Summit Country Day vs. Gahanna Columbus Academy in OHSAA Division V boys basketball state semifinals
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15
Team of the Week: East Lansing boys basketball wins state championship

EAST LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – A magical season ended with a state championship for the East Lansing boys basketball team. The Trojans took down Wayne Memorial, 66-44, on Saturday to win the Division ...
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Bradley women's basketball opens Missouri Valley tournament with a victory

Kaylen Nelson scored 16 points to lead the Bradley women to their first MVC tourney win since winning the title in 2021.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14