See you in Madison: Panthers punch ticket to state

By David Nordby

The Brillion News

OCONTO FALLS – For the first time in 80 years, the Reedsville boys basketball team will compete in the state tournament.

The Panthers held off undefeated Tigerton 56-45 on Saturday afternoon in the sectional championship at Oconto Falls after a second half where Reedsville gave up just 12 points.

“Beyond excited. This is what we worked for the whole season,” senior Arden Strenn said. “We knew we had a chance from the beginning, but this is great. I can’t explain it.”

Strenn and Reedsville’s defense slowed down 6-foot-11 Tigerton junior James Brady, who entered averaging 24.4 points per game.

A 3-pointer by Strenn cut the halftime deficit to five followed by a seven-point run to start the second half. That helped the Panthers control the pace in the second half.

Senior Ben Prochnow scored 11 points in the second half and found open shooters throughout the game penetrating Tigerton’s zone defense. Jack Schwahn made five 3-point baskets; Strenn made four.

Prochnow said he felt relieved after the game.

“The pressure’s gone of trying to do a job, and just such an enjoyable game and feeling that we got the job done and punched our ticket (to state),” Prochnow said.

His dad, coach Ron Prochnow, returns to the state tournament as head coach for the first time since he took the Augusta girls to back-to-back appearances in 1995 and 1996, winning the second. He was also a part of the Brillion boys’ trips to state in 2010 and 2012 as an assistant, winning the second trip.

The Panthers have achieved success under Prochnow, his second stint as the head coach, winning four regional titles in the last five years.

On Saturday, Reedsville got over the hump they've worked so hard for.

“This is so exciting for everybody. Look at how excited everybody is - not just me, not just the team, but everybody. People who live in Reedsville their entire life, didn’t get to experience this in basketball … just a phenomenal thing for our community and everybody involved,” Coach Prochnow said.

The Panthers will take the floor at the Kohl Center on Friday morning, March 20, in the state semifinal with an opponent and time TBD.

Complete coverage of the sectional round will be featured in the March 19, 2026, print edition of The Brillion News.