Tosa Recreation Department crowns alumni basketball champions

The 66th annual Wauwatosa Recreation Department Alumni Basketball Tournament came to a close with two games on Friday at Wauwatosa East High School.

The Greenwill Division featured teams from 1972-1998.

The championship was a matchup between the 1986-87 Wauwatosa East squad and the 1996-97 Wauwatosa West team. The former Trojans won, 76-45.

It was West's sixth Alumni Tournament championship dating back to 1999.

Adam Dwyer led West with 24 points. Other members on the team were Dan Plankers, Chris Roepe, Brandon Sholz, Matt Luzar, Ryan Fiet, Rob DeGrave and Dan Jorgensen.

The Cartier Division showcased teams from 1999-2013, as the 2002 Wauwatosa East team outlasted the 2010-11 Wauwatosa West squad, 68-59, for the title.

In a game that had many lead changes, East won its sixth Alumni Tournament championship, with their first coming in 2006.

Leading scorer for East was Chris Braier with 26 points. Other team members were Steve Mathie, Winston Roberts, Peter Gerhardt, Tad Balsiger, Ben Juech and Andy Freund.

The 2010-11 West team got to the finals by beating the 2008-09 East team, 66-64, in overtime, and the 2002 East team crushed the 2006 West squad, 83-49.

The 1986-87 East team beat the 1983-84 West team, 49-39, and the 1996-97 West team nipped the 1997-98 East squad, 60-56.

The entire tournament brackets and past champions can be viewed at www.wauwatosa.k12.wi.us/tosarec/alumni_bb.cfm.

— Steve Birney