Cambridge boys basketball heads to State Tournament for first time in school history

The Blue Jays seek their first-ever state championship title.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 3:49am

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The Cambridge boys basketball team has qualified for the WIAA Boys Basketball State Tournament for the first time in school history. Despite entering the tournament with nine losses, the young Blue Jays squad has embraced an 'underdog mentality' and is focused on playing together as a closely-knit group. Cambridge is set to make its state tournament debut on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

Why it matters

Reaching the state tournament is a significant milestone for the Cambridge boys basketball program, which has never before qualified for this prestigious event. The team's underdog status and youthful roster make their tournament run even more compelling, as they seek to capture the school's first-ever state championship title.

The details

Following a 58-56 win over Lomira on Saturday, the Cambridge Blue Jays punched their ticket to the WIAA Boys Basketball State Tournament. Despite entering the tournament with nine losses, the team has embraced an 'underdog mentality' and is focused on playing together as a closely-knit group. The Blue Jays are led by just three seniors, with seven underclassmen on the roster.

  • The Blue Jays won 58-56 over Lomira on Saturday to qualify for the state tournament.
  • Cambridge is set to make its state tournament debut on Thursday, March 17, 2026 at 6:35 p.m. at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

The players

Alex Ranney

The head coach of the Cambridge boys basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“To be honest with you, we're kind of surprised we got here. I think we kind of got overlooked and our guys kind of used that as fuel and played the underdog role. You got nothing to lose, went out there, played extremely hard.”

— Alex Ranney, Head Coach (wmtv15news.com)

“I just kept preaching in the locker room, 'hey, one game at a time, you know, just have fun with your group of guys.' They've grown so much throughout the year and they've come together and it's a group that is so closely knit. They hang out off the court together. They're always joking around, and they just enjoy playing together.”

— Alex Ranney, Head Coach (wmtv15news.com)

What’s next

Cambridge is set to make its state tournament debut on Thursday, March 17, 2026 at 6:35 p.m. at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

The takeaway

Cambridge's first-ever state tournament appearance is a testament to the team's resilience and close-knit camaraderie, as the young Blue Jays squad has embraced an underdog mentality and is determined to make the most of their historic opportunity on the biggest stage.