SOMETIMES BETTER TO BE THE SURPRISE? Milwaukee Hamilton returns to the Elite Eight.

Be afraid of the Milwaukee Hamilton boys basketball team. Be very afraid.

And not just in 2010, but in 2011, too.

On Saturday night, the Wildcats laid the foundation for becoming a monster team by routing Racine Park, 88-66, in the WIAA Division 1 sectional final at Greenfield. Hamilton (20-3) advances to the state tournament for the first time since 1992, and only the fourth time in school history.

Hamilton coach Tom Diener started five juniors and watched them dismantle the speedy, athletic Panthers in the first half. In a red-hot second quarter, the Wildcats outscored Park, 26-14, took an 18-point halftime lead and then coasted to victory before a packed Greenfield gymnasium. The crowd never got the tight, hotly contested game they expected between two of the state's top teams.

The first time, in 1972, the team surprised most of the pundits. The 1990 trip was tainted by a legal challenge. Here's how the Racine press reported the game.

The free-wheeling swagger that so typified the disposition of the Park High School boys basketball team during this unforgettable season slowly eroded. In its place were expressions of concern and, ultimately, somberness.

The Panthers finally met their match Saturday night, losing to Milwaukee Hamilton 88-66 in a WIAA Division 1 sectional championship at Greenfield. For the sixth time since they made their last state tournament appearance in 1960, the Panthers advanced this far, only to fall just short.

And while Park (15-11) forfeited 10 victories in late February because of truancies, this was the first time this season it actually came up on the short end on the scoreboard.

When Hamilton won that 1972 title, there were two state tournaments, one for the government schools and one for the independent schools. The two athletic associations have since merged. Hamilton's first opponent in Madison will be Milwaukee Marquette, the old Marquette University High School (where promising basketballers used to get tuition waivers.) Milwaukee King and Milwaukee Washington have both been excused. And, recalling that 1972 tournament, first-round opponent Antigo and final game opponent Neenah are again in the field.