Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook

Observations from the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Summer Tournament held at Viterbo University in La Crosse June 7-8:

Pools C-D

Final Standings

Pool C – Westby 3-1, Aquinas 2-2, Hillsboro 2-2, Osceola 2-2, River Falls 2-2, Colfax 1-3.

Pool D – Tomah 4-0, Cadott 3-1, Elk Mound 2-2, Augusta 2-2, Viroqua 1-3, Mondovi 0-4.

Most Valuable Player

Justin Shie, 5-11, Sr., WG, Tomah
Shie helped Tomah to four victories without a defeat by stretching the defense with his ability to make perimeter jump shots. He averaged 11.0 points per contest and made seven three-point shots for the Timberwolves, who secured the Pools C-D title with a 48-47 double-overtime victory over Elk Mound. Shie teams with seniors Dylan Derousseau and Damon Gnewikow to give coach Brad Plueger a solid backcourt rotation.

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

Charlie Byron, 6-0, Jr., G, River Falls
Like his teammates, Byron was a bit up-and-down at Viterbo. He played outstanding basketball in a 46-44 loss to Hillsboro, finishing with a gamephigh 16 points. But he also had a pair of games where he scored just two points. As one of the more talented players in coach Zach Campbell's program, Byron will need to take on a big role for River Falls in 2014-15.

Sawyer DeMoe, 6-3, Sr., F, Colfax
DeMoe averaged 16.3 ppg as a junior for coach Garrett Maas at Colfax. He did not score at a high clip at Viterbo, but his physical presence and leadership skills helped the Vikings to a victory over Osceola. DeMoe can score in the post with his size and strength or step outside and make mid-range jump shots.

Dylan Derousseau, 6-1, Sr., G, Tomah
Derousseau is an experienced backcourt performer who hit the game-winning three-point shot for the Timberwolves in their 48-47 victory over Elk Mound. He averaged 8.7 ppg as a junior for Tomah and showed the ability to score in different ways at Viterbo.

Justin Erpenbach, 6-0, Jr., F/C, Elk Mound
 Erpenbach presents some matchup problems for opponents because of his ability to go inside and outside. He hit five triples and scored 21 points in a 48-47 loss to Tomah while also scoring in double figures in a victory over Augusta. Erpenbach did not play much on Elk Mound's 25-2 team a year ago, but he figures to move into the regular playing rotation for coach Chris Hahn this winter.

Brandon Kimball, 6-0, Sr., G, Augusta
 Kimball averaged 10.8 points per outing as a junior for coach Paul Henrichs at Augusta and he scored well at Viterbo as well. A good perimeter shooter who moves well without the ball, Kimball went for 14 points in a victory over Mondovi and 12 in a loss to Cadott. He is an aggressive offensive player who can get to the basket and to the foul line.

Jeremy Lee, 5-9, Sr., G, Viroqua
 A quick, aggressive backcourt player with a deadly shooting touch, Lee was outstanding for Viroqua. He scored in double figures in all four games for the Blackhawks and was extremely effective from beyond the three-point arc. A two-year starter for coach Joel Anderson entering his senior season, Lee made 12 three-point shots during the two-day tournament.

Brett McChesney, 5-10, Sr., G, Cadott
 McChesney was on fire from three-point range all weekend. He knocked down 15 triples in four games for Cadott, including five each in victories over Viroqua and Mondovi. After averaging 10.7 ppg for coach Brandon Mittermeyer a year ago, McChesney and senior classmate Ezra Michael figure to give Cadott one of the more potent backcourt combinations in the Western Division of the Cloverbelt Conference.

Ezra Michael, 5-10, Sr., G, Cadott
 Michael averaged 15.3 ppg for Cadott, which defeated Augusta, Mondovi and Viroqua while also dropping a 40-39 decision to Tomah. Michael showed the ability to get to the basket and the free-throw line while also consistently knocking down shots from beyond the three-point arc.

Jimmy Papenfuss, 6-3, Sr., G, Aquinas
 Papenfuss enters his senior season as a two-time letter winners for the Blugolds. He has excellent length and good ball handling, shooting and passing skills. With additional strength and an improved shot from three-point range, Papenfuss could develop into an all-league performer in the Mississippi Valley Conference.

Tanner Schmitt, 6-2, Sr., WG, Westby
 Schmitt has turned himself into an outstanding player through a ton of hard work and dedication to the game over the past couple of seasons. He has a quick release from the perimeter and can also get into the lane with his quick first step to the basket. He made a baseline three-point shot in double overtime to lift Westby to a 49-48 victory over Aquinas.

Team Champion
 
 Tomah
 The Timberwolves rattled off victories over Cadott, Viroqua, Mondovi and Elk Mound en route to their 4-0 record. After finishing 3-9 in the Mississippi Valley Conference and 8-16 overall a year ago, Tomah looks to move up in the league standings in 2014-15 behind a strong backcourt anchored by returning honorable mention all-league choice Dylan Derousseau. Seniors Justin Shie and Damon Gnewikow also figure to play prominent roles for the Timberwolves, who played wtihout honorable mention all-league forward Christian Wagenson. Opposing coaches in the Mississippi Valley Conference respect how hard Tomah competes on a nightly basis and that doesn't figure to change in the 2014-15 campaign.
 
Notes
 Sam Servais used a contact day on Sunday to get familiar with his team at Aquinas. Servais, who coached the Blugolds in the 1980s, has replaced Rick Schneider as the head coach at Aquinas and has a squad with a lot of interesting pieces. Sophomore point guard Eddie Harwick (5-9), freshman guard Conley Malone (5-9), seniors Evan Savor (6-5), Rudy Rott (6-2), Dan Campbell (5-11) and Papenfuss, along with juniors Issac Santana (6-3), Chris Ancius (6-4) and Chris Haag (6-0), give Aquinas a solid foundation for a successful season ...  Colfax junior Jarrod Rudi (6-1) showed a lot of promise for the Vikings. His ball handling and strength fiugure to be big assets for the Vikings in 2014-15 ... Augusta senior Noah Plewa (6-7) attends a charter school in the Augusta district and is drawing recruiting interest from some high-level academic schools, including Carleton College in Minnesota. He runs the floor, has excellent size and can score in the lane ... Look for sophomore Jesse Solberg (6-2) to make a major impact for coach Bob Constalie at Westby next season. Solberg played very well at Viterbo, using his size and strength to get past defenders and either finish in the lane or earn trips to the foul line. He also knocked down some long-distance shots for Westby ... Osceola played without senior Jared Cutts (6-7), who was competing in an AAU event, but still managed to go 2-2 on the weekend. Junior J.J. Johnson (6-2) played well for Osceola, hitting seven three-point shots, including a game-winner at the buzzer against Aquinas ... Sophomore Dane Lew (6-1) competed with plenty of poise for Elk Mound and could be a fixture in the Mounders' lineup over the next three seasons ... Hillsboro went 2-2 at Viterbo behind some strong play from rugged junior Max Stockwell (6-4) and junior guard Hunter Stanek.