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WBY Tourney in Burlington: West Allis Hale, Mineral Point secure pool championships

07/29/2014, 11:30am CDT
By Mark Miller

Jason Palesse of West Allis Hale

Observations from the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Tournament held in Burlington on July 5-6.

Pools A-B

Final Standings

Pool A -- Wauwatosa West 4-0, Racine Horlick 3-1, Kenosha Bradford 2-2, Whitnall 1-3, Union Grove 0-4.

Pool B -- West Allis Hale 4-0, Burlington 3-1, Shorewood 2-2, Badger 1-3, Catholic Central 0-4.

Pool A vs. Pool B title game -- West Allis Hale 56, Wauwatosa West 50.

Most Valuable Player

Jason Palesse, 6-0, Sr., G, West Allis Hale
The son of a coach who plays like the son of a coach, Jason Palesse has elevated his game substantially over the past couple of months and enters his senior season playing for his father, John, as one of the players to watch in the always-competitive Greater Metro Conference. Palesse can play either guard position, makes excellent decisions with the ball in his hands and can score off the dribble, from three-point range and from the foul line. He made several clutch plays down the stretch in tight games against Shorewood and Wauwatosa West, leading the upstart Huskies to victories in both contests. Pelesse averaged 8.4 points per game as a junior and figures to up that total significantly in 2014-15.

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

Joey Archer, 6-2, Sr., WG, West Allis Hale

Archer missed the Huskies' games on Saturday due to a prior commitment, but played very well on Sunday as Hale registered triumphs over Burlington, Badger and Wauwatosa West. A physically strong wing guard with excellent shooting range, Archer is a threat to score each time he touches the ball. He netted 16.0 ppg as a junior and teams with Jason Palesse to give coach John Palesse one of the elite backcourt combinations in the Greater Metro Conference.

Tre Borland, 6-2, Sr., G/F, Whitnall
Borland is a competitive played who can play in the backcourt or frontcourt for coach Steve Kujawa at Whitnall. He averaged 8.0 ppg as a junior and is the top returning player for Whitnall. He is able to consistently get to the basket while also making mid-range jump shots.

Steffan Brown, 6-1, Sr., PG, Wauwatosa West
Steady, consistent, reliable ... Brown is all of that and more for coach Chad Stelse at Wauwatosa West. Brown isn't the quickest guy in the gym, but his physical strength, mental toughness and skill level more than makeup for his lack of pure speed. He has a nice perimeter jump shots, makes big plays on both ends of the court and a leader for a very good Wauwatosa West squad.

Anthony Carothers, 6-3, Sr., G/F, Racine Horlick
After averaging 7.4 ppg as a junior for the Rebels, Carothers is poised for a breakout senior season. His length, athleticism and skill are impressive. He can score from the perimeter or take it to the hoop and finish or draw contact. Carothers is also an important piece to the full-court pressure defense Horlick employs due to his quickness and ability to deflect passes.

Andre Carroll, 6-1, Sr., WG, Wauwatosa West
Carroll and Brown make up one of the top backcourt combinations in Wisconsin and each has been a varsity performer for the past three years at West. Carroll is a scoring wing guard who has a nose for the basket and the ability to finish through contact due to his considerable strength. He is also a competitive player on both ends of the court who likes to make winning plays for the Trojans.

Frankie Hozeska, 6-2, Sr., G, Burlington
Few players in the state compete with as much energy and passion as Hozeska, who seemed to be on every loose ball, every big play and every key rebound. He can get to the basket and create for himself and others and does a good job of finishing in the lane. Defensively, he is a monster because of his quickness, length and athleticism. Passing the basketball just might be Hozeska's biggest strength, but he certainly showed off other attributes over the weekend and was definitely one of the better players in the entire event.

Te'Jon Lucas, 5-11, Jr., PG, Shorewood
Lucas has grown an inch or two over the past 12 months and has added strength to his frame as well. His game remains solid as he can run a team, make shots and score in transition. Lucas competes with toughness and uses his burst of speed and change of pace to keep defenders off balance. He currently owns NCAA Division I scholarship offers from IUPUI and Milwaukee.

Alexio Rosales, 6-3, Sr., F, Kenosha Bradford
Rosales was effective in the lane as a post-up player and from the perimeter, either shooting threes of putting it on the floor and getting into his pull-up jump shot. He has added weight and strength over the past 12 months and is one of the better scorers in the Southeast Conference.

Alex Van Dyke, 6-8, Sr., F, Union Grove
Van Dyke saw some limited action for a Union Grove team that won the Southern Lakes Conference title last season, but he has grown an inch or two and is on the verge of crashing through for a big senior season for coach Dave Pettit. Though he needs to improve his stamina and toughness, Van Dyke is a fairly athletic 6-foot-8 forward who can step outside and make shots while also rebounding at a fairly high level. He was definitely one of the biggest surprises of the entire WBY Tournament in Burlington.  

Lincoln Wieseman, 6-3, Sr., WF, Badger
Wieseman is a tough cover off the dribble due to his quick first step, physical strength and aggressiveness. He can also make shots from three-point range and is developing into a solid defense. Wieseman should prosper under the guidance of coach Forrest Larson this winter for Badger.

Deantae Woods, 6-2, Sr., PG, Racine Horlick
Long, athletic and tough-minded, Woods competes on both ends of the court with great energy and intelligence. A true pass-first point guard, Woods looks for his teammates each time down the floor. On the other end, his length, lateral quickness and anticipation make him a truly outstanding defender. Woods has a NCAA Division I offer from Milwaukee and is an excellent student while also providing great team leadership for coach Jason Treutelaar.  

Team Champion

West Allis Hale

The Huskies have been through some rough times of late, though they have also shown marked improvement in each of John Palesse's two years as head coach. Hale went 7-16 overall and 3-11 in league play last winter, but could be the most improved team in the Greater Metro in 2014-15 behind the dynamic backcourt combination of seniors Jason Palesse and Joey Archer. Seniors Nate Walker (5-7), Kyle Czubakowski (6-3) and Joe Breznik (6-4) also figure to make big contributions for the Huskies, who rely on sharing the basketball, playing strong defense and rebounding collectively to remain in each and every game they play.

Notes
Racine Horlick does not possess much size, but the Rebels use a devastating full-court pressure defense that wears down opponents and leads to some easy transition baskets. Senior guard Lamontae Lewis (6-1) gives Horlick a true long-distance shooting presence as well as he knocked down three-pointers at a high rate in Burlington ... Shorewood figures to rank among the elite teams in the Eastern Division of the Woodland Conference behind the strong play of Lucas. The Greyhounds should get a boost from junior Nakell Martin (6-2), a guard/forward who played last season at Destiny. Martin scored in double figures in three games for the Greyhounds in Burlington and was able to connect from the perimeter and in the lane for coach Phil Jones ... Union Grove senior Grant Beck (6-2) averaged 11.2 ppg as a junior and competes with high energy and a great vertical jump ... After playing varsity minutes as a freshman and sophomore and then sitting out last season, senior forward Jack Krenzien (6-5) plans to return to the team at Wauwatosa West this winter. Krenzien gives the Trojans some much-needed size and strength in the post and played well in Burlington ... Sophomores Jabari Jackson, Lou Dillon and Rayvon Bartlett all showed plenty of promise for Wauwatosa West, which is one of the favorites to win the Western Division of the Woodland Conference ... Freshman wing guard Tyler Herro (6-0) was extremely impressive for Whitnall, scoring 45 points in four games and making shots with either hand off the dribble while also drilling three-point shots. As he continues to mature and gain weight and strength, he figures to be among the top prospects in Wisconsin's class of 2018 ... Junior point guard Austin Brault (6-0) and sophomore forward Kevion Taylor (6-4) also had strong weekends for Whitnall, which should challenge Brown Deer and Shorewood for the title in the Eastern Division of the Woodland ... Junior point guard Jake Berhorst (6-0) was solid all weekend for the Badgers, making shots off the dribble, from three-point range and getting all the way to the basket ... Look for juniors Erik Viel (6-1) and Tyler Wiemer (6-1) to make signficant contributions for coach Steve Berezowitz at Burlington this winter. Both guards competed well and made big offensive plays for the Demons over the weekend ... Catholic Central lost two starters to graduation from a team that won 21 games last winter. First-year coach Kyle Scott wanted the Hilltoppers to face rugged competition in the event and the Division 5 school did just that in games against Burlington, Badger, Shorewood and West Allis Hale. Though Catholic Central went 0-4, it was very competitive in three of its four games and got solid contributions from seniors Spencer Wilker (6-2), Gavin Foote (6-2) and Shon Gill (6-4) along with talented junior Ben Heiligenthal (6-3), who finished well in the lane and found himself on the foul line as often as any other player in the tournament ... Seniors Evan Anderson (6-0) and Tyler Schlevensky (5-8) put in some good minutes for Kenosha Bradford, which won two games and was competitive in another while putting forth a solid overall showing.


Sy Staver of Mineral Point

Pools C-D

Final Standings

Pool C -- Saint Francis 3-0, Messmer 2-1, Shoreland Lutheran 1-2, Cudahy 0-3.  

Pool D -- Mineral Point 3-0, Milwaukee Academy of Science 2-1, Barneveld 1-2, The Prairie School 0-3.  

Pool C vs. Pool D title game -- Mineral Point 51, Saint Francis 38. 

Pool C vs. Pool D 2nd place -- Milwaukee Academy of Science 48, Messmer 37.

Pool C vs. Pool D 3rd place -- Barneveld 40, Shoreland Lutheran 34.

Pool C vs. Pool D 4th place -- The Prairie School 33, Cudahy 21.

Overall title game -- Mauston 49, Marshall 45.

Most Valuable Player

Sy Staver, 6-1, Sr., PG, Mineral Point
One of the best things you can say about a point guard is that he makes good decisions. Sy Staver does that on virtually every trip down the floor. An excellent passer who does a very good job of keeping his head up in transition, Staver runs the Pointers' dribble-drive offense to perfection. He finds open teammates, but can also make shots when his teammates find him spotted up beyond the three-point line. A three-year varsity performer for coach Dan Burreson entering his senior season, Staver is one of the top point-guard prospects in the class of 2015.

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

Nick Audi, 6-4, Sr., WG, Cudahy

Audi has been a varsity performer for coach Nick Conrad at Cudahy in each of the past two seasons and figures to be the Packers' go-to player in 2014-15. Though a bit streaky from the perimeter, Audi can get on a roll from deep while also using his size and strength to overpower smaller defenders.

Dallas Polk-Hilliard, 6-5, Sr., WF, Messmer
Ultra-athletic Polk-Hilliard missed games Saturday due to an AAU conflict, but was in attendance Sunday and showed off his ability to play away from the basket while also finishing above the rim in transition and in the half-court. A definite NCAA Division I prospect, Polk-Hilliard needs to compete with a bit more energy, but his talent and athleticism are definitely assets for the Messmer program.

Armanti Jones, 6-0, Sr., G, Milwaukee Academy of Science
A left-handed combination guard with very good length, Jones scored at a high clip for a very good Milwaukee Academy of Science squad. He is a solid defender who can get out and fill the lanes in transition for coach Agape Keys.

Avery Smith, 5-10, Sr., PG, Messmer
Smith may be small in stature, but he plays with a big heart and is effective off the dribble because of his extreme quickness. He continually got to the basket for coach Ken Klatkiewicz and more often than not was able to finish over taller defenders in the lane.

Matthew Myers, 5-10, Soph., PG, Barneveld
The sky is the limt for Myers, who has added a couple of inches and strength to his frame over the past 12 months and figures to grown another few inches in the next 12 months. He is exceptionally skill for such a young age and has a great feel for the game. He is a good perimeter shooter who doesn't back down from a challenge and makes his teammates better with his passing ability.

Eric Ninham, 6-1, Sr., WG, Saint Francis
Ninham is a solid wing-guard prospect who can get into the lane off the dribble and finish or find open teammates. He is also a strong player in the Mariners' defense as he moves well laterally and is an aggressive player.

Turner Poad, 5-11, Sr., WG, Mineral Point
Poad is not a dynamic athlete with incredible vertial leaping ability or blinding quickness. But he is a rock-solid basketball player who does everything well for the Pointers. He is best known for his ability to shoot from distance, but he is also a very capable penetrator who kicks the ball out to open teammates in Mineral Point's effective offense. Poad is also an excellent rebounder and defender for the defending Southwest Wisconsin Activities League champions.

Michael Ross, 6-5, Sr., PF, Saint Francis
An explosive jumper off two feet, Ross gives coach Lance Marifke a solid inside presence on both ends of the court. He is not a huge scorer, but he can finish in the paint. His biggest contributions for the Mariners come on defense and on the glass.

Alec Schmitz, 6-0, Sr., WF, Mineral Point
Schmitz teams with Staver and Poad to give the Pointers an excellent nucleus for the 2014-15 season. A versatile player who can slash to the basket and finish, Schmitz averaged 9.0 points per game as a junior on a Mineral Point squad that finished 25-1.

Joshua Vinson, 5-11, Jr., PG, The Prairie School
A good ball handler who can break down a defense with his quickness, Vinson is a pass-first point guard who can also finish in the lane. He can push the ball in transition for coach Jason Atanasoff while also putting solid pressure on opponents with his sticky defense.

Lucas Wendt, 6-6, Jr., WF, Shoreland Lutheran
An extremely explosive athlete with good size and length, Wendt is one of the better prospects in Wisconsin in the class of 2016. He posts up well and can finish to his left while also hitting some shots from the perimeter. His ball handling and strength are areas to improve, but his future is extremely promising for coach Paul Strutz and Shoreland Lutheran.

Team Champion

Mineral Point

The Pointers always seem to play well together and competed with as much unselfishness and toughness as any other team in Wisconsin. Mineral Point has a strong nucleus of returning starters in Staver, Poad and Schmitz, but the Pointers have other players who can make big plays as well in seniors Tarek Oellerich (6-3) and Joey Gorgen (5-11). Mineral Point again ranks as one of the top WIAA Division 4 teams in Wisconsin and figures to battle Cuba City for both the SWAL title and the Division 4 Baraboo Sectional crown.

Notes
Sophomore point guard Carlos Davis (6-0) has a bright future at Saint Francis and figures to help the Mariners compete for the title in the Midwest Classic Conference this winter. Saint Francis is joining the MCC in the fall after years of participating in the Woodland Conference ... Shoreland Lutheran figures to get better as the season progresses as the Pacers always seem to make improvements under coach Paul Strutz. Guards Jake Anderson (6-3) and Robert Srutz (6-0) are the lone seniors on the preseason roster so the Pacers will rely on a strong junior class anchored by the talented Wendt ... Junior forward Derek Franklin (6-3) used his size and strength to score at a high rate in the paint for The Prairie School ... Freshman J.C. Butler (6-1) of The Prairie School is the son of former Racine Park great Caron Butler, who was in the stands watching his oldest son after recently completing his 13th NBA season ... Senior Brycen Sorensen (6-2) had a solid weekend for Barneveld as he finished off the bounce and in the lane for the Eagles ... Messmer senior Deonte Newsome (6-0) was one of the better man-to-man defenders in the tournament ... Milwaukee Academy of Science senior guard Ramson Jones Jr. (5-10) and senior forward David Lewis (6-4) were solid all weekend and figure to have big final years for a MAS squad that could make some noise next winter.

Tag(s): Summer Tournaments