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WBY Tourney in Plymouth: Marathon, St. Mary's Springs, Sheboygan Christian win titles

08/17/2014, 2:00pm CDT
By Mark Miller

Ethan Seubert of Marathon

Observations from the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Tournament held in Plymouth on July 18-19-20.

Pools E-F

Final Standings

Pool E -- Marathon 3-0, North Fond du Lac 1-2, Brillion 1-2, Random Lake 1-2.

Pool F -- Cedar Grove 2-1, Omro 2-1, Racine Lutheran 1-2, Chilton 1-2.

Pool E vs. Pool F title game -- Marathon 32, Cedar Grove 21.

Pool E vs. Pool F 2nd place -- Omro 43, North Fond du Lac 27.

Pool E vs. Pool F 3rd place -- Brillion 57, Racine Lutheran 27.

Pool E vs. Pool F 4th place -- Random Lake 48, Chilton 27.

Most Valuable Player

Ethan Seubert, 5-9, Sr., PG, Marathon
A unanimous first-team all-league selection in the Southern Division of the Marawood Conference as a junior, Seubert turned in several strong performances for Marathon in Plymouth. He has a very good skill package and can use his quickness to beat defenders off the dribble to create for himself and his teammates. A physically and mentally strong player, Seubert competes with good lateral quickness, which allows him to be a strong on-the-ball defender. Seubert averaged 10 points per game as a junior while helping Marathon to an 18-7 record under coach Adam Jacobson.

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

Mitch Ballwenz, 6-3, Sr., G/F, North Fond du Lac

Ballwenz is most likely a wing guard at the next level, but he has to play inside much of the time for the Orioles because of the lack of size in the program. Nonetheless, he remains a potent offensive player who can score in a variety of ways. He has a nice outside jump shot and can also get to the basket off the dribble.

Sam Berger, 5-10, Sr., PG, Omro
Berger did a stellar of pushing the ball and using his speed and quickness to help the Foxes get some easy baskets. He is a capable scorer, but also a very good distributor for coach Glen Nelson at Omro. Berger is the top returning scorer for Omro at 13.5 ppg.

Jacob Klapa, 5-10, Sr., G, North Fond du Lac
Klapa averaged 7.0 ppg for coach Kris Saiberlich a year ago and showed the ability to make long-distance jumpers in Plymouth. He finished with 10 three-pointers made in four games, including four in a 39-37 victory over Brillion.

Brendan Naegeli, 6-0, Jr., G, Racine Lutheran
Naegeli does a bit of everything for the Crusaders and can play on the perimeter or along the baseline. He averaged 6.2 ppg as a sophomore for veteran coach Jeff Christensen and is one of five players back who started a year ago.

Travis Pomplun, 6-1, Jr., WG, Omro
Pomplun did a nice job of making shots from the perimeter and benefitted greatly from Berger's ability to get into the lane and collapse the defense. Pomplun has solid three-point shooting range and averaged 5.5 ppg as a sophomore for Omro.

Aaron Rathke, 6-2, Sr., WG, Random Lake
A physically strong player with solid ball handling, passing and shooting skills, Rathke is the top returning scorer for the Rams at 12.7 ppg. He has a solid shooting stroke from three-point range and can also get to the basket off the dribble.

Michael Reider, 6-5, Jr., WF, Brillion
A wing player with excellent size and skill, Reider is a tough matchup for opponents because of his ability to score off the dribble, from mid-range and in the post. He has very good strength and is a solid athlete, which allows him to consistently break free from his defenders for good looks at the basket.

Seth Reinke, 6-7, Sr., F, Brillion
Reinke runs the floor, posts-up in the lane and can finish over smaller defenders. His size, length and ability to play in the post allows first-year Brillion coach Chad Shimek to play Reider in several different positions.

Zac Rihn, 6-1, Sr., G, Marathon
Rihn is one of four returning starters for Marathon and he played liked a veteran in Plymouth, scoring from the perimeter and also getting to the foul line. Rihn averaged 6.8 ppg as a junior and is an offensive threat from beyond the arc, especially when Seubert collapses the defense with his penetration to the basket.

Josh Weiss, 6-2, Soph., G/F, Cedar Grove
A physically strong player with very good shooting range, Weiss scored from three-point range, from mid-range and also from the foul line for the Rockets. He averaged 8.8 ppg as a freshman for coach Jim Meinen and figures to be a mainstay in the Cedar Grove lineup over the next three seasons because of his combination of size, strength and skill.

Team Champion

Marathon

The Red Raiders figure to challenge defending league champion Auburndale along with Newman Catholic and Assumption for the title in the always-competitive Southern Division of the Marawood Conference. Seubert is an outstanding leader who makes things happen on both ends of the court. Rihn and junior Xavier Lechleitner (6-1) and Isaac Barber (6-3) are also returning regulars while seniors Alex Blume (5-9), Matt Braun (5-11), Andre Carriveau (5-10) and Matt Matel (5-10) along with junior Preston Wirkus (6-2) are also returning varsity performers. The Red Raiders rely heavily on sharing the ball, playing strong defense and collective rebounding to wear out opponents. This team competes with a high basketball IQ and is definitely a team to watch at the WIAA Division 4 level in 2014-15.

Notes
Cedar Grove senior Ryan Lemmerman (6-7) does a nice job of blocking and altering shots in the lane and can also step outside and make shots facing the basket and from three-point range ... Senior Tyler Thielke (5-10) has some strong performances for North Fond du Lac and teams with Klapa to give the Orioles a talented, experience backcourt ... Brillion is in excellent hands at the guard position as junior Dontae Krizenesky (5-8) and senior Jacob Mathiebe (5-10) are both returning starters from a club that went 18-9 and lost to Dominican in the semifinals of the WIAA Division 4 State Tournament ... Random Lake senior guard Logan Martin (5-10) did a nice job of pushing the ball in transition and penetrating to the basket in the half court for the Rams ... Racine Lutheran senior Sly Gray (6-4) showed plenty of athleticism and potential in the post and could be set for a big senior season for the Crusaders ... Chilton seniors Lucas Forstner (5-10), Boyd Delebreau (6-1) and Evan Greuel (5-10) form a solid nucleus for coach Corey Behnke and should help the Tigers remain competitive in the highly competitive Olympian Conference.


Brennen Ottery of St. Mary's Springs

Pools G-H

Final Standings

Pool G -- Marshall 3-0, Howards Grove 2-1, Valders 1-2, Ozaukee 0-3.

Pool H -- St. Mary's Springs 3-0, Kiel 2-1, Milwaukee Juneau/Ronald Reagan 1-2, Reedsville 0-3.

Pool G vs. Pool H title game -- St. Mary's Springs 58, Marshall 48.

Pool G vs. Pool H 2nd place -- Howards Grove 36, Kiel 22.

Pool G vs. Pool H 3rd place -- Valders 53, Milwaukee Juneau/Ronald Reagan 47.

Pool G vs. Pool H 4th place -- Ozaukee 51, Reedsville 44.

Most Valuable Player

Collin Ottery, 5-11, Sr., G, St. Mary's Springs
St. Mary's Springs has a roster loaded with strong, athletic players and Ottery is near the top of the list of significant contributors for coach Kyle Krueger. A solid defender with very good quickness and aggressiveness, Ottery scored and distributed at a consistent level for the Ledgers. He is one of three returning staters from a club that went 14-10 last season.

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

Trent Beninghaus, 6-3, Sr., PF, Howards Grove

Beninghaus gives the Tigers some size and strength in the post, but he can also step outside and make shots facing the basket. Beinghaus averaged 6.5 ppg and 6.0 rpg as a junior and is one of four returning regulars for a Howards Grove squad expected to challenge for the Central Lakeshore Conference title.

Ethan Brinkman, 6-2, Sr., G, Howards Grove
A two-time all-league performer in the Central Lakeshore Conference, Brinkman is a scoring combination guard who can make long-distance shots and get into scoring position off the dribble. He averaged 16.6 ppg as a junior for coach Eric Worth and is one of the most experienced players in the state as a three-year letter winner entering his final year of prep basketball.

Paxton Korslin, 5-9, Sr., G, Valders
Korslin is an unselfish player who makes others around him better with his outstanding court vision. He is also a very capable scorer who can make shots from beyond the three-point arc or take the ball to the basket and finish through contact. He averaged 8.5 ppg and 5.0 rpg as a junior.

Adam Link, 6-3, Jr., PG, Marshall
Link is a skilled left-handed point guard who has a very quick first step toward the basket, which allows him to consistently get past his defender and create scoring chances for himself and his teammates. His perimeter shot is a bit streaky, but he can get on a roll from downtown. As he continues to add weight and strength to his frame, Link figures to blossom into a very good collegiate prospect over the next year or so.

Brennen Ottery, 5-11, Sr., G, St. Mary's Springs
The twin brother of Collin Ottery, Brennen Ottery also competes with great energy and passion. He is an aggressive defender who can create turnovers with his quickness and physicality. Ottery averaged 11.6 ppg and 6.1 rpg as a junior for the Ledgers.

Mike Richter, 6-4, Jr., WF, Ozaukee
A very skilled wing player with solid strength, Richter was a tough cover for opponents because of his size and ability to shoot over defenders or take them to the basket. He averaged 9.1 ppg as a sophomore and figures to blossom into an all-league caliber performer for coach Isaiah Ketterhagen over the next two seasons.

Thomas Schwoerer, 6-1, Sr., G, Valders
Schwoerer possesses very good length and ball-handling ability, which allows him to continually get to the basket, especially in transition. He can push the ball on the break, but he is also a solid player in the half court for coach Trevor Schwoerer. Thomas Schwoerer appears primed to have a big senior season after averaging 13.7 ppg and earning second-team all-league laurels in the Olympian Conference as a junior.

Carter Voelker, 5-10, Jr., PG, Kiel
Already a two-year varsity performer for coach Jamie Arenz at Kiel, Voelker is a skilled lead guard who can run a team, make shots from the perimeter and defend. In a victory over Milwaukee Juneau/Ronald Reagan, Voelker buried a couple of three-point shots in the second half while also scoring in transition and from the foul line.

DeWayne Walker, 6-1, Frosh., G, Milwaukee Juneau/Ronald Reagan
Walker was very impressive for such a young player as he showed the ability to score from the perimeter and off the dribble. He has excllent size and solid skills, and is also a left-handed backcourt player, which keeps defenders a bit off balance. His shooting range is unlimited and he isn't afraid to launch from well beyond the three-point arc.

Adam Wehking, 6-3, Soph., PF, Marshall
Outstanding footwork and physical strength, along with a nice touch around the basket, make Wehking a very difficult player to stop in the post. He does a strong job of using his size and muscle to overwhelm defenders in the paint and finish with a soft shooting touch.

Team Champion

St. Mary's Springs

The Ledgers have plenty of depth and athleticism and should once again challenge Laconia, Kettle Moraine Lutheran and Winnebago Lutheran for the title in the Wisconsin Flyway Conference. Collin and Brennen Ottery, along with sharpshooting senior guard Cory Nies (5-10), are returning regulars while ultra athletic senior Zach Hintze (6-0) was one of the top players off the bench. St. Mary's Springs has plenty of size this year as well with junior Kurt Mueller (6-7), senior Ben Palmer (6-6) and junior Austin Feyen (6-4). Look for talented junior guards Tyler Wiza (5-8) and Jacob Baker (5-9) to also make a strong contribution in 2014-15.

Notes
Howards Grove got some solid production from seniors Luke Stanczyk (6-1) and Alex Strege (6-1) along with junior Derrick Grimm (5-8). Look for the Tigers to contend for the CLC title along with Oostburg, Sheboygan Christian and Ozaukee ... Look for sophomore Trenton Nickel (6-0) to make a strong impact on the offensive side of the court for Kiel in 2014-15. He averaged 5.0 ppg as a freshman and scored at a high level for the Raiders in Plymouth ... Milwaukee Juneau/Ronald Reagan is a new co-op program that will compete at the WIAA Division 1 level in 2014-15. In addition to the talented Walker, Juneau figures to rely heavily on sophomore Donovan Bickham-Hurt (5-11) and sophomore Nick Maury (6-4) ... Reedsville appears to be in store for a rebuilding year as the Panthers do not return one varsity player from a year ago. New coach Dave Bell will count heavily on senior Dale Saenger (6-4) and junior Wyatt Hassemer (6-0).


Caleb Kelley of Sheboygan Christian

Pools I-J

Final Standings

Pool I -- Sheboygan Christian 3-0, Wild Rose 2-1, Princeton/Green Lake 1-2, Hilbert 0-3.

Pool J -- Saint Thomas More 3-0, Lourdes Academy 2-1, Kohler 1-2, Mishicot 0-3.

Pool I vs. Pool J title game -- Sheboygan Christian 41, Saint Thomas More 38.

Pool I vs. Pool J 2nd place -- Lourdes Academy 39, Wild Rose 32.

Pool I vs. Pool J 3rd place -- Kohler 30, Princeton/Green Lake 21.

Pool I vs. Pool J 4th place -- Mishicot 29, Hilbert 24.

Most Valuable Player

Caleb Kelley, 6-0, Sr., G, Sheboygan Christian
A three-year varsity starter for coach Brett Flipse, Kelley can play either guard position and can get to the basket off the dribble with his quickness and athleticism or drop down shots from the perimeter. He averaged 15.0 points per game as a junior and earned first-team all-league recognition in the Central Lakeshore Conference. Kelley and sophomore Brayden Van Ess (5-11) comprise a talented backcourt along with sophomore Jacob Stecker (5-10).

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

Riley Baer, 5-6, Jr., G, Hilbert

Though the Wolves lost all four games in Plymouth, Baer was a bright spot. He used his aggressiveness and quickness out front to create scoring opportunities for himself and others. He also knocked down shots from beyond the three-point arc for coach Nathan Wesener.

Kyle Curry, 6-3, Sr., F, Mishicot
Curry brings size and skill to the lineup for Mishicot and his ability to score will be huge for coach Matt Dirkmann this winter. Curry is the top returning scorer for the Indians at 6.8 ppg and he showed the ability to score from the baseline, in the post and from the foul line in Plymouth.

Noah Fink, 6-3, Sr., F, Kohler
Fink missed two games on Friday, but was present on Saturday for the Blue Bombers. He scored in double figures in games against Mishicot and Princeton/Green Lake and helped the Blue Bombers to victories in both contests. Fink is the top returning scorer for coach Ken Roeder at 8.0 ppg.  

Jason Klatt, 5-9, Soph., PG, Saint Thomas More
Thanks to a quick burst to the basket and a high confidence level, Klatt was able to beat defenders off the bounce and either create for himself or his teammates. He scored in double figures three of four games, and could very well be the starting point guard for coach John Hoch in each of the next three seasons.

Cal Ozanick, 6-5, Sr., F, Saint Thomas More
Ozanick was the Cavaliers' top scorer as he finished with 49 points in four games. He is effective in the post with his size and skill, but he can also step away from the basket and either attack off the dribble or make mid-range jump shots. After averaging 5.4 ppg as a junior, Ozanick appears to be poised for a big senior season.

Carson Schulz, 6-5, Sr., F, Lourdes Academy
Schulz brings very good size and length to the Lourdes lineup. He saw limited action a year ago, but appears to be improving at a rapid pace this summer. Schulz blocked and altered some shots, rebounded well and scored 14 points in a victory over Kohler.

Sam Soda, 6-4, Sr., F, Green Lake/Princeton
Soda is the top returning scorer for the Tigersharks at 8.1 ppg and he used his skill and size to lead his team to a victory over Hilbert. Soda finished the contest with 20 points and earned 10 shots from the foul line with his aggressive moves to the basket.

Adam Trofka, 6-0, Sr., PG, Lourdes Academy
The lone returning starter from a club that finished 25-1 and lost to Dominican in a WIAA Division 4 sectional final a year ago, Trofka takes on a leadership role for the Knights in 2014-15. He'll also need to increase his scoring from 3.7 ppg a year ago to double figures next winter. He took a big step in both of those areas in Plymouth, averaging 10.8 ppg while leading the Knights to a 3-1 record.

Aaron VandeCastle, 6-3, Sr., F, Wild Rose
There is an awful lot to like about the way VandeCastle competes on the basketball floor. Though a bit undersized in the post, VandeCastle is able to use his high basketball IQ, strong frame and high skill to score in the post. But he can also attack the basket fromt he wide post or score from the perimeter. VandeCastle averaged 14 ppg as a junior and once again figures to be the go-to player for coach James Komp.

Eddie Windsor, 6-4, Jr., F, Sheboygan Christian
Windsor played at a consistently high level for Sheboygan Christian in Plymouth. He challenged shots without fouling, rebounded and scored with spin moves in the lane. He averaged 10.9 ppg as a sophomore, but his showing in Plymouth was his last for the Eagles and he is moving to the Atlanta area with his family and plans to attend Landmark Christian. Losing Windsor is a tough blow for Sheboygan Christian as he would have been one of the better frontline players in the Central Lakeshore Conference.

Team Champion

Sheboygan Christian

Even with the loss of talented junior Eddie Windsor due to a family move to Atlanta, Sheboygan Christian figures to be in the hunt for the title in the Central Lakeshore Conference. The Eagles boast one of the league's top players in Caleb Kelley (6-0) while seniors Kyle Stecker (6-1) and Graham VerVelde (6-1) also return to the starting rotation. Look for sphomores Brayden Van Ess (5-11) and Jacob Stecker (5-10) to make a strong impact on the varsity roster next season along with potential transfer Elijah Mabry (6-4), who played at Ozaukee last season.

Notes
Saint Thomas More sophomore Jacob Morgan (5-11) competed with plenty of moxy and poise for the Cavaliers and could work his way into the playing rotation in 2014-15 ... Lourdes Academy has some talented young players in its program as sophomores Sam Gelhar (6-2), Evan Ganther (5-10) and Ben Seibold (5-8) along with freshman Luol Liabwill (6-2) figure to play roles on the varsity for coach Dennis Ruedinger ... Senior James Tietz (6-4) gives Wild Rose a legitimate post-up player in the lane and his size and ability to get things done in the paint allows VandeCastle to play some on the perimeter ... Ben Maki of Kohler was one of the better three-point shooters in Plymouth as he connected on eight triples in four games for the Blue Bombers.

Tag(s): Summer Tournaments