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WBY Tourney at Prairie du Chien: Ripon defeats Platteville in championship game

07/11/2016, 7:15pm CDT
By Mark Miller

Eddie Muench

Observations from the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Summer Tournament held in Prairie du Chien June 25-26:

Pools A-D

Final Standings

Pool A: Ripon 3-0, Aquinas 2-1, Dodgeville 1-2, Clinton 0-3.

Pool B: Westby 3-0, La Crosse Logan 2-1, Decorah, Iowa 1-2, Prairie du Chien I 0-3.

Pool C: Platteville 3-0, Marshall 2-1, De Soto 1-2, Southwester 0-3.

Pool D: Seneca 3-0, Richland Center 2-1, Cuba City 1-2, Prairie du Chien II 0-3.

Pool A vs. Pool B Championship Game: Ripon 52, Westby 43.

Pool A vs. Pool B Second-Place Game: Aquinas 48, La Crosse Logan 46.

Pool A vs. Pool B Third-Place Game: Dodgeville 63, Decorah, Iowa 36.

Pool A vs. Pool B Fourth-Place Game: Prairie du Chien I 54, Clinton 35.

Pool C vs. Pool D Championship Game: Platteville 64, Seneca 54.

Pool C vs. Pool D Second-Place Game: Richland Center 53, Marshall 39.

Pool C vs. Pool D Third-Place Game: Cuba City 55, De Soto 48.

Pool C vs. Pool D Fourth-Place Game: Southwestern 50, Prairie du Chien II 34.

Pools A/B Winner vs. Pools C/D Winner: Ripon 56, Platteville 40.

Most Valuable Player

Eddie Muench, 6-4, Sr., WG, Ripon
One of the most improved class of 2017 prospects in the state, Muench continued his strong play of the past two months with one stellar showing after another in Prairie du Chien, helping the Tigers to a 5-0 record. He reached double figures in each game and averaged 19.6 points per game over the weekend. He also did an excellent job of driving to the basket, and then locating his teammates once defenders closed in on him. Muench made long-range shots, posted-up smaller guards, pushed the ball in transition and got to the basket and finished. He has lost about 20 pounds since the end of the high school season and is playing with extreme confidence. Muench is receiving recruiting interest from a number of NCAA Division III schools, including Eau Claire, Hope, MSOE, Oshkosh, St. Norbert, Stevens Point and Viterbo, among others.

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

Donovan Blevins, 6-2, Jr., F, Platteville

A very active and athletic forward who loves to attack the basket and either finish or draw fouls, Blevins led Platteville in scoring during the five games the Hillmen played in Prairie du Chien at 11.4 ppg. After averaging 10.9 ppg for coach Mike Huser as a sophomore, Blevins appears ready to increase that average in 2016-17 with his aggressive play and ability to score with his size, strength and quickness around the basket.

Nicholas Bockman, 6-0, Jr., PG, Decorah, Iowa
An aggressive lead guard who loved to drive to the hoop, Bockman was a bit up and down in Prairie du Chien, just like the rest of his teammates. He did have it going in a victory over Prairie du Chien I, scoring 26 points and earning multiple trips to the foul line. Bockman finished that game making all 14 of his foul shots.

Drew Foley, 5-11, Sr., G, De Soto
Foley is not a big scorer, but his overall aggressiveness and speed on both ends of the court were pluses for De Soto. He did score in double figures in two games, making several shots from outside the three-point arc, and is one of the top returning players for coach Brandon Ihrcke after averaging 7.5 ppg as a junior.

Eddie Harwick, 5-10, Sr., PG, Aquinas
Harwick averaged 24.5 ppg in Prairie du Chien and made 15 shots from beyond the arc, helping the Bludolgs to a 3-1 record. A very quick perimeter player who uses the crossover dribble to set up his outside shot, Harwick had eight triples and 32 points in a victory over Clinton. He also had 21 points and limited La Crosse Logan junior standout guard C.J. Siegel to just eight points in a 48-46 victory over the Rangers. Harwick utilized his quick release to make the game-winning three-point shot at the buzzer in the triumph over Logan.

Cody Hoeth, 6-3, Sr., G/F, La Crosse Logan
A versatile and active wing player who can get to the basket with his quickness and speed or make perimeter shots, Hoeth led Logan in scoring in Prairie du Chien, netting a total of 61 points in four games for an average of 15.3 ppg. He made five three-point shots and had 19 points in a 61-50 victory over Decorah, Iowa. Hoeth averaged 10.7 ppg and 4.3 rpg as a junior for the Rangers and is one of four returning starters from a club that went 16-9.

Noah Johnson, 6-2, Sr., F, Richland Center
Johnson can guard on the perimeter or in the post so his versatility on defense is a big asset for Richland Center. He is also a capable scorer. Johnson, who averaged 11.6 ppg as a junior, finished with 25 points and three triples in an overtime victory over Cuba City, and he had 16 in a triumph over Prairie du Chien II. 

Josh Krause, 6-2, Jr., F, Clinton
A physically strong and mobile wing prospect who got to the basket and scored, Krause fits in well with the scheme of coach Denny Morris at Clinton. Krause's ability to score off post-up moves and off of sharp cuts to the basket helped to spread the floor for promising junior wing guard and three-point specialist Caleb Gracyalny (6-1).

Reece Leistikow, 5-10, Jr., G, Marshall
A very skilled combination guard with a knack for scoring over bigger defenders with floaters in the lane, Leistikow led Marshall in scoring in Prairie du Chien with games of 22, 20, 18 and 8 as the Cardinals finished 2-2 with a roster that did not include senior forward Adam Wehking (6-5), who was attending a football camp. Leistikow figures to develop into an all-league caliber guard in the Captiol South Conference over the next two seasons thanks to his impressive shooting and ball handling skills. 

Josh Lenzendorf, 6-3, Sr., F, Prairie du Chien I
Lenzendorf came off the bench last season to average 3.6 ppg for a Prairie du Chien squad that went 24-3 and lost to eventual state champion Waupun in the semifinal round of the WIAA Division 3 State Tournament. The lanky, skilled and improved wing player figures to move into the Blackhawks' starting rotation as a senior as he led his team in scoring at the WBY Tournament at 11.5 ppg. His ability to make shots outside the arc was evident in a 57-48 loss to Decorah as he drilled a couple of triples in that contest.

Conley Malone, 6-1, Jr., WG, Aquinas
Malone scored in double figures in each game for Aquinas, showing the ability to utilize his athleticism and quick first step to get to the basket and finish. He also made some three-point shots, rebounded well on both ends and made very good decisions with the ball in his hands. Malone and Harwick figure to team with sophomore Brandon Merfeld (5-9) to give Aquinas a very quick, athletic and skilled backcourt in 2016-17.

Braden Nies, 5-10, Sr., G, Platteville
Nies can play either guard position and possesses a very good outside shooting touch. He brings solid decision making and good physical strength to the Platteville lineup while also being a threat to knock down shots outside the three-point arc on any given possession. Nies is the top returning scorer for Platteville at 11.4 ppg.

Nick Payne, 6-5, Sr., F, Seneca
A muscular left-handed forward who can face up and attack the basket or attempt mid-range jump shots, Payne averaged 14.5 ppg and 8.4 rpg as a junior for a Seneca squad that went 22-3 and lost to Barneveld in a WIAA Division 5 sectional semifinal. Payne is a good rebounder who can lead the break with his speed and ball-handling ability. A three-year varsity performer entering his senior season for coach Dave Boland at Seneca.

Bryce Prochaska, 6-6, Jr., PF, Dodgeville
A thick, aggressive and physically strong post-up player with solid footwork and the ability to finish, Prochaska reached double figures in three of four games, helping Dodgeville to a 2-2 record. Though a bit foul prone at this stage of his development, Prochaska figures to emerge as one of the top players in the Southwest Wisconsin Conference, especially as he demands the ball more in the post.

Blake Robson, 5-9, Jr., G, Cuba City
Though the release on his perimeter jump shot is a bit low, Robson nonetheless drilled one three-point shot after another during the WBY Tournament. After netting 7.8 ppg as a sophomore for the varsity squad at Cuba City, Robson averaged 19.3 ppg in four outings in Prairie du Chien, sinking a total of 15 three-point attempts. 

Jesse Solberg, 6-4, Sr., WF, Westby
A tough matchup because of his ability to score inside and outside, Solberg can also put the ball on the ground and make pull-up jump shots. Solberg averaged 18.4 ppg in Prairie du Chien and helped a very good and balanced Westby squad to a 3-1 record by making 14 three-point shots. Solberg averaged 18.0 ppg as a junior and is the lone returning first-team all-league pick in the Coulee Conference. 

Bennett Vander Plas, 6-8, Sr., F, Ripon
Currently ranked No. 7 among class of 2017 prospects in the state by WisSports.net, Vander Plas looked every bit the part of a NCAA Division I player while helping Ripon to an unbeaten record. The son of Ripon coach Dean Vander Plas, Bennett Vander Plas has trimmed his body over the past three months, losing 25 pounds while becoming more explosive off the dribble. He had a couple of one-handed dunks off drives to the basket while also scoring from outside the three-point line and beating defenders off the bounce with his size, ball handling ability and strength. Vander Plas had 20 points in the title-game victory over Platteville and 21 in the Pool A-B title game win over Westby. He owns multiple Division I scholarship offers and figures to pick up a few more in July while competing with the Wisconsin United program on the club circuit.

Team Champion
 
Ripon

Losing a NCAA Division I recruit and three-year starter in Luke Loewe, who moved to Fond du Lac with his family and will spend his senior year at Fond du Lac High School, did not seem to affect the Tigers, who played outstanding team basketball while sweeping to five straight victories. Junior point guard Marshall Morrin (5-10) did an outstanding job of playing defense, communicating on both ends and getting to the ball to the stars of the Ripon program -- Muench and Vander Plas. Senior forward Tyler Pick (6-3) also performed very well for Ripon, scoring and rebounding in three wins on Sunday while running the floor and providing some muscle in the paint. Ripon figures to again challenge Waupun in the East Central Conference standings before competing in brutal Sectional 4 of the WIAA Division 3 playoffs with the likes of Columbus, Dominican, Kettle Moraine Lutheran, Martin Luther, Racine St. Catherine's and Waupun, among many others. However, based on their inspired team play and the strong individual showings of players like Muench, Vander Plas, Morrin and Pick in Prairie du Chien, the Tigers could very well emerge as the team to beat in that loaded sectional field. 

Notes
The Southwest Wisconsin Conference figures to have plenty of depth this winter with defending champion Prairie du Chien, upstart Platteville and always dangerous Dodgeville in the mix. Platteville has very good offensive balance with Nies and Blevins leading the way. Senior wing Chase Bellmeyer (6-0) is a good outside shooter who hit five three-point baskets in one half in a victory over Marshall at the WBY Tournament. Senior Dillon Shinee (6-2) provides a strong inside presence while senior Alex Traxler (5-11) is also back after earning substantial playing time a year ago ... Aquinas lost three starters and its head coach since losing to eventual state-champion Dominican in a semifinal contest of the WIAA Division 4 State Tournament as Chris Ancius, Zach Phillips and Alex Schulte all graduated while Sam Servais retired as coach. Nonetheless, the Blugolds could develop into a solid team again next season behind the return of Harwick and Malone and the emergence of Merfeld. Senior Ryan Scheidt (6-3) did not score all that much in Prairie du Chien, but he does rebound and defend and figures to be on a frontline that also includes promising junior forward Randy Jacobson (6-6) ... Westby won 17 games under veteran coach Bob Constalie last season and might just have enough depth and experience to overtake Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau in the battle for the Coulee Conference title. In addition to Solberg, point guard Dylan Weninger (5-10), forward Kyle Anderson (6-2), wing Erik Luebke (6-1) and forward Jess Bishop (6-2) all performed well in Prairie du Chien ... La Crosse Logan junior point guard C.J. Siegel (6-0) finished with 16 of his 18 points in the second half, but it wasn't quite enough in the Rangers' 48-44 loss to Westby. Siegel has very good quickness and the ability to get on a roll on offensive, both off the dribble and from outside the three-point arc. In addition to Siegel and Hoeth, junior Andy Simms (5-11), sophomore Maguire Werner (6-5) and freshman Terrence Thompson (6-5) had strong showings at the WBY Tournament ... Seneca lost Ridge and Valley Conference Player of the Year Kilian Boland to graduation from a team that went unbeaten in league play, but the Indians figure to remain in the chase for the conference crown behind the return of Nick Payne (6-5), Gavin Greene (5-11), Noah Allen (5-11), Tom Johnson (6-1), Devin Wallin (5-8) and Jared Payne (6-0). Six different player scored in double figures in at least one game in Prairie du Chien for Seneca so balance figures to be a huge asset in 2016-17 ... Richland Center defeated Cuba City, Prairie du Chien II and Marshall while losing to Seneca. The Hornets got strong play from Johnson, junior point guard Devon Schmitz (5-11) and junior wing Reighly Schultz (6-2) while senior Hunter Wilson (6-6) provided some interior defense in two games on Sunday ... Marshall coach Jason McConnell is getting a good look at some of his younger players this summer. Wehking is the top returning player for the Cardinals and a tremendous all-around performer, but he will miss several tournaments due to other commitments. Leistikow has performed well as has junior Adam Wildman (6-0), a do-everything type of player who can score, defend, rebound, set screens and pass ... Prairie du Chien I played without senior Nathan Banasik (6-5), who is out for 12 weeks with a knee injury. Banasik, the son of coach Andy Banasik, averaged 11.4 ppg and 5.4 rpg as a junior. In addition to Lenzendorf, senior guard Chas Sagedahl (6-1), junior guard Cory Check (6-0) and senior forward Wes Schwager (6-4) performed well for the Blackhawks ... Prairie du Chien II was made up of primarily underclassmen with promising sophomore Hunter Davis (6-7) playing well at times for the Blackhawks ... Cuba City may lack the size, strength and experience to beat Darlington in the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League next season, but the Cubans have enough skill to keep things interesting. In addition to the strong shooting performance of Robson, coach Jerry Petitgoue has a few other capable scorers in senior guard Nathan Timmerman (6-0) along with senior forwards Jacob Wagner (6-1) and Sean McVay (6-4). Look for promising left-handed sophomore guard Isaiah Oswald (5-11) to also make a big impact for the Cubans in 2016-17 ... Dodgeville finished in second place in the Southwest Wisconsin Conference to unbeaten Prairie du Chien last winter and should again challenge for the league crown under coach Matt McGraw. Prochaska is a returning starter who averaged 9.9 ppg as a sophomore while dependable seniors Isaac Nagel (6-1) and Houston Stanek (6-2) also return, giving the Dodgers a solid trio to build around ... Clinton hopes to challenge Beloit Turner in the Southern Division of the Rock Valley Conference behind the return of Krause (17.0 ppg) and Gracyalny (11.9 ppg). Junior guard Terrell Walker (6-2) also played very well in Prairie du Chien, showing the ability to score in transition and off the dribble with his speed. The Cougars played without key returning players Cole Ciochon (13.5 ppg) and Tyler Halsted (6.4 ppg) ... Decorah, Iowa, coach Jon Carlson battles inconsistency with his players, but he has three strong performers to build around for 2016-17 in Bockman, versatile senior forward Lowden Rockweiler (6-4) and physical senior forward Jerod Redenius (6-3) ... Southwestern finished 1-3 and received some impressive play from senior forward Trent Kuhl (6-3), who led the Wildcats in scoring and reached double scoring figures in three of four games. Sophomore guard Dylan Rieken (6-0) also performed well at times for coach Clint Nemitz ... De Soto will be a factor in the Ridge & Valley Conference despite finishing 1-3 in Prairie du Chien. The Pirates played without injured senior forward Ryan Lagerman (6-5), who averaged 8.1 ppg as a junior, and without senior guard Austin Anderson (6-0), who averaged 8.8 ppg. Foley, senior guard Connor Clements (5-10) and versatile sophomore guard Isaiah Zink (5-11) performed well at the WBY Tournament while junior forward Dylan Chapes (6-1) provided great energy and some physical strength in the post.

Tag(s): Summer Tournaments