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Viterbo Tourney: Results and honors

06/11/2012, 4:23pm CDT
By Mark Miller

Observations from the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Summer Tournament held at Viterbo University in La Crosse over the weekend:

Championship Game
La Crosse Aquinas 47, Fall Creek 31

Third Place Game
Cadott 55, La Crosse Central 50

Consolation Championship
Onalaska 46, Augusta 24

Team Records
Aquinas 4-0, Fall Creek 3-1, Cadott 3-1, Onalaska 3-1, Roncalli 3-1, Augusta 2-2, Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau 2-2, Mauston 2-2, West Salem Black 2-2, La Crosse Central 2-2, Mondovi 2-2, Sparta 1-3, Montello 1-3, Edgar 1-3, Alma Center Lincoln 1-3, West Salem Orange 0-4.

Most Valuable Player

Parker Weber, 6-7, PF, Jr., Aquinas

Weber carried Aquinas to a narrow victory over Augusta on Saturday morning while Wisconsin recruit Bronson Koenig was taking the ACT exam. He scored 16 points against Augusta, 16 against La Crosse Central and 12 against Alma Center Lincoln. He was able to finish consistently around the basket, using his size, length and improved strength to overpower opponents. His ability to be productive around the basket figures to be a huge asset for an Aquinas team that will enter the 2012-13 campaign ranked among the top teams in Division 3.

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)


Isaiah Bessert, 5-10, WG, Sr., Manitowoc Roncalli

Bessert can get on a roll from distance as he showed in twice making six three-points shots in a pair of victories for the Jets. Bessert teams with classmate and point guard Nate Lassila to give Roncalli a potent backcourt combination as both can get hot from beyond the arc.

Joel Heesch, 6-3, PG/WG, Sr., Mauston
Heesch found ways to score while also delivering some outstanding passes to his teammates. After averaging 25.7 ppg as a junior, he pumped in an average of 24.2 ppg in the Eagles’ four games at Viterbo. He is especially effective getting the ball at the high post as he can either score off the dribble or find an open teammate with beautiful drop-off passes. Though he is a bit turnover prone as a lead guard, his ability to impact a game with his penetration and athleticism is undeniable.

Mitchell Johnson, 5-9, PG, Jr., La Crosse Central
Johnson won’t put up huge numbers for coach Todd Fergot at Central next season, but his ability to push the ball in transition and pass ahead to open teammates was impressive. He is also a capable shooter and outstanding on-the-ball defender. His intangibles of leadership and toughness figure to help the Red Raiders challenge Aquinas, Holmen and Onalaska in the Mississippi Valley Conference next season.

Bronson Koenig, 6-3, PG, Sr., La Crosse Aquinas
Koenig got off to a bit of a slow start for the Blugolds, but he was at his best in Aquinas’ championship-game victory over Fall Creek. He knocked down three triples in that game, made a couple of mid-range jump shots and had a breakaway dunk. He also defended well and set up his teammates with his elite passing skills. The Wisconsin recruit appears to have added strength to his long 6-3 frame and his ability to get into passing lanes with his length figures to help him become a truly effective defender at the next level.

Braxtyn Meyer, 6-3, WG, Sr., Fall Creek
Meyer teamed with classmates Will Tweed and Kyle Nelson to give the Crickets a physical, experience and talented trio that should led Fall Creek to another highly successful season in 2012-13. A big wing player, Meyer was able to score off the dribble and make mid-range jump shots at a high clip.

Austin Poehls, 6-1, PG/WG, Sr., Cadott
Poehls was outstanding in leading Cadott past La Crosse Central in the third-place game, scoring 26 points while knocking down four three-pointers. He was also able to continually get to the foul line and also hit a pair of nice mid-range pull-up jump shots. As second-team all-league pick in the Cloverbelt West as a junior, Poehls can play both guard positions and figures to have a big senior season for coach Brandon Mittermeyer.

Simeon Pooler, 6-1, PG/WG, Jr., Alma Center Lincoln
Pooler was one of the most pleasant surprises of the WBY Tournament, showing the ability to make jump shots while also getting into the lane and either scoring or passing to teammates. He needs to get stronger and add some weight, but Pooler’s size, athleticism and skill were highly impressive.

Matt Thomas, 6-4, WG, Sr., Onalaska
The transformation of Thomas from a skilled, but rather skinny freshmen, to a still-skilled but muscular senior has been fun to watch. He continues to be a lights-out shooter from beyond the three-point arc, but the other thing that continually stands out about Thomas is his high basketball I.Q. He doesn’t force shots, he looks for his teammates, he defends and rebounds, and he is aggressive offensively at the most opportune times. He narrowed his list of potential colleges to Iowa State and Virginia on Sunday. Just a hunch, but I would bet on the Cyclones.

Caden Untiedt, 6-4, WG, Sr., Edgar
A smooth, athletic and skilled wing guard with size, Untiedt was the No. 1 scoring option for Edgar and he was able to deliver, knocking down 12 triples in four games while scoring in double figures in every contest. Untiedt’s combination of size, skill and athleticism should keep him on the recruiting radar of scholarship schools over the next several months.

Baily Williams, 6-0, PG, Soph., West Salem
If Williams can follow the lead of Bronson Koenig and Matt Thomas and improve his physical strength and size over the next couple of years, he could very well emerge as the next NCAA Division I prospect in the Coulee Region. He is smooth with the basketball in his hands and is able to score himself or set up his teammates. He has good shooting range and is quick off the dribble.

Team Champion

Aquinas

The Blugolds went 4-0 and won the tournament without senior Mike Conway, an athletic and skilled 6-6 forward who missed all of last season with an injury but is expected to begin playing later this month. Koenig and Weber were outstanding all weekend, but so, too, were junior guard Reggie Rabb, junior wing Eldred Jones and seniors Carson Schneider and Nolan Ritter. Coach Rick Schneider has a ton of talent and athleticism in the program and the Blugolds definitely figure to be among the favorites to capture the WIAA Division 3 state championship next season.

Notes
La Crosse Central won two games Saturday with senior Sawyer Smith in the lineup and went 0-2 without him on Sunday. Smith is a 6-2 wing player who can run and jump with the best athletes in the state. He is aggressive on both ends of the court and his elite-level athleticism undoubtedly will help Central become one of the top teams in the Mississippi Valley Conference next season … Couple of underclassmen who were impressive at times for Central – junior Alex Hayden (6-3) and sophomore Jerred Ambrose (6-5) … Senior Joe Whalen (6-0) of Augusta had a productive tournament, leading his team in scoring thanks to ability to score in a variety of ways … Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau senior Tim Wagner (6-2) played two games on Saturday and had 31 points in a victory over West Salem Black, but he aggravated a back injury and sat out Sunday’s games. Wagner’s younger brother, freshman Nick Wagner, was impressive as well, hitting perimeter jump shots while playing with poise and intelligence. The Red Hawks also got some production out of massive senior Chandler Lemke (6-9) … Look for senior Jacob Servais (6-7) to have a strong senior season for coach Chad Hayes. Servais was outstanding in the post, scoring with his back to the basket and cleaning the glass at a high level … Onalaska lost three starters to graduation from its Division 2 state-title team, but coach Craig Kowal has some hard-nosed seniors ready to step into the starting rotation, including senior guard Dylan Racicot … Mondovi junior Zach Ganschow (5-10) was able to use his physical strength and ball handling skill to get into the heart of the defense all weekend, helping the Buffaloes to a 2-2 record … Montello senior Robert Kendall (5-10) led the Hilltoppers in scoring while Sparta got some strong play from senior Seth Steivang and junior Colin Laufenberg.

Tag(s): Summer Tournaments