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2011 Prairie du Chien Tourney Recap

06/28/2011, 4:36pm CDT
By Mark Miller

Observations from the third annual Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Summer Tournament held in Prairie du Chien over the weekend.

Observations from the third annual Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Summer Tournament held in Prairie du Chien over the weekend:

Pools A-B

Final Standings


East Troy 4-0, Onalaska 3-1, Beaver Dam 2-2, Tartan, Minn. 2-2, Prairie du Chien 2-2, Lake Mills 2-2, Marshfield 1-3, Westosha Central 0-4.

Most Valuable Player

Tanner Plomb, 6-7, WF, Sr., East Troy

Plomb currently has a NCAA Division I offer from Army and Division II offers from Hillsdale, Michigan Tech and UW-Parkside. He is also receiving interest from Division I Fordham, Lafayette and Weber State along with Division II Augustana College. After his sterling performances for Pool A-B champion East Troy this weekend, it’s hard to believe more Division I schools are not involved. Plomb can stroke it with the best of them from downtown while also making pull-up mid-range jump shots. And he can finish above the rim on offensive put-backs and in transition. He has good length, excellent shooting and passing skills and a great upside once he adds more weight and strength. He finished with 19 points in East Troy’s 65-44 victory over Beaver Dam in the Pool A vs. Pool B title game.

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

Elliot Ashbeck, 6-4, WF, Sr., Marshfield
Ashbeck can score in a variety of ways. He can make shots from downtown or use his strength and size to post-up in the lane. The returning second-team all-league pick in the Wisconsin Valley Conference is poised to have a huge senior season for a young Marshfield team that figures to get better and better as the season progresses.

Dylan Cayo, 6-6, PF, Sr., Lake Mills
Cayo is not a flashy player by any means, but he is a bit of a workhorse down low for Lake Mills. He has solid footwork and gives great effort on the glass on both ends of the court. He uses his size and strength to finish in the post area.

Nate Dodge, 6-3, WG, Jr., East Troy
Like Plomb, Dodge is a dead-eye shooter from beyond the three-point arc. Give him some space and he’ll make you pay. In four games at the event, Dodge finished with nine three-pointers. He also uses his physical strength and quickness to beat defenders off the dribble and finish around the basket.

Xavier Hall, 5-11, PG/WG, Jr., Tartan, Minn.
Hall is not a big scorer, but he is a high-level defender. He used his quickness, energy and mental toughness to make things difficult for Onalaska’s Matt Thomas and did the same to other opponents throughout the weekend. A good team leader and an extremely coachable player with a solid future.

Connor Morovits, 6-0, WG, Sr., Prairie du Chien
Morovits must be accounted for each and every time down the court because of his uncanny ability to make shots from long distance. One of the premier three-point shooting specialists in the class of 2012, Morovits had five triples in a narrow loss to Tartan. He finished with multiple three-pointers in each of the other contests the Blackhawks played in the event.

Myles Olsen, 6-2, PG, Sr., East Troy
A three-year varsity performer for East Troy, Olsen knocked down triples at a consistent rate throughout the weekend while also playing strong individual defense and running the Trojans’ offense from his point-guard position. Every good team needs a leader and player willing to do the little things required to gain a victory and Olsen is definitely one of those players for East Troy.

Brett Prahl, 6-9, F/C, Jr., East Troy
Prahl and his twin brother, Alex Prahl (6-9), give the Trojans outstanding size in the post. Brett Prahl is a bit more advanced offensively than his brother at this stage. Brett can score with the back to the basket or off of power moves to the hoop from the blocks. He finished with 17 points in East Troy’s hard-fought 69-60 victory over Onalaska.

R.J. Shelton, 6-0, PG, Jr., Beaver Dam
Shelton excels in football (running back/defensive back), basketball (point guard) and baseball (pitcher/outfielder) so at this stage it’s a bit uncertain which sport he will pursue at the next level. In basketball, Shelton displays good quickness, outstanding strength and solid ball-handling skills. His three-point shot is a bit inconsistent, but his ability to get into the lane and finish is rock solid.

Dalton Sjong, 6-3, WF, Sr., Westosha Central
Sjong struggled with his shot early in the tournament before heating up a bit on Sunday. he poured in 24 points in a 43-34 loss to Beaver Dam, scoring from distance, from mid-range and from the foul line. Sjong has a solid frame, good strength and solid skills, traits that should help him lead Westosha Central to an improved showing in 2011-12.

Matt Thomas, 6-3, WG, Jr., Onalaska
Thomas got off to a bit of a slow start against Tartan, Minn., but he rebounded in a huge way, scoring 29 points and drilling six three-point shots in a 69-60 loss to East Troy. He is the state’s premier long-distance shooter, but he’s also a willing passer who is working hard to improve his game off the bounce. Thomas was able to get into the lane with regularity, though his ability to finish through contact isn’t where it will be down the road a bit. Thomas has Division I offers from Creighton, Green Bay, Iowa State and Northern Iowa. Look for more Division I offers to come his way after he hits the travel-team circuit in July with the Wisconsin Playmakers.

Team Champion

East Troy

The Trojans are absolutely loaded and figure to enter the 2011-12 campaign ranked No. 1 among Division 3 schools in Wisconsin. East Troy turned back Marshfield, Onalaska, Tartan, Minn., and Beaver Dam in the tournament and looked highly impressive each time out. The backcourt combination of senior point guard Myles Olsen and junior wing guard Nathan Dodge is experienced, skilled and mentally tough. The frontcourt features unbelievable size with the return of senior Tanner Plomb (6-7) and junior twins Alex (6-9) and Brett Prahl (6-9). Senior D.J. Sweet (6-1) brings quickness, athleticism and the ability to defend off the bench.

Notes

Onalaska played without senior Nick Arenz, the 6-8 forward and Green Bay recruit who continues to recover from a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury … Senior Ben Socha and junior Clint Rihn were solid for the Hilltoppers and figure to join Matt Thomas in coach Craig Kowal’s backcourt rotation … Sophomore Turner Moen of Lake Mills had a strong showing all weekend. He hit five triples and scored 18 points in 56-50 loss to Onalaska … Freshman Marshawn Wilson (6-1) of Tartan has a bright future for coach Mark Klingsporn. He played with poise and intelligence and his skill level and athleticism are also very solid … Look for sophomore Luke Zuiker (6-4) to emerge as one of the top prospects in Wisconsin’s class of 2014. Zuiker is a versatile player who can score inside and outside while also finding teammates with his solid passing skills … Beaver Dam senior Jake Heuer (6-3) battled a foot injury all weekend, but still managed to make plays with his hustle and athleticism.

Pools C-D

Final Standings


Elk Mound 4-0, Westby 3-1, Bloomer 3-1, Mauston 2-2, West Salem 2-2, Sparta 1-3, River Valley 1-3, Richland Center 0-4.

Most Valuable Player

Andrew Strom, 6-2, WF, Sr., Elk Mound

A returning first-team all-league pick in the Dunn-St. Croix, Strom used his length and skill to score from mid-range and in the lane while leading Elk Mound to a 4-0 record, including a 47-35 victory over Westby in the Pool C vs. Pool D championship game. Strom is a 4.0 student who brings a good skill set to the game as he can pass, shoot and dribble. Adding weight and strength is the next step in his progression.

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

Alec Adsit, 6-3, WG, Jr., Richland Center

Adsit did not play on Saturday, but he made up for lost time on Sunday by leading Richland Center in scoring in both of its contests. He is a very good three-point shooter and had his shot from long-range going in a 57-47 loss to Sparta, nailing four shots from beyond the arc en route to 27 points.

Herman Feller IV, 6-0, WG, Sr., Westby
A returning second-team all-league choice in the Coulee Conference, Feller does a bit of everything for the Norsemen. He rebounds, he distributes the ball, he pushes the ball up the floor and he scores. He led Westby with 12 points in the title-game loss to Elk Mound.

Robb Gust, 6-3, F, Sr., River Valley
Gust did not receive a ton of playing time for a senior-dominated River Valley squad last season, but he figures to be one of the main scoring options for coach Jeff Johnson next season. He has several strong performances for River Valley.

Joel Heesch, 6-3, PG, Jr., Mauston
A returning first-team all-league pick in the South Central Conference, Heesch is a point guard with size and skill. He can shoot from the perimeter, but is at his best when he penetrates and finds open teammates with snap passes. He can get caught up in the lane and turn the ball over at times so learning to pick and choose his spots with a bit more caution may be the next step in his development.

Nick Heit, 5-8, G, Jr., Elk Mound
Heit was the Mounders’ designated snipper from downtown and he more than lived up to his role, knocking down three-point shot after three-point shot all weekend. Heit made six three-points in Elk Mound’s victory over Richland Center and had at least two three-pointers in all four games for the Mounders.

Marcus Mauer, 6-1, G, Sr., Elk Mound
A returning second-team all-league selection in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference, Mauer uses his energy, length and quickness to disrupt opponent’s comfort level on top of the Elk Mound 1-3-1 half-court defense. Also a capable long-distance shooter, Mauer knocked down four three-pointers in the Mounders’ victory over Richland Center.

Travis Mullen, 6-4, WF, Jr., Bloomer
Mullen split time between the varsity and junior varsity programs at Bloomer last season, but he now appears ready for the prime time as he played very well for the Blackhawks over the weekend. Mullen is a skilled 6-4 wing forward who moves well and is aggressive on the glass. He scored in double-figures in three of the four games for Bloomer.

Mitch Pauley, 5-11, PG, Sr., Sparta
An honorable mention all-league choice in the Mississippi Valley Conference as a junior, Pauley put up consistent numbers for Sparta, which lost three games by a total of five points in pool play. He attacks the basket especially well, either finishing in the lane or earning a trip to the foul line.

Karson Rihn, 5-10, G, Sr., Bloomer
Rihn and seniors Brett Stuckert and Logan Price form a dynamic and experienced backcourt for Bloomer coach Todd Marks. Rihn runs the show for the Blackhawks is equally effective looking for his scoring opportunities or looking for his teammates.

Baily Williams, 5-11, PG, Frosh., West Salem
An incoming freshman for coach Chad Hayes at West Salem, Williams was rock-solid for the Panthers, scoring from downtown or using his quickness and solid ball-handling skills to get into the lane and finish.

Team Champion

Elk Mound

The Mounders gave their four opponents fits with their effective half-court 1-3-1 trapping zone defense. The length of senior Marcus Mauer on top of the zone, not to mention of Andrew Strom on the wing, caused havoc throughout the tournament. Offensively, Mauer is the guy who runs the show for Elk Mound and he does an excellent job of finding Strom and sharpshooter Nick Heit. Elk Mound finished 10-6 in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference and 15-9 overall last season. Another winning season and contention for the league title appear to be strong possibilities for 2011-12.

Notes

West Salem junior Jacob Servais (6-6) should give Hayes some much-needed size and strength around the basket. He scored in double figures in three games for the Panthers … Mauston junior Hunter Nelson (6-2) turned in several solid showings for the Eagles … Junior guard John Hassell (6-1) picked up the scoring slack for Richland Center while Adsit attending a camp at Northwestern University on Saturday. Hassell scored a team-high 14 points in a loss to Bloomer … Senior Tyler Kastenschmidt (6-0) is a threat off the dribble and from distance for West Salem. He will team with Williams to give the Panthers a strong backcourt combination.

Pools E-F

Final Standings


Potosi 4-0, Royall 3-1, North Crawford 3-1, Columbus Catholic 2-2, Mondovi 2-2, River Ridge 1-3, Seneca 1-3, Fennimore 0-4.

Most Valuable Player
Sam Murphy, 6-4, PG/WG, Jr., Royall

A player who gets better and better each time he steps onto the court, Murphy was outstanding in leading Royall to a 3-1 record. He had six three-point baskets in one game and five in another. He consistently and effectively pushed the ball up the floor as the Panthers’ point guard. And he snared rebound after rebound on the defensive end of the court. A returning first-team all-league pick in the Scenic Bluffs Conference, Murphy has a bright future ahead of him and is definitely one of the state’s top sleepers in the loaded class of 2013.

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

Joe Childs, 6-2, WF, Jr., North Crawford

Childs gave the Trojans a bit of an inside presence with his size and length, but he also stepped outside and make outside jump shots. Childs averaged 10.4 points per game as a sophomore and figures to be a key player for coach Gary Hines next season.

Grant Dull, 5-11, PG, Jr., North Crawford
Dull was the driving force behind North Crawford’s strong showing in the tournament. He pushed the ball in transition and continually probed the defense, looking for his teammates or scoring himself. His on-the-ball pressure defense and three-point shooting were also keys to North Crawford’s success.

Eric Frye, 6-0, WG, Jr., Royall
Eric Frye and his twin brother, Cory, both played well for Royall. They used their quickness, ball handling ability and aggressiveness to continually get into the lane and create scoring opportunities for themselves and their teammates.

Zach Ganschow, 5-11, WG, Soph., Mondovi
Ganschow ranked among the top scorers in the state among players in the class of 2014 last season at 11.8 points per game. He showed the ability to get into the lane and pull-up for jump shots or get all the way to the basket and score over defenders.

Ethan Grimsled, 6-5, PF, Sr., Seneca
Grimsled is an unstoppable force at times in the paint because of his combination of size, skill and brute strength. A three-year varsity performer and three-time first-team all-league pick in the Ridge & Valley Conference, Grimsled also showed the ability to play away from the basket and either make three-point shots or find teammates cutting to the basket.

Mitchell Langkamp, 6-1, F, Jr., Potosi
Langkamp is a key player in a loaded junior class at Potosi. He was the second-leading scorer in the Chieftains’ four victories at the tournament and figures to be a key frontline performer for coach Mike Uppena in 2011-12.

Hunter Leibfried, 6-1, G, Jr., Potosi
Leibfried is one of two returning starters for a Potosi program that won 18 games in each of the past two seasons after winning 20 games three years ago. Leibfried was a clutch performer for Potosi as the Chieftains pulled out narrow victories over North Crawford, Royall and Mondovi. He hit a three-pointer at the buzzer and scored 15 points to trigger Potosi’s 40-38 triumph over Mondovi.

Joel Mezera, 5-8, WG, Jr., River Ridge
Mezera missed the first day of the tournament, but played very well on Sunday, scoring 20 points and drilling five three-point baskets in a 40-37 loss to Columbus Catholic. Mezera is a terrific perimeter shooter, but he can also get to the basket and earn trips to the foul line.

Brandon Nikolai, 5-9, PG, Sr., Columbus Catholic
Nikolai is a bit streaky as a scorer, but his ability to put pressure on the ball defensively and get into the heart of a defense offensively were apparent from opening tip until the final buzzer. He plays with heart and energy.

Brett Vetterkind, 6-0, WG, Soph., Mondovi
Another member of Mondovi’s very strong sophomore class, Vetterkind is a knock-down three-point shooter who moves well without the basketball. His ability to stretch defenses figures to open up the middle a bit for teammates.

Team Champion

Potosi

The winning culture coach Mike Uppena has orchestrated in Potosi paid off big time for the Chieftains as they registered an overtime victory over Royall (44-42) along with close wins over Mondovi (40-38) and North Crawford (47-43). Potosi has won 56 games over the past three seasons and figures to again be one of the teams to beat in the Western Division of the Six Rivers Conference behind the return of talented players such as Hunter Leibfried, Mitchell Langkamp and Alex Wright, among others.

Notes

Columbus Catholic sophomores Jacob Puent (6-3) and Jared Fleischmann (5-9) played with great poise and have promising futures for the Dons … Fennimore continues to play with a very young team. Coach Scott Plondke’s top four returning players are either sophomores or juniors. Junior point guard Aaron Swan (5-8) and junior wing guard Trent Napp (5-10) played well at times for the Golden Eagles … Senior Trenton Payne missed the first two games for Seneca, but made his presence felt on Sunday, scoring 13 points in a 47-32 victory over Fennimore … Thank you to Prairie du Chien boys’ coach Andy Banasik, Prairie du Chien girls’ coach Paula Shedivy, the Prairie du Chien Youth Basketball Association and David Timmerman of the Southwest Wisconsin Officials Association for helping with this year’s tournament.

Tag(s): Summer Tournaments