Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook

Observations from the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Summer Tournament held in Kaukauna June 21-22-23:

Pools E-F
                                                    
Final Standings
 
Pool E – Sturgeon Bay 3-1, Iola-Scandinavia 3-1, St. Mary Central 2-2, Sheboygan Christian 2-2, St. Thomas Aquinas 0-4.
 
Pool F – Fall River 4-0, Algoma 2-2, North Fond du Lac 2-2, Shiocton 1-3, Pittsville 1-3.

 
Pool E vs. Pool F Championship Game – Fall River 44, Sturgeon Bay 34.
 
Most Valuable Player 

Reid Van Gysel, 5-10, Sr., G, Fall River 
Van Gysel played with excellent poise and leadership for the Pirates. He scored when needed and was able to make three-point shots at a high level, netting four triples in a tense 41-40 victory over Shiocton. After averaging 7.0 points per game as a junior starter for a club that won 19 games, Van Gysel appears set for another big season for the Pirates, who return three all-league performers and are once again favored to win the Southern Division of the Trailways Conference.

 

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

 

Jameson Bardowski, 5-11, Sr., PG, St. Thomas Aquinas

Bardowski is a scoring lead guard and finished with double scoring figures in three of four games for the Cavaliers. He can score off the dribble and appears more comfortable attacking the basket than shooting from downtown. His ability to bring the ball up against pressure defense and get his team into its offense will be key for a St. Thomas Aquinas squad looking to move upward in the Marinette & Oconto Conference standings. 

 

Patrick Brouillard, 6-2, Sr., WF, Shiocton

A physically dominating player who uses his wide shoulders and sheer strength to overcome opponents around the basket, Brouillard also showed the ability to consistently earn trips to the foul line for the Chiefs.

 

Billy Bull, 6-1, Sr., WG, Fall River

Bull has made steady progression during his prep career at Fall River. He averaged 8.7 ppg as a sophomore and earned honorable mention all-league laurels. As a junior, he netted 10.6 ppg and was voted first-team all-conference. His perimeter game was an asset for Fall River in Kaukauna as he was able to beat defenders off the dribble and earn multiple trips to the foul line.

 

Andrew Griffin, 6-5, Sr., PF, St. Mary Central

Griffin gives the Zephyrs a bona fide inside presence with his height and physical strength. He scored at a good clip around the basket and did a solid job of snaring rebounds for St. Mary Central. If Griffin becomes a bit more assertive and adds even more strength to his big frame, he could emerge as an all-conference caliber player in the deep and extremely talented Olympian Conference.  

 

Sam Koss, 6-2, Sr., WG, Algoma

Koss can get to the basket with the best of them and that talent was on full display in Kaukauna as he repeatedly beat defenders off the dribble with strong moves to the basket. Koss made 12 of 15 foul attempts during the event and helped the Wolves to a 2-2 record while competing in Pool F.

 

Eddie Windsor, 6-3, Soph., F, Sheboygan Christian

Windsor competed with high effort throughout the Eagles’ four games in Kaukauna. He scored around the basket, thanks in large part to his hustle and determination. Windsor’s ability to make things happen around the basket figures to bode well for Sheboygan Christian as it attempts to move up in the Central Lakeshore Conference standings.

 

Connor Lodewegen, 6-2, Sr., WF, Iola-Scandinavia

Lodewegen is a tough matchup for opponents because of his combination of quickness, physical strength and skill. He can score facing the basket or also take defenders off the dribble and get to the basket and either finish or draw fouls. His versatility will be big for Iola-Scandinavia as it seeks to improve upon as 12-12 record in 2013-14.

 

John Prahl, 5-10, Sr., PG, Iola-Scandinavia

After averaging a team-best 12.5 ppg as a junior and earning second-team all-league honors in the Central Wisconsin 8 Conference, Prahl seems ready for another big season for the Thunderbirds. He controls the tempo of the game for his squad and can also score. He was at his best in a very competitive 39-38 loss to Sturgeon Bay, scoring a team-high 18 points and knocking down three triples in the contest.

 

Wyatt Warner, 6-4, Sr., F, Sturgeon Bay

Warner averaged 13.8 ppg in five outings in Kaukauna for the Clippers. A lanky inside-outside performer, Warner scored around the basket with his length and from the perimeter with his shooting skill. His ability to score in multiple ways figures to be a huge asset for Sturgeon Bay in the Packerland Conference in 2013-14.            

 

Brad Wesely, 5-10, Sr., G, Pittsville

Weseley is the top returning player for Pittsville and he showed his ability to score in Kaukauna. After averaging 13.1 ppg as a junior for the Panthers, Wesely was able to score from downtown and off the dribble while helping his team remain competitive in all four of its games. In a victory over Shiocton, Wesely hit five triples and scored 23 points for the Panthers.

 

Team Champion
 
Fall River
The Pirates have won a ton of games during Arnie Oelke’s 27 years as head coach at the Trailways Conference school. Look for more success in 2013-14 as Fall River returns three all-league performers in seniors Billy Bull (6-2), Cody Dagnall (6-1) and Reid Van Gysel (5-11). Physical strength, depth and a winning culture are among the strengths for Fall River, which shared the Trailways South title with Deerfield a year ago and went 19-5 overall. Perimeter shooting is also a big asset. In its title-game victory over Sturgeon Bay, Fall River got a huge performance out of senior Max Tramburg (6-0), a two-year starter who hit five three-point baskets on the way to scoring a game-high 17 points.       
 
Notes
Coach Kris Saiberlich is helping to turn things around at North Fond du Lac. He has a couple of standout performers in seniors Ben Mand (6-0) and Colton Krupp (6-0). Both scored at a high clip for the Orioles, who were without standout junior wing guard Mitch Ballwanz (6-3), who was attending an out-of-state travel-team event … Sturgeon Bay junior Matt Van Bramer (6-0) played with high energy and a good basketball I.Q. for the Clippers … St. Thomas Aquinas senior Kiefer Powers (6-1), who averaged 17 ppg as a junior, missed all but the first game for the Cavaliers after sustaining an ankle injury … Junior point guard Connor Schodorf (5-10) teams with senior wings Zach Hoheisel (5-11) and Cam Butler (5-11) to form a skilled and experienced backcourt trio for St. Mary Central coach Mark Ziebell … Sophomore Kristian Welch (6-3) had a strong freshman campaign for Iola-Scandinavia by averaging 9.2 ppg and 4.0 rpg. He now appears even bigger and stronger than a year ago … Shiocton senior Talon Heinemeyer (6-0) and freshman Nate Schmidt (6-0) turned in strong performances in Kaukauna with both showing the ability to handle the ball in traffic while also connecting on shots from beyond the three-point arc … Keep an eye on incoming Pittsville freshman Matthew Carlson, a mobile and skilled 6-5 forward with a tremendous future.