Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook

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

Pools K-L
                                                    
Final Standings
 
Pool K-L – Chilton 4-0, Reedsville 3-1, Kaukauna Orange 3-1, McDonell Central 2-2, Denmark 2-2, Cedar Grove 1-3, Marion 1-3, Manawa 0-4.

 
Pool K-L Championship Game – Chilton 36, Reedsville 34.
 
Most Valuable Player 

Jerad Wagner, 5-11, Sr., G, Chilton
A returning second-team all-league selection in the Olympian Conference, Wagner led the Tigers to a 4-0 record and had a game-high 11 points in a 36-34 victory over league-rival Reedsville in the Pools K-L title game. Wagner averaged 13.0 points per game over the four games for Chilton, which went 17-7 a year ago. As the lone returning starter for coach Corey Behnke, Wagner figures to take on a bigger scoring load for the Tigers next winter. He was certainly up to that challenge in Kaukauna as he not only scored at a high clip, but also got his talented teammates involved with his excellent passing skill.   

 

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

 

Sam Bleskachek, 6-3, Jr., WF, McDonell Central

Bleshkachek is an athletic wing forward with good physical strength and He developing skills. He poured in 25 points in a victory over Cedar Grove and was able to create off the dribble, get to the foul line and connect from three-point range. Bleskachek figures to be the primary offensive weapon for coach Archie Sherbinow at McDonell Central over the next two seasons.

 

Jered Bruckner, 6-1, Sr., F, Chilton

With Wagner and junior guard Lucas Forstner (5-10) providing stellar play on the perimeter for Chilton, Bruckner did a yeomen’s job down low of keeping the Tigers competitive on the boards. He averaged 9.0 ppg during four victories and showed the ability to score inside and outside, traits that will certainly be needed as Chilton attempts to remain in the upper echelon of the highly competitive Olympian Conference.

 

Adam Chier, 6-3, Sr., F, Cedar Grove

An all-league football player in the Central Lakeshore Conference, Chier used his size and physical strength to muscle his way around the basket and score at a high clip for the Rockets. Chier had games of 18, 15 and 14 points for the Rockets, who played without seniors Spencer Bares (6-0) and Drew Emperley (6-4).     

 

Brock Gilsdorf, 6-1, Sr., G, Reedsville

Gilsdorf turned in a solid string of games for the Panthers, who have a vastly improved squad and figure to push for an upper-division finish in the Olympian Conference in 2013-14. Gilsdorf was especially impressive in a 35-31 victory over Cedar Grove as he scored 22 points, hit a couple of huge three-point shots and went six-of-six from the foul line. A second-team all-league choice in the Olympian as a junior, Gilsdorf appears primed for a big senior season for coach Steve Brooks.

 

Ryan Havlovitz, 5-10, Sr., G, Denmark

Havlovitz had his three-point shot dropping for the Vikings as he netted 10 triples in four contests. The lone returning starter from a team that went 10-14 a year ago, Havlovitz also used his quickness to get around defenders and score in the lane. Developing into a big-time scorer and leader will be key for the Vikings and Havlovitz as they adjust to first-year coach Tony Calo.

 

Aaron Hoffman, 6-1, Sr., WG, Marion

Hoffman put up some impressive scoring totals for Marion and showed the ability to get to the basket while also making some nice pull-up jump shots from mid range. A returning second-team all-league pick in the Central Wisconsin 10 Conference, Hoffman is definitely the primary scoring threat for coach David Nordeng and the Mustangs.

 

Brady Osterling, 5-8, Sr., G, Manawa

Osterling was outstanding in helping the Wolves remain within striking distance of Marion in a Pools K-L playoff game. He finished the contest with 15 points and buried three three-point baskets for coach Karl Morrin, who used a couple of contact days to coach the Manawa team in Kaukauna.  

 

Cody Schamburek, 6-0, Sr., F, Reedsville

With Gilsdorf doing a stellar job of controlling things on the perimeter for the Panthers, Samburek did his thing in the paint, scoring a high clip while helping his team to a 3-1 record. Shamburek scored in double figures in three of the four contests and figures to be a primary offensive threat for the Panthers next winter.

 

Team Champion
 
Chilton
A year ago, Chilton was the surprise team in the Olympian Conference, finishing alone in fourth place and winning 17 games. But Behnke and the Tigers lost four starters from that squad, including their top scorer and rebounder in first-team all-league pick Andrew Huss. In Wagner and Bruckner, Chilton returns two experienced and talented players. Junior Lucas Forstner (5-10) had a strong showing in Kaukauna as well, hitting at least one triple in each game and averaging 6.3 ppg. The Olympian remains one of the state’s top small-school conferences and the league continues to get stronger and deeper. Case in point? The recent run of success that figures to continue at Chilton.          
 
Notes
Cedar Grove senior R.J. Lemmermann (6-7) used his length and size to create problems on the defensive end of the court for the Rockets’ opponents … Denmark junior Jacob Novak (6-3) did an excellent job of providing some offensive scoring punch in the lane for the Vikings. He averaged 8.3 ppg during four contests for Denmark … Juniors Kendall Dorn (5-10) and Lance Schoch (5-11) put in some good minutes for McDonell Central with Dorn scoring primarily from the outside and Schoch getting his points off aggressive moves to the basket … The Kaukauna Orange squad that went 3-1 and beat McDonell Central in a playoff game consisted mainly of sophomores who figure to make up a talented JV squad for the Ghosts and JV coach Dan Van Boxtel.