Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook

Observations from the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Summer Tournament held in Plymouth July 19-21:

Final Pool Standings

Pool E – Chilton 3-1, Sheboygan Falls 3-1, Howards Grove 2-2, Marshall 2-2, Winneconne 2-2, Kiel 1-3, Marathon 1-3.

Pool F – St. Mary’s Springs 4-0, Reedsville 4-0, Ozaukee 2-2, Random Lake 2-2, Kohler 1-3, Wild Rose 1-3, Mishicot 0-4.

Pool E vs. Pool F Title Game I: Reedsville 48, Sheboygan Falls 36

Pool E vs. Pool F Title Game II: Chilton 31, St. Mary’s Springs 25

Most Valuable Player 

Brock Gilsdorf, 6-1, Sr., PG, Reedsville
A three-year varsity performer and second-team all-Olympian Conference performer, Gilsdorf was steady and productive for Reedsville, which went 5-0 in Plymouth. He scored, defended and distributed for the Panthers, who are coming off an 11-16 season that ended with a 47-46 loss to Amherst in a WIAA Division 4 sectional final. Gilsdorf averaged 14.8 ppg as a junior and scored a career-high 27 in a victory over Manitowoc Lutheran. He had 22 points in the Pool E vs. Pool F title game victory over Sheboygan Falls and went 12 of 14 from the foul line.   

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

Ethan Brinkman, 6-2, Jr., G, Howards Grove
Brinkman competes with a scorer’s mentality as he’s able to put points on the board in a variety of ways. He has a nice perimeter jump shot, but is even more effective taking the ball to the basket and finishing over taller defenders. Brinkman averaged 17.4 ppg as a sophomore for the Tigers and figures to rank among the elite scorers once again in the Central Lakeshore Conference.

Austin Edge, 6-0, Sr., PG, Howards Grove
A left-handed point guard with good physical strength, Edge makes a positive impact on the game on both ends of the court. His ability to guard at a high level figures to be a huge asset for first-year coach Eric Worth as Howards Grove attempts to stick with Oostburg and Sheboygan Lutheran in the league standings.

Josh Erickson, 6-1, Sr., PG, Wild Rose
Erickson was a bit up-and-down in Plymouth as he had 17 points in games against Kohler and Mishicot, but was far less productive in losses to St. Mary’s Springs and Ozaukee. Still, he has excellent size and skill and competes with a very good overall feel for the game from his point-guard position.

Zach Horn, 5-8, Sr., PG, Winneconne
Though small in stature, Horn dazzled opponents and the crowd with his ability to handle the ball in traffic and score from deep and with a floater in the lane. He scored at a high level for the Wolves in Plymouth and averaged 13.0 ppg as a junior for coach Nate Ryf.   

Cory Nies,, 5-10, Jr., G, St. Mary’s Springs
Nies is very aggressive off the dribble and continually earned trips to the foul line thanks to his physical nature. He is strong with the ball, can make some perimeter shots and defends with a purpose. Nies averaged 5.6 ppg for a St. Mary’s Springs squad that went 20-5 a year ago with a senior-dominated lineup. Nies figures to be a team leader for the Ledgers and coach Kyle Krueger over the next two seasons.

Aaron Rathke, 6-2, Jr., WG, Random Lake
Perhaps the most pleasant surprise among all the players competing in Plymouth, Rathke is an underrated collegiate prospect who figures to come into his own over the next two seasons while playing for coach Joe Stroede at Random Lake. He has an excellent basketball frame, very good ball-handling and shooting skills and solid physical strength. He lets the game come to him and is extremely consistent with his approach on both ends of the court. Rathke averaged 10.9 ppg and 4.7 rpg as a sophomore, numbers that figure to increase in 2013-14. 

Michael Richter, 6-3, Soph., F, Ozaukee
Richter and his older brother, senior Andy Richter, played well for coach Isaiah Ketterhagen and the Warriors. Both scored from distance and in the lane, using their long 6-foot-3 frames to soar over defenders. Michael Richter was especially impressive in a 46-44 loss to St. Mary’s Springs. He scored on four straight possessions for Ozaukee en route to a game-high 19 points. 

Cody Schamburek, 6-2, Sr., WF, Reedsville
Schamburek averaged 8.6 ppg as a junior and showed off his ability to from the perimeter, off drives to the basket and from the free-throw line while helping Reedsville to an unbeaten record. He length and activity figure to be huge assets for coach Steve Brooks and the upstart Panthers in 2013-14.

Ethan Seubert, 5-8, Jr., PG, Marathon
A quick, skilled and tough-minded point guard, Seubert makes things happen for Marathon. He is able to consistently beat defenders off the dribble with his quick first step and he also possesses good hang time in the lane, avoiding blocked shots and either scoring or getting to the foul line.

Austin Sinden, 6-3, Sr., F, Marshall
Sinden averaged 9.8 ppg for coach Jason McConnell as a junior and with Cam Ward playing on the AAU circuit, Sinden became the ‘go-to’ scorer for the Cardinals in Plymouth. He responded well, scoring at a high level with strong moves to the basket and the ability to finish through contact.

Matt Vanden Boogart, 6-3, Sr., WF, Winneconne
A confident long-distance sniper who isn’t afraid to pull the trigger, Vanden Boogart pumped in 18 points in a 43-40 victory over Sheboygan Falls. He had a couple of three-point baskets in that contest and added four more triples in a victory over Chilton.

Jerad Wagner, 5-11, Sr., PG, Chilton
A smooth, skilled and extremely effective point guard, Wagner was outstanding all weekend long for Chilton, which went 4-1 and beat St. Mary’s Springs in one of two Pool E vs. Pool F title contests. Wagner was elusive off the dribble, knocked down shots in the lane and made some attempts from three-point range as well. He was also a steady defender for coach Corey Behnke and the Tigers.

Matt Wilke, 6-1, Sr., WG, Sheboygan Falls
One of the top long-distance shooters in the state in the class of 2014, Wilke is a good athlete with excellent basketball skills. He has a picture-perfect jump shot, but can also get to the basket and finish above the rim with a dunk. Defensively, Wilke used his physical strength and solid footwork to stay in front of his opponents. His ability to knock down shots and defend has gained the attention of NCAA Division II and III coaches throughout the Midwest.

Jacob Winkel, 6-4, Sr., F, Kiel
Winkel loves to be physical in the lane and posted about as hard as any other player who took part in the Plymouth Tournament. He was able to hold off defenders with his footwork and lower-body strength and did a good job of finishing around the basket for coach Jamie Arenz. Winkel is a returning second-team all-league performer who averaged 13 ppg and 8 rpg as a junior.      

Team Champions

Reedsville
The Panthers were the surprise team in the WIAA playoffs last season, advancing all the way to the Division 4 sectional finals before dropping a 47-46 decision to Amherst. Along the way, Reedsville notched impressive victories over Manawa, Lourdes Academy, Algoma and Shiocton. The confidence Reedsville players gained from last year’s post-season success appears to be carrying over as the Panthers have competed exceptionally well all summer. Gilsdorf and Schamburek are all-league caliber players while rugged 6-foot-4 senior forward Bryce Wenzel gives Reedsville a legitimate scoring threat in the lane. Though Roncalli, Wrightstown, Brillion and Valders appear to again have formidable squads in the Olympian Conference, look for Reedsville to dramatically improve upon its 5-13 league mark of a year ago.

Chilton
The Tigers finished 17-7 last season, but four starters from that club have graduated, including top scorer and rebounder Andrew Huss. Wagner is the lone returning regular for Chilton, though seniors Jered Bruckner (6-1) and Lucas Forstner (5-10) received plenty of playing time off the bench. Bruckner had some solid scoring performances for Chilton as he was able to use his quickness and aggressiveness to beat defenders to the ball and basket. Senior Brett Meyer (6-4) and junior Evan Greuel (5-11) gave Chilton some steady performances in Plymouth and figures to be a key performers along with Wagner, Bruckner and Forstner for the Tigers next winter.  

Notes
Sheboygan Falls senior Nate Heili (6-4) is extremely active and aggressive, both off the dribble and going for rebounds. He is a returning starter for coach Jake Frohling and figures to again play a key role for the Falcons along with Wilke and seniors Michael Raeder (6-1) and Brady Mauer (6-1) … Kiel played without sophomore point guard Carter Voelker (5-9), who is out with a foot injury … Junior twins Brennen Ottery (6-2) and Collin Ottery (5-11) did some good things for St. Mary’s Springs. Both were able to score from the perimeter and going to the basket while helping the Ledgers to a 4-1 record … Ozaukee picked up a transfer from Philadelphia in DeWayne McFadden, a lanky 6-4 forward who figures to add some depth to the Warriors’ frontline … Wild Rose junior Aaron VandeCastle (6-1) and sophomore Tanner Hudziak (5-10) figure to blossom under coach Jim Komp in 2013-14. Both showed the ability to score from downtown and in the lane for the Wildcats … Sophomore Evan DeBroux (6-4) showed plenty of promise for Random Lake … Marshall senior Ryan Link (6-1) had it going in a 54-53 win over Howards Grove as he made three late triples to help his team stay within striking distance en route to scoring 17 points … Cody Gartman (6-6) put in some good work for Kohler, using his length and size to disrupt things in the lane for coach Ken Roeder … Mishicot continues to play without talented senior Colten Haack (6-4), who remains sidelined with a knee injury. Senior Jake Murphy (5-11) was Mishicot’s top performer in Plymouth.