Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook

Observations from the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Summer Tournament held at Viterbo University in La Crosse June 6-7:

Pools A-B

Final Standings

Pool A – La Crosse Central 4-0, Darlington 3-1, Regis 2-2, Eau Claire Memorial 2-2, Adams-Friendship 1-3, Tomah 0-4.

Pool B – Westby 3-1, Onalaska 3-1, La Crosse Logan 3-1, Brookfield Academy 2-2, River Falls 1-3, Menomonie 0-4.

Pool A vs. Pool B Championship Game: La Crosse Central 58, Westby 25.

Most Valuable Player

Kobe King, 6-3, Jr., WG, La Crosse Central
The state's top-ranked junior in the WisSports.net Player Rankings, King was solid, if not spectacular, in helping the Red Raiders to a 5-0 record and the A-B title. He has an explosive first step to the basket and can finish above defenders or draw the defense and drop off accurate passes to his teammates. His perimeter shot has improved from a year ago and his ability to defend and play team basketball are both very impressive. King is the best player on a very good La Crosse Central squad capable of making state-wide noise in 2015-16.

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

Isaac Appleby, 6-2, Sr., G, Eau Claire Memorial
Appleby is, by far, the most experienced player returning for Memorial, which won 13 games a year ago under coach Greg Van Grunsven. A cerebral backcourt player who can handle the ball, shoot and pass, Appleby averaged 11.7 points per game for the Old Abes as a junior and was their top scorer at Viterbo. He buried three three-point shots in the first half in a victory over Tomah and also did a nice job of getting others involved. 

Aiden Austin, 6-2, Sr., WG, La Crosse Central
One of the top returning players for the Red Raiders, Austin showed the ability to finish around the basket off of aggressive drives to the hoop from the wing. He scored well in some games and not so well in others so becoming a bit more consistent would definitely help balance Central's scoring distribution.

Ryan Clarey, 6-1, Sr., PG, Brookfield Academy
Clarey was without three of his best teammates -- who stayed home with injuries -- but he nonetheless helped a young team finish 2-2 in the event with an incredible display of shooting and getting to the basket to either finish or draw fouls. He had 33 points and four triples in a 47-43 loss to Logan, 25 points and three triples in a 37-35 victory over River Falls, 19 points and four triples in a 38-25 victory over Menomonie and 30 points and five triples in a 62-45 loss to Onalaska. Army is showing strong interest along with several NCAA Division II and NAIA Division I schools.

Donnell Finch, 5-8, Jr., PG, Adams-Friendship
Tough, hard-nosed, competitive and unselfish point guard who gets after it from one end-line to the other, Finch was outstanding for a scrappy Adams-Friendship squad that figures to make a strong push for the top in the South Central Conference next season. Finch and classmate Joe Duty (6-0) comprise an outstanding backcourt duo for coach Jered Massen and the Green Devils.

Chase Johnson, 6-5, Sr., F, La Crosse Logan
A versatile wing player with size and skill, Johnson was the top scorer for Logan in victories over Brookfield Academy, River Falls and Menomonie. He hit a couple of huge three-point baskets late to hold off Brookfield Academy and finished in double figures in three of four games for the Rangers. 

Hunter Johnson, 6-1, Jr., G, Darlington
A combination guard with excellent quickness and solid skills, Johnson guided Darlington to a 3-1 record with impressive victories over Regis, Tomah and Eau Claire Memorial. A physically and mentally tough competitor, Johnson can score, but his value to his team on both ends of the court is high whether he scores or not. 

Bailey Kale, 6-1, Jr., PG, La Crosse Central
A skilled lead guard who competes with energy and a high basketball IQ, Kale directed the show for Central and showed the ability to run his team while also finding scoring opportunities for himself. He finished with three triples and 15 points in the Pools A-B title-game victory over Westby and was very effective in transition and in the half-court for the Red Raiders.

Logan Rohrscheib, 6-2, Sr., WG, Regis
Continuing his exceptionally strong showing from the spring club season, Rohrscheib averaged 29.5 ppg while helping Regis to a 2-2 record. He made 13 three-point shots, got his teammates involved and showed strong leadership to a Regis team trying to plug holes due to the graduation losses of Drake recruit Billy Wampler and Marian University recruit Zac Brandrup. NCAA Division II Minnesota-Duluth is showing strong interest in Rohrscheib. Look for other scholarship schools to get involved soon with the sharpshooting wing guard.

Jesse Solberg, 6-2, Jr., WG/WF, Westby
Solberg was steady for a balanced Westby squad that won tiebreakers with La Crosse Logan and Onalaska to advance to the finals against La Crosse Central. Solberg has good size and can score in a variety of ways. He hit a pair of triples and had 10 points in a convincing 47-37 victory over Logan.

Tyler Turriff, 6-2, Jr., F, Onalaska
Turriff may not have great height, but his physical strength and aggressiveness in the post were very effective in victories Sunday over River Falls and Menomonie. After scoring 7.5 ppg as a sophomore for coach Craig Kowal, Turriff appears poised to increase that production in 2015-16.

Team Champion
 
La Crosse Central
With all but one of its key players back from last year's club that went 17-7, La Crosse Central could very well start the season ranked No. 1 among WIAA Division 2 schools in the state. Veteran coach Todd Fergot has the luxury of going into battle in the highly competitive Mississippi Valley Conference with perhaps the top backcourt in Wisconsin in King and Kale. Toss in Aiden on the wing and juniors Isaiah Dahlman (6-2) and Mitchell Lash (6-4) along the baseline and the Red Raiders boast an experienced, versatile and extremely talented lineup. Look for junior Adam Haberman (6-2) to also play a key role as he was a key performer all weekend for the Red Raiders.

Notes
Senior Darian Dieckman (6-0) had a very good weekend for Eau Claire Memorial, scoring 55 points in four games and knocking down nine three-point shots ... Sophomore guard Tanner Kohlhepp (5-11) also scored well for the Old Abes, finishing with 14 points and four triples in a victory over Tomah ... Darlington again figures to rank among the top WIAA Division 4 teams in Wisconsin as coach Mike Hopkins returns an experienced squad from a team that went 19-4. Johnson and junior classmates Will Schwartz (6-0) and Chad Golackson (6-3) all played well at Viterbo and form a solid nucleus for the Redbirds ... Junior guards Brayden McDonald (5-10) and Trevor Johnson (6-0) also had strong weekend showings for Darlington ... Junior point guard Cody Osborn (5-10) and junior wing Brock Martin (6-2) join Rohrscheib as players back with experience for Regis coach Bill Uelmen. Osborn and Martin will need to pick up their scoring a bit if the Ramblers are to successfully defend their Western Cloverbelt Conference title. Juniors Matt McCann (6-4) and Michael Wachwitz (6-2) showed promise for Regis in victories over Adams-Friendship and Tomah ... Duty and Garret Bork (6-1) had strong showings along with Finch for Adams-Friendship, which finished just 1-3 but was extremely competitive in losses to La Crosse Central, Regis and Eau Claire Memorial ... Tomah went 0-4 at Viterbo, but the Timberwolves got some solid performances out of both Joe Georgeson (6-2), who is difficult to defend off the dribble, and Jack Haye (6-1), who scored in the lane and from the outside ... Westby got strong showings out of seniors Travis Hofslien (6-2) and Ross Stalsberg (6-6) in its victory over Logan ... Onalaska figures to push La Crosse Central, La Crosse Logan, Holmen and Aquinas for the title in the Mississippi Valley next winter. In addition to Turriff, coach Craig Kowal returns talented juniors Jalen Zubich (5-10), Tyler Hughes (6-2) and Noah Fredrickson (5-9) along with senior Alex Olson (6-3). The depth, versatility and skill of the players in the Onalaska program right now is impressive ... Brookfield Academy senior Joe Lemon (6-5) and junior Alex Setzer (6-8) missed playing at Viterbo due to injuries. With Clarey, Lemon, Setzer and senior Aaron Goecks (6-0) all healthy, Brookfield Academy figures to once again be the team to beat in the Midwest Classic Conference ... Logan went 5-18 last winter, but the Rangers figure to be vastly improved next winter under coach Andy Fernholz. In addition to Johnson, juniors Trey Davis (6-4) and Cody Hoeth (6-2), along with sophomore point guard C.J. Siegel (5-10), had strong showings for Logan ... Menomonie played a young group that was missing talented returning players such as Nate Stanley (6-5), Joe Sample (6-2) and Adam White (6-5). Junior Jace LaBuda (6-0) played well in their absence for coach Matt Riley ... River Falls boasts an intriguing mixture of size, experience and versatility ... Senior point guard Charlie Byron (5-10) competed at a high level while frontline players Kyle Larson (6-7) and David Palmer (6-7) showed flashes of potential. Senior Jacob Siroin (6-4) also had some good moments for the Wildcats.