Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook

Observations from the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Summer Tournament held in Kaukauna June 17-18-19:

Pool D

Final Standings

Valders 4-0, Bloomer 3-1, Amherst 2-2, Denmark 2-2, Kaukauna Orange 2-2, Freedom 1-3, Sturgeon Bay 1-3, Winneconne 1-3.

Title Game: Valders 60, Denmark 46.

Most Valuable Player

Kyle Tuma, 6-4, Jr., G/F, Valders
A two-year varsity performer entering his junior season at Valders, Tuma was outstanding in four consecutive victories for the Vikings. He had seven three-point baskets and 27 points in a win over Winneconne and reached double scoring figures in each contest for Valders. A versatile player who can play on the perimeter or inside, Tuma appears poised for a huge junior season for coach Trevor Schwoerer. 

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

Payton Dachel, 6-3, Jr., F, Bloomer
Exceptionally strong and physical forward who possesses tremendous footwork and the ability to finish through contact, Dachel had games of 18, 17, 15 and 13 points in Kaukauna, helping Bloomer to a 3-1 record. While Dachel is a handful on the blocks, he also showed the ability to make some shots outside the three-point arc. His consistency from the foul line needs to improve, but Dachel is one of the toughest match-ups around because of his strength, finishing ability and versatility.

Blake Derricks, 6-1, Sr., G, Denmark
A scoring combination guard with the penchant for making big shots, Derricks led Denmark to a thrilling 48-46 victory over Bloomer in the Pool D quarterfinals by scoring 23 points and making the game-winning shot. Derricks averaged 19.4 ppg as a junior and earned second-team all-league honors in the North Eastern Conference.

Connor Gajda, 6-5, Sr., F, Sturgeon Bay
Athletic, active forward who scored at a consistent level for the Clippers in Kaukauna. Reached double figures in all four games for Sturgeon Bay and displayed strong rebounding ability on both offense and defense. Averaged 8.2 ppg and 6.4 rpg as a junior and teams with junior Jared Van Bramer (6-5) to give coach Jim Benesh a strong frontcourt duo.

Luke Goedeke, 6-4, Sr., PF, Valders
An exceptionally strong frontcourt player who finished through contact, rebounded at a high level and helped his team to four convincing victories, Goedeke was one of the most talked about players in the entire WBY Tournament. He averaged 7.6 ppg as a junior and came on strong late in the season, scoring a career-high 22 points in a 77-76 victory over rival Roncalli in a WIAA Division 3 regional game.

Colton Groholski, 6-1, Jr., G, Amherst
As the lone underclassman starter for a senior-dominated squad that won 25 of 27 contests and advanced to the WIAA Division 4 State Tournament, Groholski figures to be the Falcons' 'go-to' offensive player the next two seasons. The son of Amherst coach Scott Groholski, Colton Groholski was stellar in scoring 34 points in a victory over Sturgeon Bay, scoring from the line, off of drives, in transition and from outside the three-point arc.

Charlie Jadin, 6-2, Sr., G, Freedom
The Irish lost some key players to graduation from a club that won 15 games, but coach John Van Rossum welcomes back one of the better guards in the North Eastern Conference in Jadin, who averaged 11.3 ppg as a junior. Jadin scored at all three levels in Kaukauna, reaching double figures in most of the games while making three-point shots, scoring off the bounce and converting free throws.

Mason Madsen, 6-1, Frosh., G, Bloomer
Poised, skilled and physically advanced, Madsen and his twin brother, Gabe, both performed very well at the WBY Tournament. Mason Madsen had 16 points in a victory over Kaukauna -- Orange and 17 in a triumph over Sturgeon Bay. He has very deep shooting range and the skill, confidence and size to score off the dribble.

Zane Short, 6-4, Soph., F, Denmark
A promising young forward who competes with an edge and is physical in the lane, Short reached double figures in a pair of games for the Vikings in Kaukauna. He averaged 9.7 ppg as a freshman starter for coach Cody Stelmach and displayed plenty of versatility to his game.

Carson Talbert, 6-3, Soph., F, Sturgeon Bay
Talbert is a very promising and versatile forward prospect who can score in the lane and from the perimeter. He scored 25 points and drilled five three-point baskets in a loss to Bloomer, and played on the varsity team as a freshman, scoring a career-best 15 points in a loss to Xavier.

Team Champion
 
Valders
After opening the WBY Tournament with a 45-42 victory over Amherst, the Vikings rolled to three straight wins -- 86-41 over Winneconne in the Pool D quarterfinals, 48-26 over Sturgeon Bay in the semifinals and 60-46 over Denmark in the title game. Tuma and Goedeke received plenty of strong support from their teammates as junior guard Treynor Sundsmo (5-11) made three-point shots and got to the foul line while averaging just over 10 ppg. Junior Jake Beimborn (6-7) also performer well for Valders, which is coming off a 21-4 season and a title in the Eastern Wisconsin Conference.

Notes
The North Eastern Conference has a pre-season favorite in Luxemburg-Casco, but any number of teams could challenge the Spartans for the league title, including Denmark. The Vikings went 2-2 at the WBY Tournament and feature a very good senior guard in Derricks and an exciting young forward in Short. Sophomore guard Brady Jens (5-10) also performed well for Denmark ... For those expecting a big drop off in the quality of the Amherst basketball team due to the loss of four starters and six key players, think again. The Falcons boast some outstanding talent with Colton Groholski and junior forward Mason Wideman (6-3) leading the way. Wideman figures to pick up the physical play lost with the graduation of Tyler Biadasz, Cam Gaulke and Garrett Groshek ... Sturgeon Bay figures to be one of the favorites to win the Packerland Conference title as coach Jim Benesh returns three strong forwards in Gajda, Talbert and Van Bramer. While Gajda and Talbert turned in strong showings in Kaukauna, Van Bramer did not attend, though he did play well earlier in the week at the WBY Camp at Viterbo University in La Crosse. Sophomore guard Mitchell Jackson (6-1) is another prominent player for the Clippers ... Bloomer is going to be a handful in the Heart O'North Conference as coach Luke Madsen welcomes his twin freshmen sons, Gabe and Mason, to a lineup that includes Dachel along with seniors Mitch Post (6-4) and Noah Lane (6-2) ... The Kaukauna -- Orange squad featured some of the younger players in the Ghosts' program, including a pair of juniors who hope to make an impact with the varsity team this winter in forward Rodney Ebben (6-5) and point guard Ross Vande Wettering (5-9) ... Freedom figures to again be a tough out in the North Eastern Conference. In addition to Jadin, seniors Collin Laundrie (5-10) and Dwight Green (5-10) return. A talented group of underclassmen also could challenge for playing time with the Irish.

 

Pool E

Final Standings

Shiocton 4-0, Sheboygan Lutheran 3-1, Markesan 2-2, Green Bay NEW Lutheran 2-2, Kaukauna Black 2-2, St. Mary's Springs 2-2, Reedsville 1-3, Mishicot 0-4.

Title Game: Shiocton 83, Sheboygan Lutheran 80, OT.

Most Valuable Player

Nathan Schmidt, 6-2, Sr., G, Shiocton
A three-year starter and one of the top backcourt players in the state in the 2017 class, Schmidt was outstanding in the Chiefs' thrilling 83-80 overtime victory over Sheboygan Lutheran in the Pool E title game. He finished the game with 25 points and made one big shot after another as Shiocton rallied to post its victory. Schmidt, a good perimeter shooter who also can get to the basket, also had 19 points in a quarterfinal triumph over St. Mary's Springs.  

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

Drew Bernhagen, 5-11, Jr., PG, Markesan
An aggressive, productive and intelligent point guard who puts tons of pressure on opponents with his ability to attack the basket and make perimeter shots, Bernhagen is the returning Player of the Year in the Northern Division of the Trailways Conference. He is one of the top point guards in the state in terms of earning trips to the foul line because of his quickness and persistent ability to get to the basket.

Wesley Brouillard, 6-4, Jr., F, Shiocton
Brouillard scored in double figures in every game for the Chiefs, including 20 in the title-game win over Sheboygan Lutheran. His size, length and activity in the lane is a big plus for Shiocton and he produced at a high level in Kaukauna.

Carson Clark, 6-2, Jr., WG, Markesan
Already a two-year varsity performer, Clark is an experienced wing guard who put on a shot in the Hornets' victory over Kaukauna -- Black in the third place contest. He finished with 29 points and five three-point baskets in the victory and also earned several trips to the foul line. A good all-around athlete with a diverse offensive game, Clark is a returning first-team all-league player in the Trailways North Conference after averaging 16.4 ppg as a sophomore and helping Markesan to a 24-1 record.

Braiden Dvorachek, 6-1, Soph., G, Reedsville
Dvorachek saw some varsity playing time as a freshman at Reedsville and could emerge as a three-year starter after his strong play in Kaukauna. He made three-point shots and scored at a high level for the Panthers, reaching double figures in three of four games.

Dawson Farmer, 6-4, Jr., F, Reedsville
Farmer was a rock for Reedsville as his consistency helped the Panthers to a victory over Mishicot and a narrow loss to NEW Lutheran. He finished in double figures in each game the Panthers played in Kaukauna, netting 19 in the triumph over Mishicot. After averaging 3.2 ppg as a sophomore, Farmer appears ready to take on a much bigger scoring load for Reedsville next winter. 

Jared Jurss, 6-2, Jr., PG, Sheboygan Lutheran
A left-handed point guard who can push the ball in the open court while weaving his way through defenders and finding open teammates, Jurss is a more than capable scorer as he averaged 16.0 ppg as a sophomore. But his biggest contribution to his team is his ability to handle the ball against pressure and deliver spot-on passes.

Samuel Meerstein, 6-2, Soph., WG, NEW Lutheran
The son of Green Bay NEW Lutheran coach Mark Meerstein, Samuel Meerstein started as a freshman and averaged 13.7 ppg and 6.0 rpg. He is a cerebral player who does an excellent job of letting the game come to him. He possesses good size for a wing player and can score in a variety of ways while competing with a good feel for the game.

Clay Schueffner, 6-2, Jr., WF, St. Mary's Springs
After battling injuries for a majority of his sophomore season, Schueffner appeared to be back at full strength in Kaukauna and helped the Ledgers to a 2-2 record. A physically strong wing player who competes with energy on both ends of the court, Schueffner had 18 points and went six of eight from the foul line in a 56-52 victory over Green Bay NEW Lutheran.

Joshua Splittgerber, 5-10, Sr., WG, Sheboygan Lutheran
Begins his final season of high school basketball as a two-year varsity letter winner for coach Nick Verhagen at Sheboygan Lutheran. Averaged 14.5 ppg as a junior and is one of the top three-point shooters in the Big East Conference. He made eight triples in the Crusaders' 83-80 loss to Shiocton in the Pool D title game and finished the four games in Kaukauna with 19 three-point baskets.

Bernard Zipperer, 6-1, Jr., F, Mishicot
Zipperer earned substantial playing time as a sophomore and responded by averaging 8.0 ppg for the Indians. He reached double figures in two games in Kaukauna and gives his team an inside presence to go along with the perimeter shooting ability of the guards in the Mishicot program.

Team Champion
 
Shiocton
Shiocton finished 17-7 a year ago and returns the Player of the Year in the Central Wisconsin 8 Conference in Nathan Schmidt. Nathan's father, coach Chad Schmidt, also welcomes back honorable mention all-league point guard Brandon Spencer (5-10), who made three-point shots and scored in double figures on a consistent basis at Kaukauna. Nathan Schmidt, Spencer and Brouillard form a solid core for the Chiefs, who are favored to win the league title in 2016-17. 

Notes
Most of the coaches in the 14-team Big East Conference expect Howards Grove, Cedar Grove and Oostburg to slug it out for the league crown in 2016-17, but Sheboygan Lutheran appears to also have a squad capable of making a strong push for the crown. In addition to Jurss and Splittgerber, senior wing Vinny Montazella (6-0) performed well, making 10 three-point shots in four games and scoring in double figures in each contest. Junior Evan Olson (6-5) continues to make strides in his game and should give the Crusaders strength, size and scoring in the post ... The Trailways Conference splits into three divisions for the 2016-17 campaign and Markesan figures again to rank among the favorites in the Northern Division of the league along with Lourdes Academy. The Hornets boast one of the best backcourts around with the return of Bernhagen and Clark. Senior Jordan Jahnke (5-11) did not play in Kaukauna on Friday, but he also returns after averaging 8.6 ppg for a team that went 24-1 ... St. Mary's Springs lost both of its frontcourt players to graduation in Kurt Mueller (6-8) and Austin Feyen (6-5). The Ledgers are smaller than a year ago, but have plenty of speed and athleticism. Schueffner and senior guard Blake Bauer (5-10) played well in Kaukauna as did promising sophomores Cade Christensen (6-2) and Mitchell Waechter (6-2) ... Green Bay NEW Lutheran finished 13-15 a year ago but still managed to qualify for the WIAA Division 5 State Tournament for the sixth time in the past seven seasons. Samuel Meerstein and Matthew Sabel (6-1) played well in Kaukauna and form a strong nucleus along with senior Mitchell Lynch (6-0) ... Mishicot is without a coach as Thadd Cornell recently resigned after helping the Indians to an 8-16 record. Zipperer got solid support in Kaukauna from senior forward Nick Bartz (6-4), sophomore guard Nathan Driscoll (6-0) and senior guard Connor Reinhardt (5-8) ... Like Mishicot, Reedsville currently is without a head coach. The Panthers received strong play from Dvoracheck and Farmer in the WBY Tournament while senior guard Levi Otto (5-9) also had his moments of solid play.

 

Pool F

Final Standings

Green Bay Notre Dame 4-0, Marinette 3-1, Mosinee 3-1, Edgar 2-2, Medford 2-2, Laconia 1-3, Shawano 1-3, Waupaca 0-4.

Title Game: Notre Dame 69, Mosinee 34.

Most Valuable Player

Matthew Rader, 6-6, Jr., F, Notre Dame
Extremely promising young forward prospect who won't turn 16 until November, Rader was rock solid for Notre Dame, scoring from outside the arc, in the post and from the foul line. He did an excellent job of protecting the ball after ripping down rebounds and ran the court at a high level. With another inch or two, Rader could emerge as one of the state's top class of 2018 prospects due to his combination of size, strength and skill.

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

Oliver Barnes, 6-5, Jr., F, Mosinee
Versatile forward who can score from the perimeter, off the dribble and from the foul line, Barnes showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and get around defenders with his size, skill and strength. Averaged 15.8 ppg in four games at Kaukauna after netting 9.0 ppg and 3.0 rpg as a sophomore for a Mosinee squad that went 18-5.

Nick Bolanda, 6-4, Sr., F, Mosinee
A returning starter for coach Andy Bruess, Bolanda is an active interior player who possesses good physical strength and athleticism. He averaged 10.0 ppg and 5.0 rpg as a junior and reached double figures in all four games for Mosinee in Kaukauna, netting 22 in a win over Laconia.

Osy Ekwueme, 6-0, Sr., G, Medford
A versatile backcourt performer who gets to the basket and can finish, Ekwueme got to the foul line quite a bit for the Raiders. He also made some mid-range jump shots. Ekwueme is a versatile player who averaged 15.3 ppg as a junior at Medford.

Tyler Engel, 5-11, Sr., G, Edgar
After averaging 9.4 ppg as a junior for an Edgar squad that won the Northern Division title in the Marawood Conference, Engel turned in some strong performances at the WBY Tournament. He scorched the nets for 24 points and four three-point baskets in a 54-39 victory over Waupaca and teams with classmate Alec Hafferman (5-11) to give the Wildcats a potent backcourt tandem.

Drew Gunnink, 6-1, Sr., WG, Laconia
A left-handed wing guard with good physical strength and solid ball handling, passing and shooting skills, Gunnink is a returning all-league player in the Wisconsin Flyway Conference. He averaged 18.7 ppg as a junior for the Spartans and scored well in Kaukauna as well, going for 19 points and nailing a couple of three-point shots in a victory over Edgar.

Avery Lyons, 6-1, Jr., G, Notre Dame
Rangy combination guard who scored in double figures in three of four games for Notre Dame while averaging 13.0 ppg. Lyons saw action as a sophomore on the varsity team at Notre Dame, averaging 3.7 ppg. His ability to use his speed in the open court, make three-point shots and get to the foul line figures to be a huge asset for the Tritons in 2016-17. Lyons could also develop into a very good perimeter defender because of his quickness and length. 

Jaylen Mahone, 6-0, Jr., PG, Laconia
A skilled point guard who does not turn the ball over and generally makes good decisions with the ball in his hands, Mahone scored in double figures in each of the Spartans' four games at the WBY Tournament. He showed the ability to use his quickness to score off the dribble while also making three-point baskets. Mahone averaged 14.5 ppg as a sophomore starter for coach Tom King at Laconia.

Dakota Maltbey, 6-4, Jr., F, Shawano
Maltbey played behind senior Ezekiel Gueths (17.5 ppg) as a sophomore, but figures to earn a spot in the starting rotation next season. He had 14 points and was a consistent inside scoring threat in the Hawks' 54-44 victory over Edgar and led the team in scoring over the four games Shawano played in Kaukauna.

Jake Poetzl, 6-4, Soph., WG, Marinette
One of the better class of 2019 prospects in northeastern Wisconsin, Poetzl ran a bit hot-and-cold in Kaukauna. He scored 24 points in a victory over Shawano, making several three-point baskets while also using his considerable size and strength to overpower opponents off the dribble. But he scored just four points in a quarterfinal loss to Medford. The returning second-team all-league player in the North Eastern Conference has added some size and weight, and his progress will play a big role in how well the Marines' fare in 2016-17.

Cameron Wenzel, 6-1, Jr., G, Medford
Wenzel is an accurate shooting from beyond the three-point arc as he buried four triples in a victory over Marinette and added three more in a loss to Notre Dame. He averaged 9.9 ppg as a sophomore at Medford and teams with senior Garrett Strebig (5-9) to give the Raiders two stellar shooters on the wing.

Team Champion
 
Notre Dame
In a mere 12 months, coach John Taylor has fostered a sense of confidence within the Notre Dame program. The second-year coach and former St. Norbert College standout has the Tritons playing sound defense while also sharing the ball on offense. Notre Dame finished 12-12 a year ago and figures to improve on that record thanks to the return of Rader, Lyons and a very talented senior class that includes stellar athletes Jonathan Santaga (6-1), Ryan O'Connell (6-0), Nate Ihenfeldt (5-11), Lachlan Johnson (6-1) and Max Liegel (6-2). Juniors Reese Johnson (6-2), Connor Henningan (6-2) and Jackson Strohmeyer (6-3) also figure to make big contributions in 2016-17.

Notes
Mosinee finished 3-1 at the WBY Tournament and figures once again to field a highly competitive squad in the highly competitive Great Northern Conference. Barnes and Bolanda are the players with the most returning experience, but newcomers from a JV team that went 12-8 figure to provide quality depth ... Medford finished 10-12 under coach Ryan Brown last season and figures to be among the top teams in the Great Northern Conference in 2016-17 as Ekwueme and Wenzel are joined by sweet-shooting senior Garrett Strebig (5-9) and senior guard Jake Sullivan (5-9) as returning starters. Lack of size is a concern for the Raiders, but scoring shouldn't be an issue as both Ekwueme and Wenzel reached double figures in most of the games in Kaukauna ... Laconia boasts a premier backcourt with the return of Mahone and Gunnink. Senior guard Keegan Grade (5-10) is also back and drilled several triples for the Spartans in Kaukauna. Finding some size to defend the post and rebound is the big challenge facing Laconia and coach Tom King this summer, but the Spartans figure to again boast one of the top teams in the Wisconsin Flyway Conference ... Marinette won nine games under coach Nick Semenas last season and could be among the better teams in the 10-team North Eastern Conference. Poetzl and promising sophomore forward Jordan Wendt (6-5) are proven performers and the cornerstones for the Marines' program along with sharpshooting sophomore guard Matt Wagner (5-11), senior guard Connor Nelson (5-11) and sophomore forward Jeremy Wendt (6-6) ... Edgar lost four starters to graduation from a club that went 21- under coach David Huss, but the Wildcats boast a pair of stellar returning gaurds in Hafferman and Engel. Junior Josh Burish (6-1) also started at times last season and reached double figures in two games in Kaukauna ... Shawano has a nice blend of perimeter and frontcourt experience with junior point guard Cole Nelson (5-10) and classmate Kaden Richards (5-10) each performing well at times in Kaukauna. Up front, Maltbey and senior Austin Kohl (6-5) had their moments of looking good, giving the Hawks a solid base to build around ... Waupaca finished 7-16 in Ron Weber's 35th and final year as head coach. Former Montello and Green Bay West coach Matt Bredesen takes over a program with a strong tradition and some returning experience as seniors Joe Blackwell (6-0), Logan Bunge (6-4) and Ryan Dayton (5-11) all started a year ago. Sophomore Justin Vaughn (6-4) scored from the perimeter for the Comets while Blackwell scored in double figures in three of four games.