Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook

Observations from the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Summer Tournament held in Plymouth July 15-16-17:

Pools E-F

Final Standings

Pool E – Oshkosh West 3-1, Roncalli 3-1, Franklin 2-2, Marathon 2-2, West Bend East 0-4.

Pool F – University School 4-0, St. Mary's Springs 3-1, Winneconne 2-2, Marshall 1-3, Brillion 0-4.

Pool E vs. Pool F Championship Game: Oskhosh West 68, University School 48

Most Valuable Player

Derek Kroll, 6-4, Jr., F, Oshkosh West
An aggressive low-post player who can play with his back to the basket or step outside and make shots from the perimeter, Kroll scored in double figures in all five games for the Wildcats, including 10 in the title-game win over University School. A two-year varsity performer at Oshkosh West, Kroll is coming off a sophomore season in which he averaged 8.8 ppg. With junior guard Ben Kohl (5-11) missing the Plymouth Tournament due to a prior commitment, Kroll more than made up for his absence with his consistent play on both ends of the court.

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

Grant Abraham, 6-3, Sr., G/F, Oshkosh West
One of four returning starters for Oshkosh West, Abraham averaged 6.8 ppg and 3.1 rpg as a junior and showed in Plymouth he is more than capable of dramatically improving those numbers in 2016-17. A versatile player who can score off the dribble and from outside the three-point arc, Abraham was at his best in the second half of the Wildcats' triumph over University School, scoring all 16 of his points to thwart any potential comeback.

Donovan Free, 6-3, Jr., G/F, Marathon
Free played at a consistent level for the Red Raiders, scoring in double figures in each game and drilling nine three-point baskets. He had three triples in the second half of a close loss to Roncalli and poured in 16 points in a loss to Franklin. Free averaged 4.9 ppg as a sophomore for coach Adam Jacobson.

Dylan Gmeiner, 6-5, Jr., F, Winneconne
Gmeiner showed plenty of promise for the Wolves, who defeated Brillion and Marshall while dropping games to St. Mary's Springs and Winneconne. He scored 13 points in a 51-45 triumph over Marshall and averaged nearly 8.0 ppg for a balanced Winneconne squad.

Trevor Jandrey, 6-1, Sr., G, Brillion
Jandrey is one of three key returning seniors for coach Chad Shimek along with forward Tyler Suess (6-4) and guard Zach Elmergreen (5-11). Jandrey scored in double figures in three of four games in Plymouth for the Lions and did a solid job of keeping his team organized on the offensive end of the floor.

Shannon Jones, 6-0, Sr., G, University School
Jones went off in a pool-play victory over St. Mary's Springs, drilling five three-point shots en route to scoring a game-high 19 points. As a junior starter for a University School team that finished 13-11, Jones averaged 8.0 ppg and 2.7 rpg. He has very good physical strength and the ability to create space from his defenders with his muscle and quickness.

Mitchel Schneider, 6-0, Jr., G, Roncalli
Schneider has added weight and strength over the past 12 months while also continuing to make very good strides in his game. As a sophomore, he averaged 7.1 ppg and 4.2 rpg for a Roncalli squad that went 12-12. At Plymouth, Schneider made 11 three-point shots in four games and had 21 points in a 44-39 victory over Marathon. 

Walter Taylor, 6-3, Sr., F, University School
An extremely active and mobile forward prospect who attacks the hoop from the top of the key and rebounds at a very high level, Taylor led University School in both scoring (20.9 ppg) and rebounding (10.8 rpg) as a junior. He reached double figures three times in Plymouth, scoring mostly off of offensive rebounds or short drives to the basket. A returning first-team all-league pick in the Midwest Classic Conference, Taylor is one of five returning starters for coach Sylvester Cutler at USM. 

Jacob Vonderwell, 5-10, Soph., PG, Franklin
Vonderwell figures to receive plenty of playing time for the Sabers over the next three seasons. He played well in Plymouth, handling the ball against pressure and scoring well from the perimeter and off of drives to the basket. He finished with 17 points in a 42-37 loss to Oshkosh West.

Mitch Waechter, 6-2, Soph., G, St. Mary's Springs
A very good athlete with a nose for the basketball, Waechter found seems in opposing defenses and finished off drives with baskets. He has a solid perimeter jump shot and a good frame and length for such a young player. Look for Waechter to be a fixture in the Ledgers' lineup the next three seasons.

Adam Wehking, 6-5, Sr., F, Marshall
A solid collegiate prospect because of his size, strength and skill, Wehking is a rebounding machine who can score around the basket and from the perimeter. He scored in double figures in each of Marshall's four games in Plymouth, including 17 in a 44-26 victory over Brillion. Wehking averaged 13.2 ppg as a junior and is the top returning player for coach Jason McConnell.

Team Champion
 
Oshkosh West
The Wildcats went 5-13 in the Fox Valley Association and 9-15 overall last winter and return four starters in Kroll, Abraham, junior guard Ben Kohl (6-0) and sophomore forward Tony Lancaste (6-3). Promising sophomore point guard A.J. Ambroso (5-11) also returns for coach Michael Johnson. Though West played without Kohl in Plymouth, the other four players previously mentioned all performed well. Junior forward Noah Steinhilber (6-2) and promising sophomore forward Luke Haasl (6-6) also played strong minutes for the Wildcats. West features plenty of offensive firepower and the ability to hurt opponents from outside the three-point arc. Many of the players in the program also can play multiple positions. Finding the mental toughness to embrace the challenge of a brutal 18-game schedule within the FVA might be the key to the Wildcats' success in 2016-17.

Notes
University School, which competed in Plymouth without returning senior starters Tim Schwieters (6-0) and Will Koch (6-3), figures to contend for the title in the Midwest Classic Conference along with Messmer and Brookfield Academy. Taylor and Jones played well throughout the weekend as did sophomore Keegan Kubicki (5-10) and junior Sencere Powell (6-4) ... Roncalli went 3-1 and played excellent team basketball in every game except its loss to Oshkosh West. The Jets got solid production from Schneider, sophomore wing Ian Behringer (6-2) and junior guard Josh Koss (5-9). Roncalli played without two of its returning starters as senior Cory Bahrs (5-10) and sophomore point guard Chombi Lambert (5-8) had prior commitments ... St. Mary's Springs junior Clay Schueffner (6-2) scored 14 points in a victory over Marshall and 10 in a triumph over Winneconne before missing two games on Sunday due to an AAU conflict. Schueffner, Waechter and sophomore Cade Christensen (6-2) give coach Kyle Krueger plenty of size and strength while seniors Blake Bauer (5-10) and Blake Ottery (6-0) play in the Ledgers' backcourt. Look for senior forward Joshua Moul (6-3) to have a solid senior campaign for St. Mary's Springs ... Marshall returns an all-league player in Wehking, but the Cardinals are largely inexperienced beyond their 6-foot-5 forward. Junior Reece Leistikow (5-10) has shown lots of promise this summer and scored well in Plymouth, reaching double figures in three of four games. Junior Adam Wildman (6-0) has also performed well for Marshall, doing all the little things to help his team remain competitive ... Franklin defeated West Bend East and Marathon while dropping contests to Roncalli and Oshkosh West. In addition to VanderWall, the Sabers received some solid play from senior wing Marcus Lee (6-2) as he scored 11 points and drilled a big three late in the 37-33 win over Marathon ... Marathon lost several key players to graduation, but the Red Raiders boast plenty of length with Free, Nathan Stoffel (6-5) and Bryce Seubert (6-4) playing key roles in the their 1-3-1 zone ... Like Marathon, Brillion lost a great deal to graduation. The Lions will count heavily on increased production from Jandrey, Suess and Elmergreen ... In addition to Gmeiner, Winneconne got some solid play from senior Jason Bach (6-1) and sophomore guard Austin Hecker (5-10) ... Junior Marcus Lanswer (5-11) played very well for West Bend East in a 43-42 loss to Franklin as he scored 14 points, including 11 in the second half when he hit two triples to keep the Suns within striking distance. Senior Logan Cunningham (6-0) and junior Ethan Wedemeyer (6-2) also performed well for first-year coach Kyle Fueger.

Pools G-H

Final Standings

Pool G – Hilbert 4-0, Random Lake 4-0, Lourdes Academy 2-2, Wild Rose 2-2, Johnson Creek 0-4, North Fond du Lac 0-4.

Pool H – St. Mary Catholic 4-0, Plymouth -- Orange 3-1, Milwaukee Academy of Science 2-2, Dodgeland 1-3, Reedsville 0-4.

Pool G vs. Pool H Championship Game: Random Lake 52, Hilbert 45

(Editor's Note: St. Mary Catholic had a football contact day in the late afternoon on Sunday and thus its spot in the title game was awarded to Random Lake).

Most Valuable Player

Dan Ruchalski, 6-0, Sr., G/F, Random Lake
A hard-working backcourt player who loves to attack the basket and make shots from outside the three-point line, Ruchalski scored 22 points in the Rams' 52-45 victory over Hilbert in the title game and averaged 17.2 ppg over five games for rookie head coach Chuck Nelson. Ruchalski averaged 10.3 ppg as a junior and used his athleticism and physical strength to score at a very high level in the WBY Tournament. 

All-Tournament Team (In alphabetical order)

Evan Erickson, 6-1, Sr., G, Wild Rose
Solid perimeter player who performed well for Wild Rose, scoring 24 points in a triumph over North Fond du Lac and 13 in a four-point loss to Random Lake. Erickson averaged 11.8 ppg as a junior for coach Jim Komp and is one of the better backcourt players returning in the Central Wisconsin 10 Conference.

Mitchell Fischer, 6-6, Sr., F, St. Mary Catholic
Fischer has made dramatic improvement over the last 12 months. He is a capable three-point shooter, can finish at the rim off of short drives to the basket and is a solid rebounder on both ends of the court. He went for 19 points in a victory over Reedsville, making two triples, going six-of-eight from the foul line and scoring three baskets in the post.

Tristan Konen, 6-1, Sr., G/F, Hilbert
Konen was on fire from deep in the Wolves' 60-47 victory over Lourdes Academy. He finished the contest with 26 points and also had 20 with four three-point baskets in a victory over North Fond du Lac. Konen averaged 11.0 ppg as a junior and his ability to make three-point shots is a huge asset for the Wolves.

Kody Krueger, 5-10, Sr., G, Hilbert
The engine that makes Hilbert go, Krueger is a solid point guard who does a big of everything for the Wolves. He can score -- he finished with 64 points in five games for an average of 12.8 ppg -- but he can also defend and rebound. His physical strength and toughness are vital assets for a HIlbert program expected to contend for the Big East Conference championship.

Jordan Lacey, 6-0, Sr., G, St. Mary Catholic
Lacey is a glue-type of player who defends, moves the ball and rebounds. He is also a capable scorer. With the game on the line and his team trailing by a single point against Milwaukee Academy of Science, Lacey drove to the basket and converted a contested layup to help the Zephyrs win the game and finish the WBY Tournament with a 4-0 record.

Austin Martin, 6-1, Sr., G, Random Lake
Martin has very good range on his perimeter jump shot and displayed in solid shooting touch with 23 points in a victory over North Fond du Lac. He also had a big second half in the impressive triumph over Hilbert, scoring all nine of his points and score from the line, off the dribble and from distance. Martin averaged 10.5 ppg as a junior and teams with senior Bryan Weiss (5-10) to give Random Lake a solid backcourt duo.

Sawyer McCue, 6-2, Sr., F, Lourdes Academy
McCue sat out the entire 2015-16 season as a transfer from Oshkosh West, but he will make his presence felt in the Knights' lineup in 2016-17. A physical player who can rebound and score around the basket, McCue scored in double figures three times in Plymouth, including 14 in victories over North Fond du Lac and Johnson Creek.

Henry Noone, 6-1, Soph., WG, Lourdes Academy
A terrific outside shooter who does an excellent job of moving without the basketball, Noone sank one three point shot after another to help Lourdes pull within 52-51 of Random Lake before falling in the contest, 60-53. He finished the game with 25 points and added 12 in a victory over North Fond du Lac. Noone averaged 9.0 ppg for the varsity squad at Lourdes Academy as a freshman.

Tobin Otte, 6-5, Sr., F, Dodgeland
The son of former Dodgeland coach Bill Otte, Tobin Otten brings excellent size and length to the Trojans' lineup. After averaging 8.4 ppg as a junior, Otte scored on a consistent level in Plymouth. He was able to make some three-point shots, get to the line and score in the lane, finishing with 11 points in a close loss to Milwaukee Academy of Science.

Deron Jackson-Pugh, 6-4, Sr., F, Milwaukee Academy of Science
An active forward who averaged 8.3 ppg as a junior for coach Agape Keys at Milwaukee Academy of Science, Jackson-Pugh rebounded at a high level in Plymouth. He also scored well for the Novas, netting 21 points in a 52-45 loss to Plymouth -- Orange. He drilled two three-point baskets late in the second half of that game to keep his team close.

Team Champion
 
Random Lake
With five of its top six scorers expected to return from a club that finished 12-12 a year ago, Random Lake figures to rank among the top tier of teams in the very deep Big East Conference. Though Howards Grove, Oostburg, Hilbert and Cedar Grove might get more preseason attention from prognosticators, the Rams possess enough firepower to be highly competitive with the top teams in the 14-team league. Ruchalski and Martin both averaged just over 10 ppg as a juniors while ever-improving junior forward Scott Paulus (6-4) netted 9.2 ppg and was a dominating force at times in the Rams' 60-53 triumph over a very good Lourdes Academy squad. Senior guard Bryan Weiss (5-10) also played well in Plymouth for first-year coach Chuck Nelson, who previously coached in the middle school program at Random Lake.

Notes
Hilbert boasts one of the top teams at the WIAA Division 5 level and played well in Plymouth despite the fact the Wolves were without senior forward Jack Halbach (6-3), who led the team in scoring at 15 ppg as a junior. Krueger and Konen were outstanding and coach Nathan Wesener also received solid play from senior Connor Kuhn (6-2) and junior Kyle Krueger (6-0). Look for Hilbert to push Oostburg, Howards Grove and Cedar Grove for the title in the Big East Conference in 2016-17 ... St. Mary Catholic went 4-0 despite playing without two returning starters as senior Peyton Jack (6-1) and junior Christian Jack (6-2) had prior baseball commitments. Nonetheless, the Zephyrs received solid play from Fischer and Lacey along with seniors Sam Solowicz (5-9) and Jacob Nackers (6-1) en route to their perfect record ... Lourdes Academy lost to Hilbert and Random Lake in competitive outings while turning back Johnson Creek and North Fond du Lac. The Knights played without senior Sam Gelhar (6-2), who is out with an injury, but received some solid play from Noone, McCue, senior Evan Ganther (6-0), juniors Connor Barfknecht (6-4) and Doug Ryan (5-8), and sophomore Ben Huizenga (6-0) ... Erickson was very solid for Wild Rose, and the Wildcats also received solid contributions from aggressive junior wing Tommy Friday (6-0), senior guard Jacob Lund (5-8) and promising junior forward Alec VandeCastle (6-2) ... Pressing defense and quickness figure to be strengths for Milwaukee Academy of Science, which went 2-2 in Plymouth and received excellent outings from Jackson-Pugh and senior guard MacArthur Hymes (5-8) ... Dodgeland remains without a coach, but the Trojans hope to finish among the upper half of teams in the Southern Division of the Trailways Conference in 2016-17 behind the return of Otte, promising sophomore forward Zach Yuenger (6-3) and senior guard Andrew Moutin (6-0) ... Like Dodgeland, Reedsville remains without a head coach. The Panthers went 0-4 in Plymouth, but were competitive in most games, losing to Dodgeland by a single point. Sophomore Braiden Dvorachek (6-1) performed well for the Panthers, scoring from outside the three-point arc and off the dribble ... Johnson Creek coach Chad Hayes and assistant Ryan Lind continue to build the Bluejays' program from the bottom up. Though Johnson Creek went 0-4, progress is being made with a lineup that includes many underclassmen. Sophomore point guard Cole Ducklow (5-10) and junior forward Ben Polman (6-2) played well for the Bluejays in Plymouth ... Plymouth -- Orange played well with players from last year's JV squad and some returning varsity players. Junior Alex Kelly was steady for coach Tim Schultz ... North Fond du Lac got solid performances out of junior forward Dawson Wodsedalek (6-4) on Saturday before he missed both games on Sunday due to a prior commitment. Senior Anthony Duel (6-2) also played well for first-year coach Chris Abaray.