Five Key Storylines To Follow in the 2019-20 Season

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first legitimate week of high school hoops set the tone for the season. Powerhouses emerged, prospects stood out and conferences established early pecking orders. So, from the massive slate of games, what are five storylines that will guide us into the coming months?</span></p> <p><b>Jacob Ognacevic and Casey Verhagen (Sheboygan Lutheran) Own Division Five:</b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Statistically, no other duo in divisions one-through-five touch these two. Ognacevic made a mockery of defenses, scoring 45 points and hauling in 18 rebounds in his debut. Meanwhile, Verhagen not only reaffirmed his place as a top passer in the state, but he paired that skill with elite scoring prowess, scoring 26 points in their first game. It's only a week in, but these two teammates are on their way to becoming the two best players in division five. </span></p> <p><b>The Southeast Conference Race Gets Off to an Unexpected Start:</b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The top-tier of the Southeast Conference struggled to maintain their dominance this weekend. Racine Case lost their first game to Brookfield East, Franklin slipped up against Waukesha North, and Racine Park lost by 21 points to West Allis Central. Meanwhile the middle pack of the conference stood out, particularly Kenosha Bradford. Budding guard Da’Quantae Sawyer capitalized on a stellar offseason with a 26-point debut while Max Glass scored 21 in a win over Marinette. </span></p> <p><b>Jamerian Sumler's Underdog Campaign:</b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 5’10”, junior guard from Milwaukee Pulaski dropped 45 points in his debut. That’s not your typical game, especially for a guy that averaged less than 10 points a game last season. Sumler isn’t a high-profile player, but with that start, a spotlight will follow him as long as he maintains his sensational scoring stretch.</span></p> <p><b>Nicolet is Still a Division Two Frontrunner:</b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kobe Johnson, James Graham, Donovan Sparks, what’s not to like about the reigning division two state champion? Their roster is loaded with potential high-major crop, and after dissecting a Milwaukee Academy of Science team that boasts two division one players (Darius Hannnah and Kaleim Taylor) and two likely division two players (Donald McHenry and Amani Glosson), there isn’t much debate on whether they can hold their own against the best in division two. </span></p> <p><b>The SWAL Has a New Contender in Fennimore:</b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cuba City and Mineral Point were supposed to be miles ahead of the middle pack in the SWAL Conference. But in week one, Fennimore gained some ground, going 2-0 against River Ridge and Barneveld. The roster has a dual-exhaust in Adam Larson and Kellen Kenney. Larson scored 28 points and caught eight rebounds through versatile offensive play against Ridge, while Kenney put up 17 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. </span></p>