WIAA Playoffs Preview: Division 1 Sectional 2

The 2021 WIAA boys basketball playoffs begin next week. Prep Hoops Wisconsin takes a look at the favorites, top contenders, and dark horse teams looking to survive and advance their way through Sectional 2 of the Division 1 bracket...   <h5>THE FAVORITE</h5> Kimberly (18-2) The Papermakers are not only good enough to reach the state tournament, they have the depth and talent to win it all. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="801149" first="Jackson" last="Paveletzke"] is having a fantastic season, averaging 18 points and six assists per game. Kimberly has two go-to players, also featuring Lipscomp commit [player_tooltip player_id="701973" first="Grant" last="Asman"], who’s putting up 14 points and seven boards per game. Northern Michigan commit [player_tooltip player_id="1035872" first="Jackson" last="Dudek"], [player_tooltip player_id="1017073" first="Owen" last="Pawlikowski"], Tommy Ellisen, and Cal McGinnis are all players who can hurt teams and are capable of scoring in double figures on any given night.   <h5>TOP CHALLENGERS</h5> Neenah (20-2) [caption id="attachment_1067420" align="alignright" width="200"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/CAL-KLESMIT-37.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1067420 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/CAL-KLESMIT-37-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="963148" first="Cal" last="Klesmit"][/caption] The Rockets are just one of two teams who have knocked off top seed Kimberly this season. Neenah has also taken down the likes of Notre Dame, Nicolet, and Bay Port. Featuring a deep and talented roster, Neenah will be a very tough out behind [player_tooltip player_id="994504" first="Jacob" last="Dietz"], [player_tooltip player_id="950099" first="Carter" last="Thomas"], [player_tooltip player_id="865837" first="Chevalier" last="Emery"], and [player_tooltip player_id="963148" first="Cal" last="Klesmit"]. Cedarburg (18-3) The leaders of the North Shore Conference, Cedarburg has been as good as advertised this season, if not better. Moving up from Division 2, the Bulldogs will have their hands full en route to a state tournament berth. Purdue football commit [player_tooltip player_id="879984" first="Drew" last="Biber"] and Kansas State commit [player_tooltip player_id="879982" first="Logan" last="Landers"] have meshed well in their first season together and this team appears to be clicking at the right time. Menomonee Falls (14-6) One of those teams who can beat anybody on any given night, Falls has taken down the likes of Kimberly, Whitnall, Brookfield Central, and Nicolet this season. The 1-2 punch of juniors [player_tooltip player_id="801135" first="Steven" last="Clay"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1129756" first="Seth" last="Trimble"] form arguably the best backcourt in the state. If the Phoenix can get consistent, high-level play from their supporting cast, Falls is a contender for the gold ball.   <h5>DARK HORSE </h5> Beaver Dam (15-6) Michigan Tech commit [player_tooltip player_id="804910" first="Nate" last="Abel"] has a better supporting cast than most think. The Beavers have also played a very good schedule with and come up just short against the likes of Monroe, Notre Dame, La Crosse Central, and Randolph. West De Pere (13-8) The Phantoms are very battle tested heading into the playoffs. They also should be riding high after a big win over De Pere last week. The Phantoms have also knocked off Xavier and Seymour, who sit atop the Bay Conference.   <h5>PREDICTIONS</h5> Sectional Semifinals Kimberly over Oshkosh West Cedarburg over Beaver Dam Sectional Final Kimberly over Cedarburg   PLAYERS TO WATCH [caption id="attachment_1033668" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Nate-Abel-1.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1033668 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Nate-Abel-1-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="804910" first="Nate" last="Abel"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="804910" first="Nate" last="Abel"] - Beaver Dam The Michigan Tech commit is putting up first-team All-State caliber numbers at 26 points, five rebounds, and three rebounds per game. A combo guard who can explode offensively by knocking down shots off the dribble or being very connected with his teammates and facilitating the ball in a way to make them successful, Abel has solidified himself as a top 35 prospect in the senior class. [player_tooltip player_id="865837" first="Chevalier" last="Emery"] - Neenah Neenah is a very balanced team, but Emery has the potential to make this team go. The junior guard averages around 13 points and three assists per game. A fast, athletic, and tenacious guard, Emery can flat out shoot the rock from distance, get after people and cause havoc defensively, and make some special plays above the rim for his size. [player_tooltip player_id="701989" first="Mason" last="Dopriak"] - Manitowoc Lincoln One of the state’s top shooters, Dopriak is averaging 27.3 points per game this season. The Colorado School of Mines commit is shooting an insane 52 percent from the field from the guard position. The reigning Fox River Classic Player of the Year, Dopriak has looked even better a senior. [player_tooltip player_id="929231" first="Kobe" last="Johnson"] - Nicolet The USC commit is a triple-double threat every time he steps on the floor. Averaging 24.3 points per game, Johnson is one of the most well-rounded prospects in the state. The 6-foot-5 guard has drastically improved his shooting and overall scoring ability. He also sees the floor exceptionally well and has a knack for making plays for his teammates. [player_tooltip player_id="935490" first="Jalen" last="Keago"] - Oshkosh North [caption id="attachment_1032386" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/20200809_1449450.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1032386" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/20200809_1449450-300x155.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="155" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="935490" first="Jalen" last="Keago"][/caption] One of the state’s best-kept secrets, Keago is putting up 23.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game as a senior. The 6-foot-5 senior is a smooth scoring wing and isolation scorer. A top 50 prospect in the 2021 class, Keago has promising potential at the next level. [player_tooltip player_id="879982" first="Logan" last="Landers"] - Cedarburg One of the toughest players to match up within this sectional, Landers is averaging 19 points per game as a senior. Coming over from Brookfield Academy, Landers has elevated the Bulldogs in his first season. The 6-foot-7 forward is a strong perimeter and mid-range shooter with a deadly face-up game. [player_tooltip player_id="801139" first="Christopher" last="Morgan"] - Kaukauna Morgan is averaging 21 points and six assists per game this season. The junior is an uptempo playmaker without an off switch who’s constantly in attack mode. A top 25 prospect in the 2022 class, Morgan has also been on fire from 3-point range this season, knocking down 70 triples thus far.   Others to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="994504" first="Jacob" last="Dietz"] (Neenah), [player_tooltip player_id="963148" first="Cal" last="Klesmit"] (Neenah), [player_tooltip player_id="950099" first="Carter" last="Thomas"] (Neenah), [player_tooltip player_id="1035872" first="Jackson" last="Dudek"] (Kimberly), [player_tooltip player_id="701973" first="Grant" last="Asman"] (Kimberly), [player_tooltip player_id="879984" first="Drew" last="Biber"] (Cedarburg), [player_tooltip player_id="1072737" first="Dawson" last="Nordgaard"] (West De Pere), [player_tooltip player_id="988704" first="Zach" last="Steigenberger"] (Appleton East), [player_tooltip player_id="801152" first="Tyler" last="Borowski"] (Appleton East), Mikail Harmison (Appleton West), [player_tooltip player_id="1043750" first="Jamariea" last="Dalton"] (Fond Du Lac), [player_tooltip player_id="994425" first="Henry" last="Wright"] (Fond Du Lac), [player_tooltip player_id="994392" first="Marcell" last="Drone"] (Sheboygan South), [player_tooltip player_id="804944" first="Jacquez" last="Overstreet"] (Oshkosh West), [player_tooltip player_id="879996" first="Jadon" last="Melvin"] (Hartford), [player_tooltip player_id="880019" first="Aaron" last="Tennies"] (West Bend West), [player_tooltip player_id="880002" first="Owen" last="Meyer"] (Germantown), [player_tooltip player_id="865843" first="Grant" last="Martin"] (Menomonee Falls), Tim Franks (Homestead)