2021-22 Season Preview: Big Rivers Conference

<p>Looking ahead to the 2021-22 season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin breaks down the race in the Big Rivers Conference...</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h4><strong>PROJECTED STANDINGS</strong></h4> <p>1.  Eau Claire Memorial</p> <p>2. Hudson</p> <p>3. Menomonie</p> <p>4. Eau Claire North</p> <p>5.   Chippewa Falls</p> <p>6. Rice Lake</p> <p>7. River Falls</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> [caption id="attachment_1231046" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Lj-Wells2.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1231046 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Lj-Wells2-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> LJ Wells[/caption] <p><strong>THE FAVORITE - Eau Claire Memorial</strong></p> <p>The Old Abes have three potential first-team All-Conference picks and arguably three of the top four players in the conference. Concordia St. Paul commit [player_tooltip player_id="1129309" first="Will" last="Boser"] is coming off a breakout season in which he averaged nearly 21 points per game as a junior. Senior wing/forward [player_tooltip player_id="1189004" first="L.J." last="Wells"] is one of the most improved players in the state and continues to improve rapidly. A healthy  [player_tooltip player_id="865850" first="Mekhi" last="Shaw"] at point guard will provide senior leadership and playmaking ability on the ball.</p> <p><strong>TOP CONTENDER  -   </strong>Hudson</p> <p>The Raiders take a hit without [player_tooltip player_id="880011" first="Luke" last="Healy"], now at Sioux Falls, but senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1139376" first="Andre" last="Renta"] is ready to step into that No. 1 role. Hudson will be without a number of key seniors from last season, but [player_tooltip player_id="1183187" first="John" last="Witcher"] and Evan Tyler are sleepers that can help keep this program towards the top of the league.</p> <p><strong>DARK HORSE -  </strong>Menomonie</p> <p>Behind senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="988983" first="Noah" last="Feddersen"], the Mustangs  may have finished sixth of seven teams in the league last season, but this was a very tightly contested race. In fact, Menomonie finished just one game out  third place.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h4><strong>PRESEASON A</strong><strong>LL-CONFERENCE</strong></h4> <p><em>First Team</em></p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="1200577" first="Tyler" last="Orr"] - Jr. (Rice Lake)</p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="1139376" first="Andre" last="Renta"] - Sr. (Hudson)</p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="1129309" first="Will" last="Boser"] - Sr. (Eau Claire Memorial)</p> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id="1189004" first="L.J." last="Wells"] - Sr. (Eau Claire Memorial)</p> <p>F Henry Wilkinson - Sr. (Eau Claire North)</p> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id="988983" first="Noah" last="Feddersen"] - Sr. (Menomonie)</p> <p><em>Second Team</em></p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="865850" first="Mekhi" last="Shaw"] - Sr. (Eau Claire Memorial)</p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="1139209" first="Keion" last="Twyman"] -  Sr. (Chippewa Falls)</p> <p>G Michael Schurman - Sr. (River Falls)</p> <p>G Mason Monarski -  Jr. (Chippewa Falls)</p> <p>G Roscoe Rennock - Sr. (Eau Claire North)</p> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id="1183187" first="John" last="Witcher"] - Sr. (Hudson)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> [caption id="attachment_163907" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2017/04/Caden-Boser-2020-Minnesota.png"><img class="wp-image-163907 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2017/04/Caden-Boser-2020-Minnesota-300x300.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1129309" first="Will" last="Boser"][/caption] <p><strong>PLAYER OF THE YEAR -  </strong> [player_tooltip player_id="1129309" first="Will" last="Boser"]</p> <p>Eau Claire Memorial’s trio could take away from Boser’s chances as he’ll likely have to share the wealth a little bit more this season with Shaw back and Wells emerging. However, However, the Old Abes very well could win the Big Rivers Conference by multiple games, making it difficult not to choose a Memorial standout. Boser is the league’s top returning scorer. He also hit a whopping 74 3-pointers in 2020-21.</p> <p><strong>BREAKOUT PLAYER  -  </strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1139376" first="Andre" last="Renta"]</p> <p>Renta isn’t going to surprise anyone in the Big Rivers Conference, but his production could jump substantially in 2021-22.  As a junior, Renta averaged 13.1 ppg behind Healy. A fast, explosive lead guard, Renta has some of the best handles in the state and can score effectively in isolation situations.</p> <p><strong>SLEEPER TO WATCH -  </strong>Michael Schurman</p> <p>River Falls is in rebuilding mode after losing  a trio of seniors that led them to the Division 1 state semifinals last season.  Schurman was a quality role player for the Wildcats last season. He averaged 7.0 ppg as a junior, while shooting 55.2 percent from the floor. He also grabbed north of 5.0 rebounds per game as well in a lineup that featured a pair of 6-foot-8 forwards. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>