2023-24 Preview: Badger Small
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Looking ahead to the 2022-23 season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin beaks down the race in the Badger Small Conference… PROJECTED STANDINGS 1. Stoughton 2. Mount Horeb 3. Edgewood 4. McFarland 5. Baraboo 6. Portage 7. Reedsburg 8. Sauk Prairie THE FAVORITE…
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Continue ReadingLooking ahead to the 2022-23 season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin beaks down the race in the Badger Small Conference…
PROJECTED STANDINGS
1. Stoughton
2. Mount Horeb
3. Edgewood
4. McFarland
5. Baraboo
6. Portage
7. Reedsburg
8. Sauk Prairie
THE FAVORITE – Stoughton
The Vikings were 19-8 last season and reached sectionals. The entire starting lineup is back for Stoughton as are the top six leading scorers. The headliner is senior Ty Fernholz Ty Fernholz 6'2" | SG Stoughton | 2024 State WI (20.7 ppg), a Michigan Tech commit, but he’s got a lot of help as well in Sawyer Schipper Sawyer Schipper 6'1" | SG Stoughton | 2024 State WI (14.2 ppg), Jay Johnson Jay Johnson 6'4" | SF Stoughton | 2025 State WI (6.8 ppg), and others.
Highlights
DARK HORSE – Mount Horeb
The Vikings were a big surprise in the state last season. It was an up-and-down 16-10 campaign, but Mount Horeb beat the likes of Onalaska, Stoughton, and Burlington and were one possession away from heading to sectionals. Freshman, now sophomore, Josh Manchester Josh Manchester 6'4" | PG Mount Horeb | 2026 State WI , had a big season, averaging better than 17 points per game. The Vikings have a few other key pieces returning as well, including Nick Vorwold (10.5 ppg), Zach McGuire (8.1 ppg), and Austin Leibfried (6.6 ppg).
MOST IMPROVED – Baraboo
The Thunder were 9-16 overall in 2022-23, including 4-10 in the Badger Small Conference. Three of the top four scorers from last season are back, including Ross Liegel (14.0 ppg) and Tobin LeFevre (10.6 ppg).
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE
G Ty Fernholz Ty Fernholz 6'2" | SG Stoughton | 2024 State WI – Sr. (Stoughton)
G Josh Manchester Josh Manchester 6'4" | PG Mount Horeb | 2026 State WI – So. (Mount Horeb)
G Sawyer Schipper Sawyer Schipper 6'1" | SG Stoughton | 2024 State WI – Sr. (Stoughton)
G Rex Lamb Rex Lamb 6'2" | SF Edgewood | 2024 State WI – Sr. (Edgewood)
F Anton Kilde Anton Kilde 6'3" | CG Portage | 2024 WI – Sr. (Portage)
F Ross Liegel – Sr. (Baraboo)
Second Team
G Jacob Hibner Jacob Hibner 6'3" | SG Stoughton | 2026 State WI – So. (Stoughton)
G Jay Johnson Jay Johnson 6'4" | SF Stoughton | 2025 State WI – Jr. (Stoughton)
G Nick Vorwald Nick Vorwald 6'4" | SG Mount Horeb | 2024 State WI – Sr. (Mount Horeb)
G Andrew Kelley Andrew Kelley 6'1" | PG McFarland | 2024 State WI – Sr. (McFarland)
G Timothy West Timothy West 6'0" | SG Madison Edgewood | 2027 State WI – Fr. (Edgewood)
F Connor Breuing – Sr. (Sauk Prairie)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Ty Fernholz Ty Fernholz 6'2" | SG Stoughton | 2024 State WI
Fernholz is coming off a junior season in which he averaged 21 points, five rebounds, and four assists per game. He led Stoughton to 19-8 record in 2022-23 and a sectional appearance. The Michigan Tech commit shot 48 percent from the field, including a blistering 45 percent from 3-point range.
MOST IMPROVED – Jacob Hibner Jacob Hibner 6'3" | SG Stoughton | 2026 State WI
The Vikings have a chance to be really dangerous in 2023-24. The potential emergence of Hibner is a big reason why. Hibner got his feet wet with 20 varsity appearances as a freshman, contributing 6.0 points per game. Coming off a big spring and summer on the travel circuit, Hibner was lethal as a scorer can might be able to carry the Vikings on a few off nights.
SLEEPER TO WATCH – Timothy West Timothy West 6'0" | SG Madison Edgewood | 2027 State WI
He won’t be a sleeper for long, but as an incoming freshman, West has yet to strut his stuff at the varsity level. It’s early, but West is widely considered the top 2027 prospect in Wisconsin.