WBY Tourney in Burlington: Hartford, Neillsville impress

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fifteen&nbsp;teams from across Wisconsin competed in the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Summer Tournament&nbsp;held last weekend&nbsp;in Burlington.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Following are some observations from the annual&nbsp;event:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pool A Standings</strong><br>Hartford 4-0, Brookfield East 3-1, Elkhorn 2-2, Kenosha Bradford 1-3, Badger 0-4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pool B Standings</strong><br>Burlington 4-0, Union Grove 3-1, Kohler 2-2, Pius XI Catholic 1-3, Whitewater 0-4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pools A/B Title Game</strong><br>Hartford 47, Burlington 36. Leading scorers: [player_tooltip player_id='2140870' first='Alex' last='Kuepper'] (H) 12, [player_tooltip player_id='2492537' first='Sam' last='Dewar'] (H) 10, Henry Wellinghoff (H) 9, Jaiden Matsche (B) 11, [player_tooltip player_id='2637237' first='Mason' last='Tomczyk'] (B) 8, [player_tooltip player_id='2492539' first='Grant' last='Sulik'] (B) 7.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pools A-B Most Valuable Player</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2492537' first='Sam' last='Dewar'], 6-3, Sr., G, Hartford</strong><br>The difference in the production of a player from junior to senior year can be substantial. In the case of Dewar, that may be an understatement. The vastly improved and fully confident 6-foot-3 wing guard was outstanding for Hartford in Burlington as he led the Orioles to a 5-0 record. He buried four triples and scored 28 points in a victory over Kenosha Bradford and had 22 points and two more three-point baskets in a win over Brookfield East. Dewar added 20 points in a victory over Badger and had Elkhorn face guard him all over the floor in a victory over the Badgers. Dewar's ability to shoot it from deep or get to the basket and foul line figure to be key assets for a Hartford program that continues to make impressive strides under coach Chris Smith.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pools A-B Breakout Performer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2492539' first='Grant' last='Sulik'], 6-4, Jr., F, Burlington</strong><br>An extremely versatile performer and member of an extremely talented junior class in the Southern Lakes Conference along with [player_tooltip player_id='1561889' first='Amare' last='Hereford'] of Beloit Memorial, [player_tooltip player_id='1561893' first='Caden' last='Gustafson'] of Waterford, [player_tooltip player_id='1561928' first='Brock' last='Walser'] of Badger and [player_tooltip player_id='2492565' first='Luke' last='Paddock'] of Elkhorn, Sulik did a bit of everything for the Demons, who were hit hard by graduation after winning the league title in 2023-24. Sulik is a physically strong and highly skilled wing player who can bring the ball up the floor, drive to the basket, make perimeter shots, rebound and defend on the wing or in the post. His versatility helped Burlington to a 4-1 record as he averaged 11.6 ppg. Sulik was a key player for Burlington last winter, and figures to be the leader for the Demons and co-head coaches Steve Berezowitz and Kyle Scott the next two seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pools A-B All-Tournament Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2637183' first='Luke' last='Barber'], 6-1, Sr., G, Union Grove<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140939' first='Jordan' last='Blockton'], 5-10, Soph., G, Pius XI Catholic<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2404504' first='Max' last='Breitenbach'], 6-3, Sr., G, Kohler<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2635450' first='Reece' last='Condon'], 6-3, Sr., F, Whitewater<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2637229' first='Mitchell' last='Crabtree'], 6-1, Sr., Burlington<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492537' first='Sam' last='Dewar'], 6-3, Sr., G, Hartford<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500862' first='Grant' last='Kooyenga'], 6-6, Jr., Brookfield East<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140870' first='Alex' last='Kuepper'], 5-10, Soph., G, Hartford<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492545' first='Isaiah' last='Lomax'], 6-5, Sr., F, Elkhorn<br>Jaiden Matsche, 6-0, Sr., Burlington<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492543' first='Nasir' last='Nelson'], 5-11, Soph., G, Pius XI Catholic<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492565' first='Luke' last='Paddock'], 6-3, Jr., G, Elkhorn<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492552' first='TJ' last='Platz'], 6-1, Jr., G, Brookfield East<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492554' first='Andy' last='Sauer'], 6-4, Sr., G/F, Kenosha Bradford<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2635456' first='Marcos' last='Sagrero'], 5-11, Sr., G, Whitewater<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492539' first='Grant' last='Sulik'], 6-4, Jr., F, Burlington<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2521909' first='Nick' last='Vassal'], 5-10, Sr., G, Brookfield East<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561928' first='Brock' last='Walser'], 6-1, Jr., Badger<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2637213' first='Alec' last='Welch'], 5-11, Sr., Badger<br>Henry Wellinghoff, 6-3, Jr., Hartford<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2406142' first='Jayden' last=''] West, 6-0, Sr., G, Union Grove<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1599002' first='Zane' last='Willadsen'], 6-4, Sr., F, Kohler<br><br><strong>Pool C Standings</strong><br>Neillsville 4-0, Franklin VR 3-1, Clinton 2-2, Catholic Central 1-3, Palmyra-Eagle 0-4.<br><br><strong>Pool C Most Valuable Player<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492535' first='Andrew' last='Hoeser'], 6-6, Jr., F, Neillsville</strong><br>Hoeser was big in all of Neillsville's victories as he continually knocked down three-point shots, scored in the paint, rebounded on both ends and was able to handle the ball against pressure. One of the top returning players in the Eastern Division of the Cloverbelt Conference, Hoeser has the size and versatility to play at the next level. But at this point, he is focused on helping Neillsville become the team to beat in the league after defending champion and WIAA Division 5 state champion Columbus Catholic lost all five starters to graduation. Hoeser had 18 points and four triples in a win over Palmyra-Eagle and went for 17 points and three triples in a win over Franklin's varsity reserve squad. <br><br><strong>Pool C Breakout Performer<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2487657' first='Sam' last='Fait'], 6-3, Soph., G, Catholic Central</strong><br><br>Fait has grown, added strength and developed his game since the end of the high school season. His ability to go up and finish with a dunk, make three-point shots and attack the basket were the best scoring options for a very young Catholic Central squad. Fait played through an injured back in all four contests for the Hilltoppers and hit a rise-up-and-shoot shot from the foul line with just seconds left in overtime to help Catholic Central turn back Palmyra-Eagle. He scored in double figures in all four outings for coach Steve Smith's squad and figures to rank among the premier offensive players in the Midwest Classic Conference the next three seasons. <br><br><strong>Pool C All-Tournament Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2381409' first='Jackson' last='Boldrey'], Soph., Franklin VR<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2487657' first='Sam' last='Fait'], 6-3, Soph., G, Catholic Central<br>Sawyer Flickinger, 6-1, Soph., G, Clinton<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2672292' first='Quin' last='Graf'], 5-10, Jr., G, Catholic Central<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492535' first='Andrew' last='Hoeser'], 6-6, Jr., F, Neillsville<br>Logan Lebanowski, 6-0, Sr., G, Palmyra-Eagle<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2551618' first='Devin' last='Patrick'], 6-4, Sr., F, Palmyra-Eagle<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2724938' first='Landon' last='Rakestraw'], 5-8, Frosh., G, Neillsville<br>Jack Reifschneider, 6-5, Sr., F, Franklin VR<br>Nathan Schallenberger, 5-10, Sr., G, Clinton<br>Josh Stamborski, 5-11, Sr., G, Franklin VR<br>Dylan Walsh, 6-2, Sr., G/F, Palmyra-Eagle<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->