Division 3, Sectional 2: First Look

We continue a late summer trek through the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association sectionals, today looking at Division 3, Sectional 2.   Top Teams:   Freedom Kiel Laconia Little Chute Peshtigo Seymour Wrightstown Xavier Overview:   Kiel won the sectional last March and entered the WIAA Division 3 State Tournament with a 28-0 record. The Raiders' season came to an end on a last-second basket by [player_tooltip player_id='2381695' first='Kaycee' last='Guzman'] of Lakeside Lutheran in the state semifinals. Now, Kiel must rebuild as four starters graduated from one of the most successful teams in school history, including all-time leading scorer Pierce Arenz, now playing at Wisconsin Lutheran, and talented forward Grant Manz, now playing at UW-Stevens Point. However, coach Marcus Rumpff does welcome back one of the top players in the Eastern Wisconsin Conference in versatile senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1598947' first='Braden' last='Aprill']. The 6-foot-2 Aprill averaged 8.9 points and 2.8 rebounds for a balanced team, but will be asked to dramatically increase those figures in 2024-25. Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2538789' first='Cade' last='Voelker'], Braeden Ramminger and Hunter Pitzen also return for the Raiders. Freedom boasts perhaps the best player in the sectional in talented 6-foot-7 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1847792' first='Donovan' last='Davis']. Davis earned a scholarship offer from Wisconsin coach Greg Gard over the summer and is coming off a freshman season where he averaged 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2492814' first='Drew' last='Kortz'], who averaged 14.5 ppg, also returns from a club that went 23-5 under coach Andrew Gibbons. Little Chute, behind the return of junior [player_tooltip player_id='2501117' first='Cooper' last='Effa'] and improved senior big man [player_tooltip player_id='1598984' first='Nolan' last='Jakubek'] (6-6), along with Wrightstown, with a pair of double-figure scorers back in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2381604' first='Ethan' last='Cyra'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2538797' first='Aiden' last='Humphreys'], figure to challenge Freedom in the North Eastern Conference. Over in the Bay Conference, Seymour and Xavier both have great traditions and could emerge as serious title contenders along with Division 2 West De Pere. The Thunder have an all-league player back in versatile and productive forward Kyle Marks while the Hawks must replace four starters, but have a talented player to build around in sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2434543' first='Logan' last='Ramczyk']. Laconia returns four starters and is expected to contend for the crown in a deep and talented Flyway Conference. The Spartans have a new coach in former Menasha mentor Dylan Wurtz, and a different maker in junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1561935' first='Cash' last='Farrell']. Peshtigo is led by junior [player_tooltip player_id='2496332' first='Dominik' last='Baxter'] and hopes to finish among the top teams in the Packerland Conference. Pre-Season All-Sectional Team:    The upside for Davis is scary good. His size, athleticism, skill and demeanor on the court are all outstanding. His productivity is also stellar. As a freshman, Davis excelled for Freedom as he almost averaged a double/double en route to earning unanimous first-team all-North Eastern Conference recognition. He then took his game to a new level during the spring/summer with the outstanding 15U squad in the [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] program. As mentioned above, Wisconsin extended a scholarship offer to the gifted 6-foot-7 forward in June. Many more NCAA Division I programs figure to follow suit in the very near future as Davis, without question, is one of the state's elite collegiate prospects.     Seymour won 16 games last winter under coach Bobby Kuchta. Most expect the Thunder to exceed that total in 2024-25. The biggest reason? The return of three starters and the influx of some talented newcomers are important, to be sure. But Marks presence on the court is the No. 1 asset for Seymour. His versatility, activity and ability to make a big impact on both ends of the court is substantial. The unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference performer averaged 18.5 points and 11.7 rebounds as a sophomore. He can score in different ways, is excellent on the glass on both ends of the court, and has the length and mobility to defend different positions. Marks, junior Xavier Salman and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2508494' first='Isaac' last='Feske'] form a solid returning core for the Thunder.     Ramczyk was the new kid on the block at Xavier last winter as the Hawks had a very strong senior class that led the program to a 24-3 record and another Bay Conference title. Ramczyk came off the bench and had some very good showings for the Hawks. He averaged 7.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists. As he begins his sophomore season, Ramczyk becomes the go-to player for the Hawks and he proved over the summer he is up to the task. A very good ball handler, passer and shooter, Ramczyk is also strong going to the basket. He tends to make clutch shots and, barring injury, could end up as one of the better players in the storied history of the Hawks' program.     Those who follow Kiel basketball closely know of the considerable abilities of Aprill. The rest of the high school basketball landscape figures to find out about the considerable talents of Aprill this winter as he assumes leadership and go-to scoring roles for the Raiders. At 6-foot-2 and with good phyiscal strength, Aprill can score over smaller defenders or take slower opponents off the dribble and score at the rim. He can also pop in some three-point jump shots. Aprill played a bit in the shadow of talented seniors Pierce Arenz, Grant Manz and Jack Heckmann a year ago. But he figures to shine this time around as he becomes to first option on offense for Kiel.     Farrell is an aggressive basketball player on both ends of the floor. That is a compliment as he is able to use that mindset to wreak havoc on opponents. Mostly known for his physical strength and ability to score off the dribble, Farrell made just 18 three-point baskets in 27 games as a sophomore. But he still managed to average 18.0 points. He also contributed 7.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 steals as the Spartans went 17-10. His productivity is a major reason why most consider Laconia one of the teams to beat this winter in the Flyway Conference. And if Farrell is able to improve his perimeter jump shot, opponents will have an even tougher time containing the returning all-league performer.       Ramczyk was the new kid on the block a year ago. Playing off the bench for a senior-dominated Xavier squad, he nonetheless made a big impact as the Hawks finished 24-3 and won yet another Bay Conference championship, the school's 10th league crown in the past 13 seasons. Look for Ramczyk to emerge as the Hawks' best player in 2024-25 as his ability to score, pass, defend and make big shots are all huge assets. He averaged 7.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists as a freshman, and then went out and performed well for the Davis Brothers Elite 15U squad. He can make long-distance shots and finish in the lane, either by getting all the way to the basket or by pulling up for mid range jump shots. Ramczyk will have the ball in his hands a lot the next three seasons, and, with good health and normal development, could wind up as one of the best players in the school's storied basketball history.    Pre-Season Pick to Click: After advancing to the state tournament twice in the 1990s, Seymour made a remarkable eight consecutive trips to the big show from 2000-2007 and won Division 2 crowns in 2001 and 2006. However, since the end of the 2006-07 campaign, the Thunder has been to Madison just once for the state tournament. A return to the Kohl Center might be forthcoming in 2024-25 as Seymour has the pieces to make a deep run in the playoffs. Competing in a competitive Bay Conference against the likes of West De Pere, Xavier and New London, Seymour will be battle tested when March arrives. The Thunder also boast perhaps the best young talent in the sectional with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2391083' first='Kyler' last='Marks'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2500851' first='Xavier' last='Salzman'] returning to the starting rotation along with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2538807' first='Isaac' last='Felske']. Juniors Sam Geyso and Carson Johnson also return while sophomores Kessler Jansen and Keldon VanDenHeuvel could work their way into the regular playing rotation. Incoming freshmen [player_tooltip player_id='2508496' first='Teage' last='Cornell'] (5-8) and [player_tooltip player_id='2508497' first='Greg' last='Salzman'] (5-8) will push for roles on the varsity squad as well. Transfers [player_tooltip player_id='2409430' first='Gregory' last='Denny'], a 5-foot-11 senior who averaged 11.3 ppg at Green Bay East last season, and [player_tooltip player_id='2615539' first='Jordan' last='Krause'], a freshman who moved into the district from Pulaski, could also make an impact.

We continue a late summer trek through the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association sectionals, today looking at Division 3, Sectional 2.