Division 4, Sectional 2: First Look

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We continue a late summer trek through the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association sectionals, today looking at Division 4, Sectional 2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Teams:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Auburndale<br>Bonduel<br>Iola-Scandinavia<br>Kewaunee<br>Marathon<br>Oconto<br>Phillips<br>Southern Door<br>Stratford<br><br><strong>Overview:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like Sectional 1, there isn't a team in Sectional 2 that immediately stands out as the team to beat. All of the listed Top Teams have great potential and could eventually emerge as the heavy favorite, but in the early pre-season that isn't the case. Stratford is the choice to win the title in the Marawood South Conference. The Tigers have exceptionally tough-minded players, but lack size. They make up for it, however, with their physical strength, athleticism, speed and grit. [player_tooltip player_id='2493707' first='Drew' last='Bruesewitz'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2629815' first='Reid' last='Miller'] are returning starters for coach Curt Schmidt, who guided the program to a 20-6 record a year ago. Auburndale and Marathon are traditional powers in the Marawood South and should again field competitive squads. Both programs sustained some heavy graduation losses, but both also have winning cultures, excellent coaches and some talented young players. Over in the Marawood North, Phillips is among the pre-season favorites to win the title. Coach Amy Ring figures to rely on one of the league's top backcourt performers in junior [player_tooltip player_id='2432822' first='JJ' last='Heikkinen'], a two-year starter and returning first-team all-league performer. Southern Door, Kewaunee and Oconto are among the top teams in the Packerland Conference. Southern Door features the state's No. 1 scorer in senior [player_tooltip player_id='1418511' first='Drew' last='Daoust'], who averaged 32.8 points per game as a junior for a team that went 22-5. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2386397' first='Caden' last='Pierre'] and Tyler Nienas join Daoust as returning regulars for the Eagles. Oconto has one of the best all-around players in the sectional in senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2039671' first='Carter' last='Koch']. The 6-foot-5 Koch averaged 22.9 points and 7.7 rebounds as a junior and can positively impact a game with his athleticism, length and skill. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2542522' first='Connor' last='Kilgore'] is the top returning player for Kewaunee, which went 17-8 last season. Bonduel is the defending champion in the Central Wisconsin East Conference and is led by the league's top big man in junior [player_tooltip player_id='2391085' first='Ryan' last='Westrich']. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2542523' first='Race' last='Anvelink'], a first-team all-league selection, also returns for the Bears, who finished 26-2 last winter. Iola-Scandinavia boasts plenty of young talent, led by sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2542526' first='Korz' last='Loken'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2352817' first='Alexander' last='Robbins']. <br><br><strong>Pre-Season All-Sectional Team:</strong><br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1418511"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d0b6695617f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Daoust is a bucket getter. Whether he's drilling three-point shots, scoring off of pull-up jumpers in the lane, or getting all the way to the basket and finishing over taller defenders, he is an offensive machine. Daoust piles up points in a hurry as he is especially effective in transition due to his ball handling, shiftiness and strength to ward off defenders. He averaged 32.8 points and 5.5 rebounds as a junior, but he also handed out 4.4 assists and came up with 3.3 steals per outing. Daoust averaged 25 shots per game as a junior and helped Southern Door to a 22-5 record under coach Josh VandenBush. Daoust currently holds scholarship offers from Dakota State, Lincoln and Newman. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2039671"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d0b669561e5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The versatility, size, athleticism and skill of Koch are all impressive assets for the 6-foot-5 wing from Oconto. He is almost always productive on the floor. His scoring (22.9 ppg), rebounding (7.7 rpg), passing (3.3 apg), leadership and defense (1.7 spg) helped Oconto to an 18-10 record under coach Antwan Epps a year ago. Koch had a strong spring/summer on the circuit and is one of the prime recruiting targets for NCAA Division II and III schools in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The returning first-team all-Packerland Conference performer begins his senior season with 1,277 points and went for a career-best 45 points in a victory over Sevastopol last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2500057"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d0b6695622a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Woelfel isn't a huge scorer -- he averaged 10.2 ppg as a sophomore -- but his court awareness, toughness and ability to make big plays are assets for Marathon, which went 27-2 and qualified for the WIAA Division 4 State Tournament last season. The son of assistant coach Churck Woelfel, [player_tooltip player_id='2500057' first='Drew' last='Woelfel'] is a physically strong and heady wing who can guard different positions, score in different ways and is just one of those players coaches have a hard time taking off the floor. Woelfel is poised for a bigger offensive performance in 2024-25 and is one of two returning starters along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2542530' first='True' last='Thurs']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2382312"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d0b88261a48"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the state's top football prospects -- PrepZone Wisconsin ranks Westrich as the No. xx prospect in the junior class -- Westrich also excels on the basketball court. The physical 6-foot-6 forward has a soft shooting touch around the basket, and finishes very well through contact due to his impressive physical strength. He averaged 15.6 points and 8.8 rebounds as a junior while helping coach Duke Copp's Bonduel squad to a 26-2 record, including a 14-0 mark in the Central Wisconsin East Conference. Westrich will play college football, but he also ranks as one of the elite players in Sectional 2 and is a very difficult matchup for opponents because of his size, strength and skill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2391085"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d0bda31b319"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the state's top football prospects -- PrepRedZone Wisconsin ranks Westrich as the No. 3 prospect among juniors in Wisconsin -- Westrich also excels on the basketball court. He has a soft shooting touch around the basket and scores through contact due to his immense size and physical strength. He helped Bonduel to a 26-2 record as a sophmore, averaging 15.6 points and 8.8 rebounds for coach Duke Copp's squad. The second-team all-Central Wisconsin East Conference performer is a three-year varsity performer for the Bears and the top big man in the sectional. Westrich is 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds so he will play football in college, but he's also one of the toughest matchups in the state due to his highly effective combination of size, skill and strength.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":[2391096],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d0ba0623742"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The knock on Heikkinen is his lack of size. He is on the small side at 5-foot-8. However, that's about the only drawback for this young lead guard. Already a two-year starter and two-time all-Marawood North selection, Heikkinen enters his junior season as a leader for a Phillips squad expected to contend for a league championship. The highly skilled ball handler, shooter and passer averaged 12.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists while playing a big role for a Phillips squad that went 13-13 under coach Amy Ring. Heikkinen shot 81 percent from the free throw line and made 51 three-point baskets as a sophomore. He is one of three starters, along with [player_tooltip player_id='2629228' first='Brayden' last='Revak'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2629225' first='Lane' last='Abraham'], returning for Phillips in 2024-25. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pre-Season Pick to Click:</strong><br><br>Bonduel has a strong basketball tradition and has won league titles in two of the past four seasons. However, the Bears have never made an appearance in the WIAA State Tournament. That could change in 2024-25 as coach Duke Copp welcomes back three starters from a club that went 26-2 and lost to Marathon in a sectional final last March. Leading the way for the Bears are senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2542523' first='Race' last='Anvelink'] (6-0) and junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2391085' first='Ryan' last='Westrich'] (6-6). The talented inside/outside combination allows the Bears to keep the floor spaced well and opens things up for others, including senior Cade Johnson. Anvelink averaged 14.9 points, Westrich pitched in 15.6 and Johnson added 9.4. That trio forms a strong nucleeus, but Copp also has some depth. Sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2387960' first='Quinn' last='Wesenberg'] (6-3) and [player_tooltip player_id='2386363' first='Carter' last='Moesch'] (6-2) both gained valuable varsity playing time and should contend for starting roles along with senior Sam Roberts (6-3) and Mason Zuleger (6-2). Perimeter shooting, multiple scoring options, length and desire are listed as strengths by Copp, who owns a 155-112 record in 11 seasons as the Bears' head coach. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->