Division 5, Sectional 2: First Look

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We continue a late summer trek through the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association sectionals, today looking at Division 5, Sectional 2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Teams:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Almond-Bancroft<br>Elkhart Lake<br>Niagara<br>Pacelli<br>Sheboygan Christian<br>Sheboygan Lutheran<br>Tigerton<br>Wabeno/Laona</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Overview:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Almond-Bancroft and Pacelli have developed a strong rivalry in the Central Wisconsin East Conference and both programs figure to have strong teams once again in 2024-25. Almond-Bancroft won the league crown last season and returns three starters in [player_tooltip player_id='2622229' first='Brody' last='Dernbach'], Clarence Pratt and [player_tooltip player_id='1544739' first='Ayden' last='Phillips']. Replacing the 17.3 ppg and 3.7 rpg provided by the graduated T.J. Lamb is the biggest hurdle the Eagles must overcome. Meanwhile, Pacelli also lost some key players from a year ago, but the Cardinals return two of the better players in the league in versatile senior [player_tooltip player_id='2388795' first='Camden' last='Schurk'] and improving big man [player_tooltip player_id='2549589' first='Zack' last='Jeidy']. A strong senior class could carry Pacelli to its second league title in three seasons. Sheboygan Lutheran moves from Division 4 to Division 5 with a lineup loaded with versatility, length, athleticism and skill. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2549586' first='Andrew' last='Krueger'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2224503' first='Brennen' last='Hackbarth'] are returning all-league performers in the Big East South and lead the way for the Crusaders. Across town, Sheboygan Christian returns plenty of talent as well. The Eagles, who always seem to give Sheboygan Lutheran trouble, return five starters and are led by versatile senior [player_tooltip player_id='2493660' first='Brock' last='Zylstra'], a 6-foot-6 guard/forward with a huge upside as he adds weight and strength to his long frame. Elkhart Lake competes in the Northern Division of the Big East and returns two all-league performers in physical senior [player_tooltip player_id='1961737' first='Brody' last='Feldmann'] and rangy junior [player_tooltip player_id='1561884' first='Ashton' last='Thuecks']. Niagara is among the favorites to win the title in the Marinette &amp; Oconto Conference behind the return of all-league wing [player_tooltip player_id='2630001' first='Tommy' last='Martin']. Wabeno/Laona is a force in the Northern Lakes Conference while Tigerton figures to contend for the crown in the Central Wisconsin North Conference. <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":["1544739"],"_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-66d87ab33f893"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Three-time first-team all-league selection in the Central Wisconsin East Conference and the returning Player of the Year in the seven-team circuit, Phillips is a physical inside player who scores and rebounds in the paint with the best of them. At 6-foot-7 and 220 pounds, Phillips has the size to dominate and he is more than willing to use his attributes from start to finish of any game. He helped Almond-Bancroft to a 27-2 record and a spot in the WIAA Division 5 State Tournament last March by averaging 24.2 points and 11.5 rebounds. Also a strong football prospect, Phillips begins his senior season with 1,728 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2388795"],"_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-66d87d80eb343"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Schurk is a two-time first-team all-league choice in the Central Wisconsin East Conference and the son of Pacelli coach, John Schurk. An athletic wing prospect with outstanding elevation on drives to the basket, Schurk is a bit unorthodox in how he gets baskets. But somehow, he finds a way with his creative moves and athleticism around the basket. He had a strong junior season, leading Pacelli to a 19-8 record by averaging 20.0 points and 6.0 rebounds. Schurk can develop into an outstanding defender due to his length, quickness, verticality and basketball awareness. He has a chance to become Pacelli's all-time leading scorer this winter and begins his final year of prep basketball with 1,185 career points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1961737"],"_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-66d87d80eb395"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Feldmann kind of came out of nowhere last winter to earn first-team all-Big East North Conference laurels. He averaged 19.7 points, 7.3 reobunds. 2.6 assists and 1.8 steals while leading the Resorters to a 12-14 record. Feldmann accomplished those lofty numbers after averaging just 6.0 ppg as a sophomore. A physical player who competes with plenty of energy and toughness, Feldmann went off for a career-best 41 points in a loss to Saint Mary Catholic. He is working hard to improve both his free-throw shooting percentage and his three-point field goal accuracy. Feldman is one of four returning starters at Elkhart Lake along with [player_tooltip player_id='1561884' first='Ashton' last='Thuecks'], [player_tooltip player_id='2972818' first='Dakota' last='Koehler'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2972813' first='Ethan' last='Fromm'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2224503"],"_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-66d87d80eb3d8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Any number of players from Sheboygan Lutheran could make the pre-season all-sectional team as the Crusaders once again are loaded with talent. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2549586' first='Andrew' last='Krueger'] and Jake Thomas along with sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2382133' first='Marion' last='Boyland'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2509476' first='Oliver' last='Leibham'] figure to play key roles alongside Hackbarth. As a sophomore, Hackbarth led Sheboygan Lutheran in scoring (14.4 ppg) and rebounding (7.7 rpg). Offensively, Hackbarth does most of his damage in the paint, but he can step outside and make perimeter shots as well. His activity, athleticism, versatility and productivity help to make Sheboygan Lutheran the team to beat in Sectional 2. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2493657"],"_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-66d87d80eb418"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">DeBauch competes with the mentality of being a big-time scorer and that's exactly what he figures to be this season for an otherwise inexperienced Gillett squad. The 5-foot-11 guard scores in a lot of different ways, but once he gets the ball, he is dead set on finding a way to put it into the basket. The returning Player of the Year in the Marinette &amp; Oconto Conference, DeBauch averaged 22.1 points and 8.8 rebounds for a team that won 19 games under coach Russ Young. He made 44 shots outside the arc and also shot 76 percent from the foul line for the Tigers. DeBauch is a three-year varsity performer at Gillett and begins his senior season with 1,203 career points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pre-Season Pick to Click:</strong><br><br>Four students -- that's what separates Sheboygan Lutheran from being a Division 4 school instead of Division 5. After playing the past couple of seasons at the Division 4 level, Sheboygan Lutheran moves back down to Division 5 after a slight enrollment loss. With 185 students, the Crusaders are one of the largest schools in Division 5 (the smallest D4 school is 189 students). And also one of the most talented on the basketball court. Coach Nick Verhagen has an experienced, talented, balanced and deep roster to work with in 2024-25. All-league performers [player_tooltip player_id='2549586' first='Andrew' last='Krueger'] and Brennan Hackbarth lead the way, but there is an abundance of talent on Sheboygan's westside as senior Jake Thomas, junior [player_tooltip player_id='2641634' first='Zach' last='Leonhard'] and sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2382133' first='Marion' last='Boyland'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2509476' first='Oliver' last='Leibham'] also figure to play important roles. Sheboygan Lutheran has the added benefit of playing against some really good Division 4 teams in the Big East South Conference, including home-and-away contests with Cedar Grove, Kohler and Oostburg. The Crusaders won Division 5 state crowns in 2012 and 2019, and might be on the verge on hanging another banner come next March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->