Division 5, Sectional 4: First Look

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We conclude our late summer trek through the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association sectionals, today looking at Division 5, Sectional 4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Teams:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Abundant Life Christian<br>Albany<br>Argyle<br>Barneveld<br>Fall River<br>Oakfield<br>Randolph<br>Southwestern<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Overview:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A number of solid teams in Sectional 4 figure to slug it out for the coveted berth in the WIAA State Tournament. Abundant Life Christian is coming off a runner-up finish in Division 5, losing to Columbus Catholic in a memorable final last March. Coach Mike Thies welcomes back the talented twin tandem of senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2551628' first='Jonah' last='Koon'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='2551622' first='Jacob' last='Koon'] (6-1), but he must replace the three other regulars from last year's 28-3 squad. Perennial power Randolph, which has played in the Division 4 field the last few seasons, moves back to Division 5 with two starters returning from a club that won 21 games in senior [player_tooltip player_id='2381728' first='Nick' last='Medema'] (6-7) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2957376' first='Ben' last='Paul'] (5-10). The Rockets are expected to slug it out for the Trailways West Conference title with Fall River and D4 Pardeeville. Fall River is led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2551614' first='Ethan' last='LeClair'] (6-7) and Zach Oosterhaus (6-3). Defending champion Barneveld ranks again among the top teams in the Six Rivers West Conference, despite losing five all-league performers to graduation. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2636032' first='Terek' last='Marx'] (6-1) was the top reserve for the Eagles a year ago and will lead a young team in 2024-25. Albany and Arygle also figure to have highly competitive squads with [player_tooltip player_id='2636029' first='Ike' last='Waage'] (6-2) leading the way for Argyle and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2636025' first='Ty' last='Durtschi'] (6-4) doing the same for Albany. Oakfield is the pick of many to capture the Trailways East crown after sharing the title with Lourdes Academy last year. The Oaks are led by the returning senior tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='2637722' first='Mitchell' last='Moser'] (5-9) and [player_tooltip player_id='2447323' first='Davis' last='Dercks'] (6-2).<br><br><strong>Pre-Season All-Sectional Team:</strong><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2551616"],"_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-66db4926653ee"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kelleher teams with [player_tooltip player_id='2637634' first='Everett' last='Droessler'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2637641' first='Jack' last='Runde'] in a very talented and very experienced backcourt for Southwestern. A returning first-team all-Southwest Wisconsin Activities League performer, Keleher led Southwestern in scoring as a junior at 16.0 ppg. He also contributed 4.4 rpg while helping the Wildcats to a 17-10 record. Keleher ranked among team leaders in made three-point baskets and steals while also getting to the free-throw line the most. Keleher scored a career-best 27 points last season in a victory over Riverdale and is a three-year varsity performer for Southwestern.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2381728"],"_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-66db47113854b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Medema is coming off a season where he averaged a double/double while helping Randolph to the Trailways West Conference title and a 21-7 record. A solid post-up player with size, length and strength, Medema averaged 16.8 points and 10.2 rebounds for the Rockets. He and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2957376' first='Ben' last='Paul'] are the returning regulars for coach Tyler Fischer and form a solid inside/outside duo as Randolph attempts to defend its league crown and then make some noise when the playoffs roll around. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2551614"],"_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-66db471138599"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A three-year varsity performer for coach Arnie Oelke at Fall River, LeClair provides tremendous size and good physical strength to the Pirates' lineup. He led the team to an 18-10 record and sectional appearance a year ago by averaging 12.1 points and a team-best 7.7 rebounds. LeClair also blocked shots at a good level and provided solid interior defense. He is the lone returning starter for Fall River, but senior [player_tooltip player_id='2638159' first='Zack' last='Osterhaus'] played big minutes off the bench and newcomers from an 18-5 JV1 team figure to fill in for a program that always seems to rank among the elite in the Trailways West Conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2551618"],"_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-66db4711385d8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Patrick is a physical specimen and true workhorse on the basketball floor. He attacks the basket from post-ups and is a demon on the glass on both ends the court. As a junior, Patrick helped Palmyra-Eagle to an 18-9 record under coach Brandon Wilde by averaging 11.8 points and 11.8 rebounds for a senior dominated squad. As the lone returning starter for the Eagles, those numbers figure to go up substantially during the 2024-25 campaign. A unanimous first-team all-Trailways South Conference pick as a junior, Patrick enters his senior year as a three-year varsity performer for Palmyra-Eagle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2551622"],"_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-66db471138616"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2551622' first='Jacob' last='Koon'] is a playmaker who zips around the court, making plays with his quick hands, his passing skills and his ability to make perimeter jump shots. He was a key cog for Abundant Life Christian a year ago, leading the Challengers to one of the best seasons in school history. He averaged 14.1 points, 3.8 rebounds. 5 5 assists and 3.5 steals while playing in a very good backcourt that also includes his twin brother, senior [player_tooltip player_id='2551628' first='Jonah' last='Koon']. The Koon brothers are both four-year varsity performers and returning all-league performers for coach Mike Thies. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pre-Season Pick to Click:</strong><br><br>Southwestern has come close -- tantalizing close -- to reaching the WIAA State Tournament in the recent past. But the Wildcats have always come up just a bit short. Outside of a runner-up finish in the 1988 Class C State Tournament, Southwestern has not played on the big stage in Madison. Coach Clinton Nemitz's squad is hoping to change that narrative this season. With five starters back from a club that won 17 games while competing in the mostly Division 4 Southwest Wisconsin Activities League, Southwestern is the pre-season pick to win Sectional 4. Paced by returning first-team all-league performers [player_tooltip player_id='2551616' first='Aiden' last='Kelleher'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='2637634' first='Everett' last='Droessler'] (6-0), Southwestern appears to have enough firepower to challenge the likes of Cuba City, Darlington and Mineral Point for the SWAL title as well. Joining Kelleher and Droessler as returning regulars for the Wildcats are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2637641' first='Jack' last='Runde'] (6-0), Bryce Pearce (6-3) and Austin Furlong (6-0). Depth appears to be somewhat of a strength as well as junior [player_tooltip player_id='2917231' first='Cayden' last='DeMuth'] (6-2) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2816103' first='Carsen' last='Splinter'] (5-10) also return. One thing is for sure when it comes to Southwestern, the tough competition the WIidcats encounter nightly in the SWAL will prepare them well for the WIAA playoffs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->