Cloverbelt West Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-24 Final Standings</strong><br><br>1. Bloomer 12-2 (21-4); 2. Fall Creek 9-5 (16-10); 2. Stanley-Boyd 9-5 (12-12); 4. McDonell Catholic 8-6 (16-10); 5. Regis 7-7 (10-16); 5. Osseo-Fairchild 7-7 (15-11); 7. Thorp 4-10 (13-13); 8. Cadott 0-14 (6-19).<br><br><em>Editor's Note:</em> Osseo-Fairchild has moved to the Dairyland Conference for the 2024-25 school year. <br><br><strong>2024-25 Picks</strong><br><br><strong>1. Regis </strong>-- Coach Connor Miller starts his third year as the head coach at Regis with the goal of winning the league title. Two seniors and two juniors are back from last year's starting lineup. They include [player_tooltip player_id='2417898' first='Owen' last='Weisenberger'] (6-0, 16.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2375323' first='Blake' last='Risler'] (6-2, 20.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg), Noah Tarras (5-11, 5.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg) and George Wolterstorff (6-3, 3.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg). Risler is the lone returning first-team all-league performer in the Cloverbelt West while Weisenberger picked up second-team laurels. Senior Andrew Berschback (6-1, 3.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg), sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2623256' first='Joey' last='Brahmer'] (6-2) and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2615520' first='DJ' last='Cooper'] (5-8) also could play key roles for the Ramblers. <br><br><strong>2. McDonell Catholic </strong>-- The Macks athletic history with Regis goes back a long time, and the two former rivals of the now-defunct Central Wisconsin Catholic Conference figure to slug it out for the Cloverbelt West crown in 2024-25. McDonell and Regis have played 198 times since the early 1930s when Regis was known at Eau Claire St. Patrick. They will meet for the 200th time this winter with Regis holding a commanding 151-47 lifetime edge. The Macks have five regulars back from a year ago in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2390086' first='Cooper' last='Mittermeyer'] (5-11, 12.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2390515' first='Jordan' last='Sikora'] (6-4, 9.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2394207' first='Cael' last='Holm'] (5-11, 12.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2389764' first='Karson' last='Galvez'] (6-4, 9.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2541233' first='Mason' last='Busse'] (6-5, 4.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg). Depth is an asset with senior Grant Smiskey (5-11, 3.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg), junior Eli Stepp (6-0, 2.7 ppg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2397759' first='Nathan' last='Hazel'] (6-3) also expected to play key roles. <br><br><strong>3. Fall Creek</strong> -- Traditionally strong Fall Creek has some major holes to fill in its lineup as all five regulars from a 16-10 squad graduated, leaving long-time coach Rick Storlie with an unproven lineup but also one with plenty of young talent. The Crickets' JV1 and JV2 teams went a combined 41-3 a year ago and players from both teams could contend for playing time along with returning letter winners [player_tooltip player_id='2391346' first='Miles' last='Schmidgall'] (6-6, 4.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and Cullen Kramer (5-10, 4.2 ppg). <br><br><strong>4. Bloomer </strong>-- Former New Auburn coach Keenan Dahl takes over the coaching duties at Bloomer. He steps into a good situation as three starters are back from a team that went 21-4 and won the league title. Indeed, seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2623254' first='Zeke' last='Strand'] (6-3, 11.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2623255' first='Collin' last='Crane'] (6-3, 5.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2389763' first='Jayden' last='Hartman'] (5-8, 5.2 ppg) form a strong nucleus for the Blackhawks. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2390375' first='Hunter' last='Marik'] (5-8, 6.7 ppg) and juniors Orin Buresh (6-2) and [player_tooltip player_id='2864510' first='John' last='Bischel'] (5-10) also return for Bloomer. <br><br><strong>5. Cadott </strong>-- It's first things first for the Hornets. After sustaining 39 consecutive losses within league play, Cadott's first goal in 2024-25 is to break that nasty streak. And with three starters back, including top scorer [player_tooltip player_id='2390363' first='Braden' last='Schneider'] (6-0, 17.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg), that could some sooner than later. Second-year coach Shawn Schoelzel will rely heavily on Schneider along with seniors Parker Davis (5-10, 4.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg), Jackson Barone (6-3, 4.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2391150' first='Cameron' last='Allard'] (5-11, 5.5 ppg) and Nolan Freed (6-1, 4.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg) as the Hornets look to avoid finishing in the basement of the Cloverbelt West for the fourth year in a row. <br><br><strong>6. Stanley-Boyd </strong>-- Losing double-figure scorers Henry Hoel (6-6, 20.4 ppg, 14.5 rpg, now playing at Eau Claire) and Haydn Gustafson (5-10, 18.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg) will be a tough hurdle to overcome for the Orioles, who went 12-12 under coach Dakota Nichols in 2023-24. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2390304' first='Logan' last='Gray'] (5-11, 3.8 ppg) and Carter Isenberger (5-11, 4.5 ppg) are the lone players back with extensive experience for Stanley-Boyd. <br><br><strong>7. Thorp</strong> -- Senior guard Dylan Mattson (5-8, 8.3 ppg) is the only returning starter for Thorp, which went 13-13 under coach Scott Horn in 2023-24. The quickness of Mattson along with seniors Daniel Mathison (5-8, 3.6 ppg) and Landon Penk (5-7, 4.1 ppg) will be the Cardinals' biggest strength. Lack of size and depth are major concerns. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2448150' first='Cooper' last='Rosemeyer'] (6-3) could factor into the Cardinals' frontline play. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2375323' first='Blake' last='Risler'], Regis (20.3 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2390363' first='Braden' last='Schneider'], Cadott (17.5 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2417898' first='Owen' last='Weisenberger'], Regis (16.7 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2390086' first='Cooper' last='Mittermeyer'], McDonell Catholic (12.9 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2394207' first='Cael' last='Holm'], McDonell Catholic (12.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2623254' first='Zeke' last='Strand'], Bloomer (11.1 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2390363' first='Braden' last='Schneider'], 6-0, Sr., Cadott<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2390086' first='Cooper' last='Mittermeyer'], 5-11, Sr., McDonell Catholic<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2375323' first='Blake' last='Risler'], 6-2, Jr., Regis<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2417898' first='Owen' last='Weisenberger'], 6-0, Sr., Regis<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2623254' first='Zeke' last='Strand'], 6-3, Sr., Bloomer<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2391346' first='Miles' last='Schmidgall'], 6-6, Soph., Fall Creek<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2394207' first='Cael' last='Holm'], 5-11, Jr., McDonell Catholic<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2390515' first='Jordan' last='Sikora'], 6-4, Sr., McDonell Catholic<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2623255' first='Collin' last='Crane'], 6-3, Sr., Bloomer<br>Cullen Kramer, 5-10, Jr., Fall Creek<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2417898' first='Owen' last='Weisenberger'], Regis<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2541233' first='Mason' last='Busse'], McDonell Catholic<br><strong>Best Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2390515' first='Jordan' last='Sikora'], McDonell Catholic<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2375323' first='Blake' last='Risler'], Risler<br><strong>Most Improved Player: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2623256' first='Joey' last='Brahmer'], Regis</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->