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2023-24 Final Standings Large School Division 1. Melrose-Mindoro 9-4 (10-15); 2. Whitehall 8-5 (13-13); 3. Blair-Taylor 6-7 (9-16); 4. Eleva-Strum 2-11 (4-21); 5. Augusta 1-12 (3-22). Small School Division 1. Cochrane-Fountain City 12-1 (19-7); 2. Alma Center Lincoln 9-4 (22-5); 2. Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran 9-4 (19-6); 4. Alma/Pepin 8-5 (14-12); 5. Gilmanton/Independence 1-12 (4-21).   Editor's Note: Blair-Taylor has moved to the Dairyland Small, Gilmanton/Independence moved from the Small to the Large, and Osseo-Fairchild joins the Dairyland Large from the Cloverbelt West for the 2024-25 season. 2024-25 Picks Dairyland Large 1. Whitehall -- Balance and depth will be strengths along with young talent as coach Tyler Petersen's group takes aim at improving upon a 13-13 record. Senior Mason Pientok (6-1, 6.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg) is the top returning player at Whitehall and the lone regular back from a year ago. Senior Cayden Johnston (5-11, 6 ppg, 4 rpg) and sophomores Will Youngbauer (5-10, 4.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg), Riley Herman (6-2, 2.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and Bo Killian (5-11, 2.2 ppg) also figure to play prominent roles. 2. Melrose-Mindoro -- Guard play is an anticipated strength for Melrose-Mindoro, particularly with the return of starting senior backcourt ace [player_tooltip player_id='2434299' first='Aeron' last='Hanson'] (5-9, 9.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg). Coach Jason McRoberts also welcomes back senior Collin Christianson (6-1, 7.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg), senior Trajan McRoberts (6-0, 1.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg) and sophomore Brady Blaken (6-0, 1.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg). A very gifted and deep freshmen class could factor into the Mustangs' success as [player_tooltip player_id='2399158' first='Gavin' last='McRoberts'] (6-0), Brooks Cowley (6-3), Jackson Boese (6-2) and [player_tooltip player_id='2737294' first='Ethan' last='Johnson'] (6-0) all figure to have a shot at varsity playing time. 3. Osseo-Fairchild -- Coach Tim Popple begins his 12th season as head coach at Osseo-Fairchild and his first as a member of the Dairyland Conference with three key returning players from a team that finished 15-11 as a member of the Cloverbelt West Conference. Leading the way are double-figure scorers [player_tooltip player_id='2624244' first='Jack' last='Steinke'] (6-2, 14.3 ppg) and Drake Sweet (5-10, 12.4 ppg). Also back for Osseo-Fairchild is senior guard Tyggve Korger (5-10, 5.1 ppg). 4. Eleva-Strum -- Four players who earned starting nods at different points of last year are back as first-year coach Joe Phillips hopes to lead the Cardinals to improvement after they finished 4-21 in 2023-24. Seniors Brody Hanson (5-9, 6.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg) and Ty Fjelstad (5-9, 7.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg) along with juniors Noah Martinson (5-9, 6.0 ppg) and Calvin Barneson (5-11, 5.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg) form a strong nucleus for Eleva-Strum, which lacks size but has plenty of quickness. 5. Augusta -- Coming off a 3-22 season, the Beavers hope to move upwards in the league standings, but it's a challenge in the Dairyland Large. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2916432' first='Noah' last='Schroeder'] (5-11, 12.7 ppg) and senior forward Beau Harmer (6-1, 8.0 ppg) are the top returning player for coach Byron King. 6. Gilmanton/Independence -- Entering year No. 2 of its coop program, Gilmanton/Independence lacks the firepower needed to compete with the big boys in the Dairyland Conference. Just three players return from last year's varsity squad that went 4-21. Much will be asked of seniors Nathan Pyka (6-2, 2.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and Carlos Flores (6-4, 3.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg), along with junior Nolan Schank (6-3). The players and coaches now are familiar with each other after the coop program got off the ground last season, but lack of depth and guard play are big question marks. Dairyland Small 1. Alma Center Lincoln -- With 22 victories under its belt from a year ago, Alma Center Lincoln enters the 2024-25 campaign with big expectations. Four starters return for coach Jeremy Hanson, led by two-time first-team all-league selection [player_tooltip player_id='2417878' first='Jace' last='Paul'] (6-3, 19.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 4.2 apg). Paul does a bit of everything for the Hornets and his size, mobility and athleticism make him one of the toughest players to guard in the Dairyland. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2624247' first='Ben' last='Ross'] (6-1, 14.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.2 apg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2624251' first='Weston' last='Berndt'] (6-1, 4.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2624254' first='Jay' last='Stetzer'] (6-3, 4.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg) also started last season. In addition to experience, defense is a big asset for Alma Center Lincoln as the Hornets gave up an average of just 44 points per game a year ago. 2. Cochrane-Fountain City -- It should be quite the battle for the top spot in the Dairyland Small as Alma Center Lincoln, Cochrane-Fountain City and Blair-Taylor all begin the year with high hopes. The Pirates of coach Jesse Cyrus have three starters back from a 19-win team in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2624236' first='Cameron' last='Lipinski'] (6-3, 16.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2390104' first='Porter' last='Ehrat'] (6-2, 13.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2813594' first='Reed' last='Schmidtknecht'] (5-10, 7.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg). Seniors Grayden Barum (6-2) and Lucas Skroch (6-0) also return while C-FC also welcomes some talented underclassmen to its varsity roster. 3. Blair-Taylor -- The traditoinally strong Wildcats move from the Large to the Small division with three starters and two double-figure scorers forming a solid core for long-time coach Randy Storlie, who needs 10 more wins to reach 600 at Blair-Taylor. Storlie enters the campaign with an overall coaching record of 646-308. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2414443' first='Ethan' last='Kniseley'] (5-10, 16.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg) and junior CJ Dummer (5-11, 12.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg) provide the Wildcats with a potent one-two scoring punch. Senior Tavian Shramek (6-2, 7.4 ppg, 8.9 rpg) joined Kinseley and Dummer in the starting rotation last winter. 4. Alma/Pepin -- The top six players from a team that finished 14-12 graduated last spring, creating plenty of gaps in the lineup for rookie coach Nash Gilles. Four players who competed on last year's squad return in juniors Breckin Hullopeter (6-2, 3.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg) and Owen Post (5-10) along with seniors Mason Westberg (6-2, 2.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and Reeden Bocksell (6-0). Junior Trenton Krzoska (5-11) and freshman Jackson Bush (6-1) also could play key roles. 5. Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran -- The Lancers almost always field a very competitive team so picking coach John Radichel's squad to finish fifth is a bit risky. Then again, Immanuel Lutheran graduated its entire starting lineup last spring, including 1,000-point scorer Vance Havemeier. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2624241' first='Logan' last='Thompson'] (6-4, 10.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg) is, by far, the most experienced player in the program. He will need to get plenty of help from seniors Levi Falkenberg (6-1) and Liam Bauer (6-2). Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2821818' first='Jake' last='Zimmerman'] (5-8) also could prove to be a key contributor for the Lancers. Top Returning Scorers [player_tooltip player_id='2417878' first='Jace' last='Paul'], Alma Center Lincoln (19.6 ppg) [player_tooltip player_id='2414443' first='Ethan' last='Kniseley'], Blair-Taylor (16.2 ppg) [player_tooltip player_id='2624236' first='Cameron' last='Lipinski'], Cochrane-Fountain City (16.0 ppg) [player_tooltip player_id='2624247' first='Ben' last='Ross'], Alma Center Lincoln (14.5 ppg) [player_tooltip player_id='2624244' first='Jack' last='Steinke'], Osseo-Fairchild (14.3 ppg) [player_tooltip player_id='2390104' first='Porter' last='Ehrat'], Cochrane-Fountain City (13.0 ppg) [player_tooltip player_id='2916432' first='Noah' last='Schroeder'], Augusta (12.7 ppg) Drake Swett, Osseo-Fairchild (12.4 ppg) CJ Dummer Blair-Taylor (12.0 ppg) [player_tooltip player_id='2624241' first='Logan' last='Thompson'], Immanuel Lutheran (10.6 ppg) Projected All-Conference Teams First Team [player_tooltip player_id='2417878' first='Jace' last='Paul'], 6-3, Sr., Alma Center Lincoln [player_tooltip player_id='2414443' first='Ethan' last='Kniseley'], 5-10, Sr., Blair-Taylor [player_tooltip player_id='2624236' first='Cameron' last='Lipinski'], 6-3, Sr., Cochrane-Fountain City [player_tooltip player_id='2624244' first='Jack' last='Steinke'] 6-2, Sr., Osseo-Fairchild Mason Pientok, 6-1, Sr., Whitehall Second Team [player_tooltip player_id='2624247' first='Ben' last='Ross'], 6-1, Sr., Alma Center Lincoln CJ Dummer, 5-11, Jr., Blair-Taylor [player_tooltip player_id='2624241' first='Logan' last='Thompson'], 6-4, Sr., Immanuel Lutheran [player_tooltip player_id='2434299' first='Aeron' last='Hanson'], 5-9, Sr., Melrose-Mindoro [player_tooltip player_id='2390104' first='Porter' last='Ehrat'], 6-2, Sr., Cochrane-Fountain City The Big Five Top Shooter: [player_tooltip player_id='2624236' first='Cameron' last='Lipinski'], Cochrane-Fountain City Top Rebounder: Tavian Shramek, Blair-Taylor Top Defender: [player_tooltip player_id='2417878' first='Jace' last='Paul'], Alma Center Lincoln Best Collegiate Prospect: [player_tooltip player_id='2417878' first='Jace' last='Paul'], Alma Center Lincoln Most Improved Player: [player_tooltip player_id='2624241' first='Logan' last='Thompson'], Immanuel Lutheran

2023-24 Final Standings

Large School Division
1. Melrose-Mindoro 9-4 (10-15); 2. Whitehall 8-5 (13-13); 3. Blair-Taylor 6-7 (9-16); 4. Eleva-Strum 2-11 (4-21); 5. Augusta 1-12 (3-22).

Small School Division
1. Cochrane-Fountain City 12-1 (19-7); 2. Alma Center Lincoln 9-4 (22-5); 2. Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran 9-4 (19-6); 4. Alma/Pepin 8-5 (14-12); 5. Gilmanton/Independence 1-12 (4-21).