Dunn-St. Croix Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-24 Final Standings</strong><br><br>1. Durand-Arkansaw 13-1 (22-5); 2. Elk Mound 12-2 (22-5); 3. Spring Valley 11-3 (19-7); 4. Colfax 6-8 (9-16); 4. Boyceville 6-8 (12-13); 6. Glenwood City 5-9 (10-13); 7. Plum City/Elmwood 2-12 (6-18); 8. Mondovi 1-13 (2-23). <br><br><strong>2024-25 Picks</strong><br><br><strong>1. Spring Valley</strong> -- Traditionally tough Spring Valley is hoping to get to the top spot in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference following league titles in 2020-21 and 2021-22. COach Rob Bosshart starts his 35th season with 473 career victories and three returning starters and another player who started two years ago before missing last season with an injury. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1878607' first='Cade' last='Stasiek'] (6-0, 15.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg) and senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2492770' first='Masyn' last='Wolf'] (6-7, 9.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg) comprise the best outside/inside tandem in the conference. Both are capable of putting up double/double performances in any given game. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2624630' first='Caleb' last='Bartko'] (6-4, 5.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg) also returns to the starting rotation from a club that went 19-7. Senior Tanner Dicus (6-1) sat out last season with an injury, but averaged 5.6 ppg as a sophomore and is a likely starter along with senior Trevor Forster (5-10, 3.2 ppg).<br><br><strong>2. Durand-Arkansaw </strong>-- Winners of two of the last three league titles, Durand-Arkansaw figures to field yet another quality squad in 2024-25. Coach Justin Redetzke begins his 13th season with three starters back from a club that went 22-5. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2624628' first='Parker' last='Almsted'] (5-10, 13 ppg, 4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2398713' first='Dane' last='Bates'] (6-8, 9 ppg, 7 rpg) along with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2509446' first='Luke' last='Weber'] (6-0, 7 ppg, 2 rpg) comprise a solid core while juniors Billy Weisenbeck (6-2, 3 ppg, 3 rpg) and Max Anderson (6-2, 3 ppg, 3 rpg) should contend for starting roles. <br><br><strong>3. Elk Mound </strong>-- Dennis Arneson takes over the coaching duties at Elk Mound and has a pair of seniors back to lead his first squad in forward [player_tooltip player_id='2441467' first='Logan' last='Jerome'] (6-5, 11.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and guard [player_tooltip player_id='1554804' first='Cale' last='Knutson'] (5-11, 8.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg). Jerome earned second-team all-league honors as a junior and is one of the better frontcourt players in the Dunn-St. Croix. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2895382' first='Victor' last='Noller'] (6-5, 2.1 ppg) also figures to play a key role on the frontline for the Mounders. <br><br><strong>4. Plum City/Elmwood </strong>-- Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2610597' first='Lucas' last='Glaus'] (6-3, 20.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg) has improved each year and figures to be the premier go-to player in the Dunn-St. Croix in 2024-25. The versatile wing can score off the dribble and from the perimeter, and his rebounding activity on both ends of the court is outstanding. Senior Jacob Steele (6-3, 3.2 rpg) and sophomore Logan Auth (6-0, 3.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg) will need to step up for first-year coach Paul McDonough in order to help offset the graduation loss of four starters.<br><br><strong>5. Colfax </strong>-- First-year coach Nick Heit hopes playing solid defense will help the Vikings remain competitive in the Dunn-St. Croix. Four starters moved on, leaving senior [player_tooltip player_id='2624624' first='Aiden' last='Fischer'] (6-0, 13.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg) the lone returning regular. Seniors Theo Hovde (5-6) and Logan Swartz (6-6, 3.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2389988' first='Orion' last='Nichols'] (5-11, 3.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg) also figure to play key roles. <br><br><strong>6. Glenwood City</strong> -- The Hilltoppers could be the most improved team in the league as coach Patrick Olson has four starters and a pair of double-figure scorers back from a team that finished 10-13. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1976781' first='Brody' last='Olson'] (6-6, 16 ppg, 6 rpg) is a solid interior player for Glenwood City and was joined in the starting rotation by senior Tyler Harrington (5-10, 10 ppg, 2 rpg) and juniors Brody Riba (5-10, 7 ppg, 3 rpg) and Brady Thompson (6-2, 4 ppg, 3 rpg). Senior Caleb Klinger (5-10, 3 ppg) should also be a key player for the Hilltoppers.<br><br><strong>7. Boyceville </strong>-- Boyceville took a nice step forward last season, winning six of 14 league games and going 12-13 overall after struggling for most of the previous five seasons. Coach Colby Dotseth lost four starters to graduation, but does bring back one of the conference's better young players in sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2949042' first='Carson' last='Roemhild'] (6-0, 6.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg). Roemhild and juniors Owen Rydel (6-0, 4.6 ppg) and Jon Madison (6-3, 3.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg) form the core for Boyceville, which needs to develop some depth and find a go-to scorer. <br><br><strong>8. Mondovi </strong>-- The Buffaloes won just two games last season and lost four starters, including their top two scorers, to graduation. So the outlook isn't all that promising for second-year coach Sarah Brenner. She is hoping selflessness and team chemistry can compensate for lack of experience. Senior Cadyn Dedan (5-11, 4.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg) will lead a nucleus that could include two sophomores and three juniors. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2610597' first='Lucas' last='Glaus'], Plum City/Elmwood (20.6 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1976781' first='Brody' last='Olson'], Glenwood City (16.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1878607' first='Cade' last='Stasiek'], Spring Valley (15.7 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2624624' first='Aiden' last='Fischer'], Colfax (13.8 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2624628' first='Parker' last='Almsted'], Durand-Arkansaw (13.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2441467' first='Logan' last='Jerome'], Elk Mound (11.3 ppg)<br>Tyler Harrington, Glenwood City (10.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492770' first='Masyn' last='Wolf'], Spring Valley (9.3 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2624628' first='Parker' last='Almsted'], 5-10, Sr., Durand-Arkansaw<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2398713' first='Dane' last='Bates'], 6-8, Sr., Durand-Arkansaw<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2441467' first='Logan' last='Jerome'], 6-5, Sr., Elk Mound<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2610597' first='Lucas' last='Glaus'], 6-3, Sr., Plum City/Elmwood<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1878607' first='Cade' last='Stasiek'], 6-0, Sr., Spring Valley<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2624624' first='Aiden' last='Fischer'], 6-0, Sr., Colfax<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2509446' first='Luke' last='Weber'], 6-0, Soph., Durand-Arkansaw<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1976781' first='Brody' last='Olson'], 6-6, Jr., Glenwood City<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492770' first='Masyn' last='Wolf'], 6-7, Sr., Spring Valley<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2624630' first='Caleb' last='Bartko'], 6-4, Sr., Spring Valley<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2610597' first='Lucas' last='Glaus'], Elmwood/Plum City<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2492770' first='Masyn' last='Wolf'], Spring Valley<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1878607' first='Cade' last='Stasiek'], Spring Valley<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2610597' first='Lucas' last='Glaus'], Plum City/Elmwood<br><strong>Most Improved Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2398713' first='Dane' last='Bates'], Durand-Arkansaw</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->