Great Northern Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-24 Final Standings<br></strong><br>1. Mosinee 10-2 (21-5); 1. Rhinelander 10-2 (16-10); 3. Medford 9-3 (12-14); 4. Lakeland 7-5 (11-14); 5. Antigo 3-9 (7-18); 5. Northland Pines 3-9 (7-17); 7. Tomahawk 0-12 (1-23).<br><br><strong>2024-25 Picks</strong><br><br><strong>1. Mosinee</strong> -- Winners of three of the past six league titles, Mosinee set outs to repeat as Great Northern champions behind the strong play of improved junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2432828' first='Treve' last='Stoffel'] (6-3, 10.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg). Stoffel is the lone starter back from last year's 21-5 squad and will be a team leader for a young, but talented group that includes sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2386464' first='Brayden' last='Reinke'] (6-2) and juniors Carson Balgord (5-11), [player_tooltip player_id='2627160' first='Sebastian' last='Andresen'] (6-2, 2.1 ppg) and Mitchell Michlig (6-1). Determining new roles and adjusting to the speed of the varsity game will be key for the Indians.<br><br><strong>2. Rhinelander </strong>-- Sharpshooting wing [player_tooltip player_id='2610569' first='Devon' last='Feck'] (6-0, 11.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg) and versatile forward [player_tooltip player_id='2627157' first='Truman' last='Lamers'] (6-3, 11.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg) are two of the better players in the Great Northern and should help to keep the Hodags among the elite teams in the circuit. Feck can drill three-pointers with the best of them and could wind up among the top scorers in the league in 2024-25 while Truman scores in different ways and also can defend and rebound. Coach Derek Lemmens also welcomes back senior Seth Nofftz (6-1, 6 ppg, 3 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2478388' first='Evan' last='Shoeder'] (6-5, 5 ppg, 4 rpg). Nofftz and Shoeder came off the bench last winter, but figure to contend for starting roles this time around.<br><br><strong>3. Medford </strong>-- Medford's consecutive streak of above-.500 records ended at four last winter as the Raiders finished 12-14 under coach Ryan Brown. Four starters from that team have graduated, leaving some big holes in the Raiders' lineup. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2493641' first='Charlie' last='Gierl'] (6-2, 16 ppg, 7 rpg) missed all but five games last year with an injury, but his production when healthy was outstanding. Gierl and senior Henry Koester (6-2, 4.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg) have starting experience for Medford and will be team leaders. Underclassmen figure to play big roles with juniors Will Daniels (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='2951237' first='Nick' last='Krause'] (5-10), sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2421961' first='Peyton' last='Ried'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='2386439' first='Blake' last='Thorson'] (6-2), and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2521885' first='Devin' last='Dassow'] all potentially working their way into the playing rotation. <br><br><strong>4. Northland Pines </strong>-- Experience is a huge asset for Northland Pines as eight players with significant playing experience return for sixth-year coach Terry Klemett. Leading the way for the Eagles are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2627156' first='Cody' last='Voita'] (6-3, 9.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg), Austin Muench (6-2, 9.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg), Jon Miller (6-5, 5.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and Anthony Halada (6-1, 3.2 ppg). The excellent overall size of that core is another big plus as Northland Pines looks to finish in the upper half of the Great Northern. Also returning are juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2484370' first='Mylo' last='Albrecht'] (6-3, 11.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and Aidan Minx (6-1, 4 ppg 3 rpg) along with sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2951276' first='Jack' last='Albrecht'] (6-2, 6.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg) and Nolan Huelskamp (6-0, 3 ppg, 2 rpg).<br><br><strong>5. Lakeland</strong> -- Lack of depth and experience are question marks for Lakeland, which must replace its top four scorers from an 11-14 squad. The lone returning regular for the Thunderbirds is senior guard Noah Bruckner (5-10, 5.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg). Bruckner brings good speed to the lineup as do senior Stephan Wolfe (5-8, 3.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg) and juniors Benny Gahler (6-0, 3.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and Evan Zoach (6-0, 5.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg). Lack of size and rebounding are big concerns for second-year coach Jacob Jarvensivu.<br><br><strong>6. Antigo</strong> -- The rebuilding project at Antigo continues in 2024-25 as coach Shaun Smith is hopeful the returning experience and overall competitiveness of the players in his program can help the Red Robins improve upon a 7-18 record. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2610576' first='Gus' last='Schuessler'] (6-1, 11.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg), Luke Bastle (6-2, 6.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and Colton Thomae (5-9, 5.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg) are returning starters and comprise a solid core. They figure to get plenty of help from seniors Ethan Buchman (6-0, 4.4 ppg) and Mitch Meyer (6-2, 2.3 ppg) among others. <br><br><strong>7. Tomahawk</strong> -- February 5, 2021 was the last time the Hatchets tasted victory in the Great Northern Conference. The losing streak within league play reached 38 games last season. Another new coach, the third in as many seasons, takes over as Eric Neve attempts to build Tomahawk back into a contender. He has s good group to work with in 2024-25 as seniors Malachi Scheffler (5-9, 4.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2610557' first='Brody' last='Rigney'] (6-0, 7.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg), Riley Massa (6-0, 1.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg), Tyler Sundquist (6-0, 5.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and Dominic Boos (5-9, 2.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg) all return.<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2493641' first='Charlie' last='Gierl'], Medford (16.0 ppg in five games)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2610569' first='Devon' last='Feck'], Rhinelander (11.2 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2484370' first='Mylo' last='Albrecht'], Northland Pines (11.1 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2610576' first='Gus' last='Schuessler'], Antigo (11.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2432828' first='Treve' last='Stoffel'], Mosinee (10.6 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2627157' first='Truman' last='Lamers'], Rhinelander (10.3 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2627156' first='Cody' last='Voita'], Northland Pines (9.9 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2493641' first='Charlie' last='Gierl'], 6-2, Sr., Medford<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2432828' first='Treve' last='Stoffel'], 6-3, Jr., Mosinee<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2627156' first='Cody' last='Voita'], 6-3, Sr., Northland Pines<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2610569' first='Devon' last='Feck'], 6-0, Jr., Rhinelander<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2627157' first='Truman' last='Lamers'], 6-3, Sr., Rhinelander<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2610576' first='Gus' last='Schuessler'], 6-1, Sr. Antigo<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2627162' first='Hayden' last='Koester'], 6-2, Sr., Medford<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2627160' first='Sebastian' last='Andresen'], 6-2, Jr., Mosinee<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2484370' first='Mylo' last='Albrecht'], 6-3, Jr., Northland Pines<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2610557' first='Brody' last='Rigney'], 6-0, Sr., Tomahawk<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2610569' first='Devon' last='Feck'], Rhinelander<br><strong>Best Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2627157' first='Truman' last='Lamers'], Rhinelander<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2627156' first='Cody' last='Voita'], Northland Pines<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2432828' first='Treve' last='Stoffel'], Mosinee<br><strong>Most Improved Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2432828' first='Treve' last='Stoffel'], Mosinee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->