Lakeland East Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-24 Final Standings</strong><br><br>1. Winter 13-3 (20-8); 2. Birchwood 12-4 (19-6); 2. New Auburn 12-4 (17-7); 4. Flambeau 10-6 (15-11); 5. Clayton 9-7 (12-13); 6. Bruce 8-8 (12-14); 7. Lake Holcombe 6-10 (10-15); 8. Cornell 1-15 (2-22); 8. Prairie Farm 1-15 (1-19).<br><br><strong>2024-25 Picks</strong><br><br><strong>1. New Auburn</strong> -- After 18 years and 190 victories, Keenan Dahl stepped down as the Trojans' coach in late summer in order to take a teaching position at Bloomer. Dahl also will be the boys' basketball coach at Bloomer. Taking over at New Auburn is Michael Morgan and he steps into a great situation with three regulars back from a 17-7 squad. The top player for New Auburn might also be the best player in the Lakeland East as senior [player_tooltip player_id='2547240' first='Justin' last='Melland'] (6-4, 15.6 ppg, 10.8 rpg) averaged a double/double and earned first-team all-league honors as a junior. Melland figures to get plenty of help from senior Chris Elmhorst (5-11, 5.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and improved junior [player_tooltip player_id='2827465' first='Colten' last='Lotts'] (6-3, 8.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg). Also back for the Trojans are seniors Kai Harder (6-2, 5.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg) and Andrew Gotham (6-2, 3.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg) along with junior Sawyer Jones (5-7, 4.2 ppg).<br><br><strong>2. Flambeau </strong>-- Jeff Podgornik begins his 14th year as head coach at Flambeau with plenty of returning experience from a club that went 15-11. Leading the way for the Falcons is junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2628658' first='Dominic' last='Kopacz'] (6-0, 12.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg). Kopacz's overall talent and experience will be big assets for Flambeau, which must overcome the graduation loss of a pair of very productive players in Giles Groothousen (6-0, 21.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and Luke Lawton (5-10, 9.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg). Joining Kopacz as a returning regular is senior Eli Hruby (6-0, 8.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg). Also back are junior [player_tooltip player_id='2952211' first='Oliver' last='Taylor'] (6-1, 3.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2952218' first='Isaac' last='Brown'] (6-3, 3.4 ppg). <br><br><strong>3. Winter</strong> -- Replacing double/double machine Gunnar Greuel (6-3, 20.4 ppg, 19.9 rpg) is a hurdle to overcome, but coach Shawna White does have some firepower back from a 20-8 squad. Leading the way is senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2390585' first='Adam' last='Bednorski'] (5-10, 16.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg), a returning first-team all-league performer. Other key returning personnel for the Warriors include senior [player_tooltip player_id='1874958' first='Carter' last='Petit'] (6-3, 12.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2140953' first='Logan' last='Hautamaki'] (5-9, 2.2 ppg).<br><br><strong>4. Birchwood </strong>-- The good news is the Bobcats return a pair of double-figure scorers. The bad news is Birchwood lost a couple of double-figure scorers to graduation. What does it all mean for coach Alex Gilles? He likely will need to turn to some young player to replace the three starters lost to graduation, including double/double forward Ethan Meyer (6-7, 14.7 ppg, 12.1 rpg). Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2404416' first='Matthew' last='Lehnert'] (6-3, 10.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2628652' first='Lucas' last='Gindt'] (6-2, 14.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg) form a solid one-two punch for the Bobcats. They will need help from returning backups Taven Jones (5-10, 3 ppg) and Chase Ewert (6-0, 2 ppg). <br><br><strong>5. Clayton </strong>-- Coming off an impressive sophomore campaign that ended with second-team all-Lakeland East recognition, junior [player_tooltip player_id='2451002' first='Dayne' last='Mumm'] (6-1, 16.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg) is the top returning player for the Bears. Veteran coach Nick Schradle will count on Mumm's scoring ability to keep his team competitive and he'll also call upon seniors Landon King (5-10, 4 ppg, 3 rpg) and Alex Schradle (6-2, 3 ppg, 5 rpg) to provide leadership. Mumm, King and Schradle all started a year ago when the Bears went 12-13.<br><br><strong>6. Bruce </strong>-- With Ryan Popowich (6-4, 22.4 ppg, 9.1 rpg) no longer in the lineup due to his graduation last spring, Bruce will start over behind the return of senior Spencer Hautamaki (6-2, 8.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg), a returning starter from a club that went 12-14 in Brent LaBrie's first year as head coach. Also back for the Raiders is senior [player_tooltip player_id='2809038' first='Ryder' last='Rodewald'] (5-10, 3.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg).<br><br><strong>7. Lake Holcombe </strong>-- David Engel returns as the head coach at Lake Holcombe after an eight-year absence and takes over a team with lots of scoring punch and returning experience. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2628657' first='Brian' last='Strzok'] (6-3, 16.9 ppg, 10.3 rpg) along with classmates Chase Burgess (6-2, 8.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and Ryley Craker (5-9, 13.7 ppg) form a strong nucleus. Sophomore Emmit Johnson (6-0, 10.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg) figures to move into the starting lineup as well as the Chieftains look to better a 10-15 record.<br><br><strong>8. Prairie Farm</strong> -- Three starters are back at Prairie Farm from a 1-19 squad in senior Jayce Nelson (6-2) along with juniors Cooper Berends (6-0) and Jackson Regalado (5-10). As of October 28, no coach had been hired to replace Willie Giger. <br><br><strong>9. Cornell </strong>-- Jon Hetke's squad went 2-22 last winter and lost its top scorer -- Bentley Spranger (5-9, 7.9 ppg) -- to graduation. Moving up in the league standings will be difficult, but not impossible as the Chiefs welcome back seniors Hunter Anders (5-7, 6.2 ppg) and Torren Parker (6-2, 6.7 ppg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2863870' first='Carson' last='Stipek'] (5-8, 6.9 ppg).<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2628657' first='Brian' last='Strzok'], Lake Holcombe (16.9 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2390585' first='Adam' last='Bednorski'], Winter (16.9 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2451002' first='Dayne' last='Mumm'], Clayton (16.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2547240' first='Justin' last='Melland'], New Auburn (15.6 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2628652' first='Lucas' last='Gindt'], Birchwood (14.0 ppg)<br>Ryley Craker, Lake Holcombe (13.7 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1874958' first='Carter' last='Petit'], Winter (12.2 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2628658' first='Dominic' last='Kopacz'], Flambeau (12.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2404416' first='Matthew' last='Lehnert'], Birchwood (10.8 ppg)<br>Emmit Johnson, Lake Holcombe (10.4 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2390585' first='Adam' last='Bednorski'], 5-10, Sr., Winter<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2451002' first='Dayne' last='Mumm'], 6-1, Jr., Clayton<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2628658' first='Dominic' last='Kopacz'], 6-0, Jr., Flambeau<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2628657' first='Brian' last='Strzok'], 6-3, Sr., Lake Holcombe<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2547240' first='Justin' last='Melland'], 6-4, Sr., New Auburn<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2404416' first='Matthew' last='Lehnert'], 6-3, Sr., Birchwood<br>Ryley Craker, 5-10, Sr., Lake Holcombe<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2628668' first='Colton' last='Lotts'], 6-3, Jr., New Auburn<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2628652' first='Lucas' last='Gindt'], 6-2, Sr., Birchwood<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1874958' first='Carter' last='Petit'], 6-3, Sr., Winter<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Top Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2390585' first='Adam' last='Bednorski'], Winter<br><strong>Top Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1874958' first='Carter' last='Petit'], Winter<br><strong>Top Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2547240' first='Justin' last='Melland'], New Auburn<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2547240' first='Justin' last='Melland'], New Auburn<br><strong>Most Improved Player: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2628668' first='Colton' last='Lotts'], New Auburn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->