Ridge & Valley Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-24 Final Standings</strong><br><br>1. Ithaca 12-2 (22-5); 1. North Crawford 12-2 (21-5); 3. De Soto 10-4 (18-8); 4. Seneca 7-7 (10-13); 5. Wauzeka-Steuben 7-7 (9-15); 6. Kickapoo 5-9 (8-17); 7. La Farge 2-12 (6-19); 8. Weston 1-13 (6-18). <br><br><strong>2024-25 Picks</strong><br><br><strong>1. North Crawford</strong> -- The Trojans' varsity and JV squads finished with a combined 43-6 record last winter and coach Chris Wettstein has four starters back from a league-title team that finished 21-5 overall. That type of returning talent and experience gives North Crawford a slight edge over Ithaca in the race for the league crown in 2024-25. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2492765' first='Andrew' last='Munson'] (6-1, 15.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg) might be the best overall player in the league as he can facilitate, defend, pass and score. Munson, a two-time first-team all-league selection, will get plenty of help in the backcourt from returning starters [player_tooltip player_id='2424246' first='Cullen' last='Jacobus'] (5-10, 13.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2634874' first='Carter' last='Emler'] (6-0, 11.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2634881' first='Landen' last='Blaha'] (6-0, 8.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg). Senior Miles Kandler (5-11, 3.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg) also returns while talented newcomers such as sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2914986' first='Zack' last='Bender'] (6-2) also figure to contend for playing time. <br><br><strong>2. Ithaca</strong> -- Aaron Huebsch plans to implement a new system in his first year as the head coach at Ithaca so it may take a bit of time for Bulldogs to latch on to the new schemes. Regardless, Ithaca again figures to field a formidable squad in the Ridge &amp; Valley. Four starters are back from a club that went 22-5. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2493671' first='Channing' last='Brown'] (6-1, 23.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2634856' first='Sammy' last='Clary'] (6-0, 12.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 7.7 apg) are returning first-team all-league performers. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2634852' first='Devin' last='Ihm'] (6-4, 14.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg) earned honorable mention all-league laurels. Senior Wesley Nelson (6-2, 5.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg) also started a year ago as the Bulldogs shared the league crown with North Crawford. Providing quality depth are senior Casey Pomering (6-1, 4.6 pgp, 3.7 rpg), junior Cody Byrnes (6-0, 1.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2452750' first='Ethan' last='Birkrem'] (6-1, 1.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg). Junior Hewsten Garcia-Boland (6-1) was a varsity performer two years ago before missing last season with an injury.<br><br><strong>3. Seneca </strong>-- Traditional Ridge &amp; Valley power Seneca aims to finish among the top teams in the eight-team league as an experienced lineup returns for third-year coach Brian Kwasny. Leading the way for the Indians is senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2634890' first='Dawson' last='Davidson'] (5-10, 16.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg), a second-team all-league choice in 2023-24. Davidson is one of five returning starters from a 10-13 squad. The other returning regulars include Brian Wall (5-8, 10.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg), Owen Oppriecht (5-9, 4.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg), Reggie George (6-1, 7.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2634896' first='Gage' last='Wall'] (5-9, 9.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg). Depth is an asset as senior Garret Baker (5-11, 2.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg) and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2915144' first='Jackson' last='Konichek'] (6-4, 4.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2915151' first='Hunter' last='Hagensick'] (5-10, 6.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg) also return.<br><br><strong>4. Kickapoo</strong> -- The trekking is tough in the talented Ridge &amp; Valley, but Kickapoo appears to have enough balance and returning talent to make things difficult in the eight-team league. Coach Mat Wood starts his third season with four returning starters, although top scorer and rebounder Ry Gehrke (6-4, 15.3 ppg, 9.5 rpg) was lost to graduation. The returning regulars include four juniors -- [player_tooltip player_id='2634917' first='Malachi' last='McCauley'] (6-2, 9.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2501110' first='Arlon' last='Walter'] (6-6, 8.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2412774' first='Warren' last=''] Uhe (5-8, 5.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and Aidric Egge (6-1, 5.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg). Juniors Breken Miller (6-2, 5.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and Jeff Olson (5-8, 2.2 ppg, 1.1 rpg) also return for Kickapoo, which does not list a senior on its preseason roster.<br><br><strong>5. De Soto</strong> -- The Pirates are coming off an 18-win campaign and have some key returning performers, although coach Garrett Redman must replace two double-figure scorers in Landon Pedretti (6-0, 18.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and Mason Zink (6-2, 13.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg). Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2634903' first='Harris' last='Krueger'] (6-3, 9.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg) and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2634909' first='Jackson' last='Trussoni'] (5-10, 4.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg) are returning starters. Outside of Krueger and Trussoni, De Soto remains untested. Juniors Bryce Schultz (5-10, 1.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg), Austin DeFlorian (5-9, 1.7 rpg) and Lane Ghelf (5-10, 1.3 rpg) saw limited action a year ago while junior Finn Wrobel (6-0) missed last season. Sophomores Jack Buckles (5-10), [player_tooltip player_id='2815287' first='Adam' last='Venner'] (6-4) and Oscar Zink (5-11) move up from a JV team that went 14-7.<br><br><strong>6. Wauzeka-Steuben</strong> -- The Hornets boast one of the league's best players in junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2501090' first='Cooper' last='Lomas'] (6-2, 17.6 ppg, 9.2 rpg), but coach Isaiah Okey has little returning experience outside of Lomas. Senior Brett Wagner (5-11, 3.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg) joined Lomas in the starting rotation while junior Theodore Millin (6-0, 4.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg) earned some playing time off the bench. Both Wagner and Millin will need to take big steps forward for Wauzeka-Steuben in 2024-25<br><br><strong>7. Weston </strong>-- The Silver Eagles could have one of their better teams in recent history as four starters are back for coach Chris Meyer. One thing is for sure, Weston will field one of the most athletic teams in the league as senior [player_tooltip player_id='2634911' first='Garrett' last='Jennings'] (6-2, 15.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and junior Isaac Jennings (6-2, 12.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg) can soar with the best of the them. Joining the Jennings brothers as returning starters are senior Garrett Granger (5-10, 5.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and junior Trevor Westphal (6-0, 8.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg). <br><br><strong>8. La Farge</strong> -- Five consecutive seasons of finishing in seventh place in the Ridge &amp; Valley might mess a bit with the mental outlook of the Wildcats. Coach Matt Benson is hoping his charges can overcome the hurdle of finishing near the bottom, but he lost three starters to graduation, including his top two scorers. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2478403' first='Zach' last='Hanson'] (5-8, 9.7 ppg) and junior William Wirts (6-1, 7.2 ppg) will lead the way for La Farge. Junior forwards Beau Sherrick (6-3) and Brian Potter (6-5) also could play important roles for the Wildcats. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2493671' first='Channing' last='Brown'], Ithaca (23.7 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2501090' first='Cooper' last='Lomas'], Wauzeka-Steuben (17.6 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634890' first='Dawson' last='Davidson'], Seneca (16.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492765' first='Andrew' last='Munson'], North Crawford (15.4 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634911' first='Garrett' last='Jennings'], Weston (15.2 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634852' first='Devin' last='Ihm'], Ithaca (14.5 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2424246' first='Cullen' last='Jacobus'], North Crawford (13.8 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634856' first='Sammy' last='Clary'], Ithaca (12.0 ppg)<br>Isaac Jennings, Weston (12.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634874' first='Carter' last='Emler'], North Crawford (11.4 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634900' first='Briar' last='Wall'], Seneca (10.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634903' first='Harris' last='Krueger'], De Soto (9.7 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634917' first='Malachi' last='McCauley'], Kickapoo (9.7 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2478403' first='Zach' last='Hanson'], La Farge (9.7 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634896' first='Gage' last='Wall'], Seneca (9.5 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2493671' first='Channing' last='Brown'], 6-1, Sr., Ithaca<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634852' first='Devin' last='Ihm'], 6-4, Sr., Ithaca<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492765' first='Andrew' last='Munson'], 6-1, Sr., North Crawford<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2501090' first='Cooper' last='Lomas'], 6-2, Jr., Wauzeka-Steuben<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634890' first='Dawson' last='Davidson'], 5-10, Sr., Seneca<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634903' first='Harris' last='Krueger'], 6-3, Sr., De Soto<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634856' first='Sammy' last='Clary'], 6-0, Sr., Ithaca<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2501110' first='Arlon' last='Walter'], 6-6, Jr., Kickapoo<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2424246' first='Cullen' last='Jacobus'], 5-10, Jr., North Crawford<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634874' first='Carter' last='Emler'], 6-0, Sr., North Crawford<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634911' first='Garrett' last='Jennings'], 6-2, Sr., Weston<br><br><strong>The Big Five<br><br>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2493671' first='Channing' last='Brown'], Ithaca<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2634856' first='Sammy' last='Clary'], Ithaca<br><strong>Best Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2634852' first='Devin' last='Ihm'], Ithaca<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2492765' first='Andrew' last='Munson'], North Crawford<br><strong>Most Improved Player: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2501110' first='Arlon' last='Walter'], Kickapoo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->