Rock Valley (Valley) Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-24 Final Standings<br></strong><br>1. Monroe 12-2 (17-8): 2. Jefferson 11-3 (17-9); 3. Delavan-Darien 5-9 (9-16); 4. East Troy 4-10 (6-19); 5. Whitewater 3-11 (4-21).<br><br><strong>2024-25 Picks</strong><br><br><strong>1. Monroe</strong> -- Monroe's move from the Badger Conference to the Rock Valley last school year proved to be a big success for the boys' basketball program as the Cheesemakers won 12 of 14 league outings to win the Valley Division title. Easily the largest school in the league with 715 students, Monroe has two starters back from a squad that went 17-8 overall. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2541076' first='Logan' last='Taylor'] (6-4, 13.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2610603' first='Mekhi' last='Brown'] (5-9, 7.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg) each earned all-league laurels a year ago with Taylor landing on the first team and Brown picking up honorable mention honors. Coach Brian Bassett also has four reserves back in seniors Brody Cornfield (6-1, 2.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg), Logan Ringhand (6-1) and Logan Lancaster (6-4) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2635458' first='Marcus' last='Ott'] (6-2, 3.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg). Athleticism and quickness are listed strengths by Bassett while physical strength and outside shooting are concerns.<br><br><strong>2. East Troy</strong> -- Monroe is the consensus pick to win the division. After the Cheesemakers, it's anybody's guess as to the order of teams 2-5. East Troy has a new coach in Noah Phillips and a bright outlook with three starters back and talented newcomers from a 16-7 JV1 team joining the mix. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2635453' first='Seth' last='Lingford'] (6-2, 9.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg), Jacob Burke (5-10, 2.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2635464' first='Sebastian' last='Scurek'] (6-2, 5.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg) helped East Troy to a 6-19 record and form the core of Phillips' first team at the school. Senior Brody Kniep (6-5, 3.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='2837068' first='Brayden' last='Phillips'] (6-4, 2.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2635465' first='Brayden' last='Golabowski'] (6-2, 6.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg) also should play prominent roles for the Trojans. <br><br><strong>3. Whitewater</strong> -- Year No. 2 of the rebuilding project at Whitewater under coach Michael McCabe gets underway with a challenging non-league game at Badger on November 26. McCabe's charges have worked hard over the summer and fall in order to give themselves a chance to better last year's 4-21 record. Three starters are back for the Whippets in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2635450' first='Reece' last='Condon'] (6-3, 10.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2635456' first='Marcos' last='Sagrero'] (5-11, 6.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='1955923' first='Casey' last='Lyon'] (6-0, 14.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg), Lyon, in particular, had a very strong off season and could wind up leading the Valley Division in scoring. Other returning players at Whitewater include senior Ty Hagedorn (6-3, 1.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='2635455' first='Matt' last='Carollo'] (6-0, 4.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg) and sophomore Aaron Garcia (5-11, 2.5 ppg, 1.6 rpg).<br><br><strong>4. Delavan-Darien</strong> -- Finding enough scoring and rebounding to contend with the top teams in the Rock Valley could be a challenge for the Comets. Coach Todd Pyszora starts his sixth year at Delavan-Darien and his 36th year overall of coaching with two starters back, but must replace three of his top scorers of a year ago. Returning regulars for the Comets include seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2635460' first='Caden' last='Duckworth'] (6-1, 7.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and Neil Jannsen (5-10, 8.0 ppg, 1.1 rpg). A strong work ethic and a desire to compete will help the Comets, who also figure to get big contributions from seniors Zak Ammon (6-0) and Iziah Rice (6-3, 2.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg) along with sophomore Haaken Hovestol (6-0, 3.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg).<br><br><strong>5. Jefferson </strong>-- Clayton Morrison is returning home to lead his alma mater as its new head coach. He takes over a program that enjoyed a good deal of success a year ago, finishing 17-9. Gone from that squad, however, are four starters. The lone holdover is a good one in senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2635447' first='Finn' last='DeBlare'] (5-10, 16.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg), a returning first-team all-league choice and one of the top scorers and rebounders in the division. DeBlare and classmates Derek Morrison (5-10) and Sam Sties (6-1) are returning varsity performers while juniors Tyler Altermatt (6-1) and Bentley Wagner (6-2) move up from the JV squad.<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2635447' first='Finn' last='DeBlare'], Jefferson (16.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1955923' first='Casey' last='Lyon'], Whitewater (14.1 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2541076' first='Logan' last='Taylor'], Monroe (13.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2635450' first='Reece' last='Condon'], Whitewater (10.6 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2635453' first='Seth' last='Lingford'], East Troy (9.5 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2635447' first='Finn' last='DeBlare'], 5-10, Sr., Jefferson<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2541076' first='Logan' last='Taylor'], Jr., Monroe<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1955923' first='Casey' last='Lyon'], Jr., Whitewater<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2635453' first='Seth' last='Lingford'], 6-2, Sr., East Troy<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2610603' first='Mekhi' last='Brown'], 5-9, Jr., Monroe<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2635460' first='Caden' last='Duckworth'], 6-1, Sr., Delavan-Darien<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2635464' first='Sebastian' last='Scurek'], 6-2, Sr., East Troy<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2635458' first='Marcus' last='Ott'], 6-2, Jr., Monroe<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2635450' first='Reece' last='Condon'], 6-3, Sr., Whitewater<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2635463' first='Hunter' last='Rendon'], 5-11, Sr., Delavan-Darien<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2635450' first='Reece' last='Condon'], Whitewater<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2635458' first='Marcus' last='Ott'], Monroe<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2635447' first='Finn' last='DeBlare'], Jefferson<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2541076' first='Logan' last='Taylor'], Monroe<br><strong>Most Improved Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2635465' first='Brayden' last='Golabowski'], East Troy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->