Six Rivers East Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-24 Final Standings</strong><br><br>1. Barneveld 11-1 (20-7); 2. Argyle 10-2 (17-8); 3. Pecatonica 9-3 (15-9); 4. Monticello 6-6 (10-15); 5. Albany 4-8 (12-13); 6. Black Hawk 2-10 (2-23); 7. Juda 0-12 (0-23).<br><br><strong>2024-25 Picks</strong><br><br><strong>1. Barneveld</strong> -- Two-time defending champion Barneveld lost its entire starting five to graduation. That's the bad news. The Eagles return two experienced players and welcome newcomers from a 20-2 JV1 squad. That's the good news. Coach Tyler Sullivan has won 96 games in seven seasons and has two strong players back in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2636032' first='Terek' last='Marx'] (6-1, 7.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg) and Gavin Fishneck (6-2, 3.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg). Both saw substantial action off the bench for a team that went 20-7. Six other additional seniors return, including forwards [player_tooltip player_id='2636035' first='Michael' last='Lease'] (6-8) and Griffin Owens (6-6). Top juniors include Cooper Shipman (6-1), [player_tooltip player_id='2957372' first='Hunter' last='Larson'] (5-10) and Konnor Jasinski (5-10), among others.<br><br><strong>2. Argyle</strong> -- Two of the top three scorers on last year's club that went 17-8 return for the Orioles, and fifth-year coach Jesse Halvorsen believes his club has what it takes to contend for the Six Rivers East title. Experience is a definite asset for Argyle as seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2636029' first='Ike' last='Waage'] (6-1, 12.4 ppg, 8.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2636031' first='Mason' last='McNett'] (5-10, 11.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg) return along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2381700' first='Jeremiah' last='Collins'] (6-3, 5.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg). Waage is a returning first-team all-league pick while McNett received honorable mention honors. Seniors Casper Moen (5-9, 2.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg), Garrett Phillipson (5-10, 1.4 ppg, 1.3 rpg) and Braelyn Meinert (6-6) also return as does junior Deacon Kubly (6-0, 1.0 ppg, 1.1 rpg).<br><br><strong>3. Albany</strong> -- Coming off a 12-13 season, the Comets have their sights set on vast improvement in 2024-25. Coach Kurt Soderberg's crew includes four returning starters in seniors Nate Stokstad (6-1, 2.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2423685' first='Caleb' last='Smith'] (6-1, 2.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2636028' first='Kaden' last='Zurfluh'] (5-10, 8.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg), along with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2636025' first='Ty' last='Durtschi'] (6-4, 11.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg). Durtschi flashed plenty of potential as a freshman and earned second-team all-league recognition. Junior Tyler Patchen (6-4, 3.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg) will contend for a starting role after being a top backup last winter. <br><br><strong>4. Monticello </strong>-- Year in and year out, Mark Olson always seems to put a well-coached and highly competitive squad on the floor at Monticello. And although the Ponies did lost their two two scorers and two two rebounders from last year's 10-15 squad, Monticello nonetheless should have a team that can challenge any of the others in the Six Rivers. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2636047' first='Alex' last='Roe'] (6-0, 7.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2636048' first='Hunter' last='Grossen'] 96-1, 4.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg) are returning regulars for Olson, who has won 186 games in 15 years at the school. Seniors Mason McCutchin (6-0, 1.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and Ayden Wilkins (6-0, 1.2 ppg, 1.3 rpg) also return.<br><br><strong>5. Pecatonica</strong> -- Former Belleville coach [player_tooltip player_id='2621236' first='Scott' last='Noll'] takes over the coaching chores at Pecatonica and he needs to find replacement for four starters from a club that went 15-9. The lone holder regular for the Vikings is senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2636050' first='Charles' last='Anderson'] (6-5, 7.7 ppg). Anderson gives Pecatonica some size near the basket as does returning forward Connor Sass (6-1, 5.1 ppg). Junior guard Cohlman Schlimgen (6-0) and sophomore guard Giffin Noll (5-11) also figure to be key contributors for the Vikings.<br><br><strong>6. Black Hawk </strong>-- Coming off a 2-23 season, Black Hawk is looking to improve behind its physical strength, experience and athleticism. Three seniors return to the staring rotation for the Warriors in Griffin Komprood (5-11, 4 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='2636036' first='Eli' last='Schliem'] (6-2, 8 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2636037' first='Brycen' last='Wilson'] (5-11, 7 ppg). Junior Jacob Woodruff (5-11) also is back after getting some minutes in a reserve role last season. Newcomers include juniors Jackson Berget and Cooper Baumgartner along with sophomore Cole Dunlavey.<br><br><strong>7. Juda</strong> -- Two straight seasons without a victory leaves Juda with a 57-game losing streak entering the 2024-25 campaign. Second-year coach Cole Mahlkuch is hoping that skid comes to an end as soon as possible, and with the top three scorers of a year ago all back, the Panthers figure to be more competitive than the past two seasons. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2636054' first='Braydon' last='Steinmann'] (5-7, 10.0 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='2432845' first='Jayden' last='Brown'] (6-0, 10.0 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2636038' first='Easton' last='Hess'] (5-6, 11.5 ppg) form a solid core for Juda. Also back are juniors Treston Gobeli (5-8, 5.0 ppg) and Kadin Paske (5-10, 6.0 ppg). <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636029' first='Ike' last='Waage'], Argyle (12.4 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636025' first='Ty' last='Durtschi'], Albany (11.8 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636031' first='Mason' last='McNett'], Argyle (11.7 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636038' first='Easton' last='Hess'], Juda (11.5 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2432845' first='Jayden' last='Brown'], Juda (10.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636054' first='Braydon' last='Steinmann'], Juda (10.0 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636029' first='Ike' last='Waage'], 6-1, Sr., Argyle<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636025' first='Ty' last='Durtschi'], 6-4, Soph., Albany<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636032' first='Terek' last='Marx'], 6-1, Sr., Barneveld<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636050' first='Charles' last='Anderson'], 6-5, Sr., Pecatonica<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636047' first='Alex' last='Roe'], 6-0, Sr., Monticello<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636031' first='Mason' last='McNett'], 5-10, Sr., Argyle<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636028' first='Kaden' last='Zurfluh'], 5-10, Sr., Albany<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636034' first='Gavin' last='Fishnick'], 6-2, Sr., Barneveld<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636036' first='Eli' last='Schliem'], 6-2, Sr., Black Hawk<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2621236' first='Griffin' last='Noll'], 5-11, Soph., Pecatonica<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Top Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2636025' first='Ty' last='Durtschi'], Albany<br><strong>Top Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2636047' first='Alex' last='Roe'], Monticello<br><strong>Top Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2636029' first='Ike' last='Waage'], Argyle<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2636025' first='Ty' last='Durtschi'], Albany<br><strong>Most Improved Player: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2636048' first='Hunter' last='Grossen'], Monticello</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->