Prep Hoops/Zaleski Sports Teams of the Week (Dec. 16-21)

Mark Miller December 22, 2024 @ 08:19 PM

DIVISION 1 … WAUNAKEE

The Warriors dominated two respected foes last week, beating Badger Large Conference rival Oregon 76-60 on Thursday, and then demolishing Arrowhead 71-48 on Saturday in a non-league matchup in Waunakee. Senior wing Eli Selk Eli Selk 6'4" | SG Waunakee | 2025 State WI (6-4), the son of Waunakee coach, Tyler Selk, went off for a career-high 33 points and made seven-of-nine attempts from three-point range in the win over Oregon. Selk averaged 11.1 ppg as a junior, but has increased his output to 17.7 ppg thus far this season. Senior wing Kaden MacKenzie Kaden MacKenzie 6'4" | CG Waunakee | 2025 State WI (6-4) contributed 18 points, three rebounds, four assists and three steals as Waunakee improved to 3-0 in league play to keep pace with Fort Atkinson, also 3-0 in the conference. Against Arrowhead, MacKenzie had 18 points to lead four double-digit scorers for the Warriors. Sophomore Wes DuCharme (6-3) and senior Jack Ellickson Jack Ellickson 6'4" | SF Waunakee | 2025 WI (6-4), among others, also are playing well for Waunakee, which hosts the annual Ab Nicholas Tournament this week. Waunakee plays Oconomowoc on Friday before entertaining either Appleton East or Onalaska on Saturday.

DIVISION 2 … FORT ATKINSON

Victories over Monona Grove and Stevens Point on its home court last week helped the Blackhawks improve to 5-1 under coach Mike Hintz. In the 54-50 win over Badger Large Conference opponent Monona Grove, Hintz credited the defense of senior Owen Geiger Owen Geiger 6'5" | SF Fort Atkinson | 2025 State WI (6-5) as the biggest key to the triumph. Geiger guarded Monona Grove’s Cal Werth and held the Silver Eagles’ top perimeter to seven points, nine below his average. In addition, Geiger scored 12 points. Senior Braeden Hoth (5-10) led Fort Atkinson with 15 points while senior Lakyn Hintz Lakyn Hintz 6'0" | SG Fort Atkinson | 2025 State WI (6-0), the son of coach Mike Hintz, contributed 11 and made three three-point baskets. Against Stevens Point in a non-league outing, the Blackhawks got 15 points from sophomore Graeson Geiger Graeson Geiger 6'0" | PG Fort Atkinson | 2027 State WI (6-0), 12 from senior Brennan Dempsey Brennan Dempsey 6'6" | SF Fort Atkinson | 2025 State WI (6-6) and 11 from Owen Geiger Owen Geiger 6'5" | SF Fort Atkinson | 2025 State WI as they won their fourth straight contest and improved to 5-2.

DIVISION 3 … PRESCOTT

A perennial Division 3 power under coach Nick Johnson, Prescott moved to 7-1 last week with a narrow Middle Border Conference victory over St. Croix Central on Tuesday before downing La Crosse Logan in a non-conference outing Saturday at UW-River Falls. Prescott scored the final five points of the game against St. Croix Central as junior Max Monteith Max Monteith 6'2" | CG Prescott | 2026 State WI (6-2) buried a triple to the left of the top of the key, and then junior Eyan Miller Eyan Miller 6'1" | SF Prescott | 2026 WI (6-1) buried two foul shots with 32 seconds left. The Prescott defense then came up with two stops in the closing seconds to garner the victory. Bouncy junior Kobe Russell Kobe Russell 6'2" | CG Prescott | 2026 State WI (6-2) had 19 points and six rebounds to lead Prescott. The Cardinals won their seventh consecutive contest on Saturday with a 59-47 verdict over La Crosse Logan of the Mississippi Valley Conference.

DIVISION 4 … CAMBRIDGE

The upstart Bluejays look to contend in the balanced Capitol South Conference behind senior Matthew Buckman Matthew Buckman 6'5" | SF Cambridge | 2025 State WI (6-5), a four-year varsity performer and Hillsdale College recruit. Though league play doesn’t start for Cambridge until January, coach Alex Ranney’s squad tuned up for rigors of the Capitol North with a pair of wins last week. The Bluejays beat River Valley 82-48 last Tuesday and Columbus 86-66 last Friday. Buckman led a balanced attack against River Valley with 15 points. In his previous game against Poynette, Buckman scored a career-best 40 points. Junior Drew Holzhueter Drew Holzhueter 6'0" | CG Cambridge | 2025 WI (6-0) also finished with 15 points against River Valley while teammates J’Kari Crawford (5-11) contributed 14 and Cal Nottestad Cal Nottestad 6'4" | SG Cambridge | 2026 State WI (6-4) had 11. Buckman had 24 points while Holzhueter and Nottestad each added 14 against Columbus, which beat Cambridge 72-64 a year ago.

DIVISION 5 … RIB LAKE

Rib Lake remained undefeated in the Marawood North Conference at 4-0 with two league wins last week. The Redmen beat Athens 79-60 last Tuesday and then edged Abbotsford 70-62 on Friday. Emerging junior Jed Henderson Jed Henderson 6'5" | PF Rib Lake | 2026 State WI (6-5), the son of the head coach Todd Henderson, had 23 points and 10 rebounds against Athens. Juniors Seth Borchardt (5-11) and Talon Scheithauer Talon Scheithauer 5'10" | CG Rib Lake | 2026 WI (5-10) each added 19 points. Against Abbotsford, Rib Lake took a 41-27 lead into intermission and then held off the host Falcons in the second half to win its fifth game in seven outings this season.