Prep Hoops/Zaleski Sports Teams of the Week (Dec. 30-Jan. 4)

Each week during the high school season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin and Zaleski Sports will select boys' basketball teams of the week across the WIAA's five divisions. Here are this weeks honored squads:

DIVISION 1 … NEENAH

The Rockets got off to a slow start to the season, losing two of their first three contests. But coach Lee Rabas' squad has run off five consecutive victories since mid December, including last week's impressive 51-44 triumph over Fox Valley Association rival Oshkosh North. Participants in the WIAA Division 1 State Tournament in each of the past two seasons, Neenah also owns wins over Kimberly, Kaukauna and Hudson, among others. Masters at controlling tempo, working for good shots and sharing the basketball, Neenah was led by junior guard Nick Schultz Nick Schultz 6'0" | PG/SG Neenah | 2026 State WI (6-0) in the win over Oshkosh North. A two-year varsity performer, Schultz scored 15 points, grabbed four rebounds, handed out four assists and had one steal. Also reaching double-figures in the low-scoring contest for the Rockets were senior Joey Daun Joey Daun 6'1" | CG Neenah | 2025 State WI (6-1) and senior Mason Flees Mason Flees 6'2" | SG Neenah | 2025 WI (6-1), who contributed 10 points apiece. Defense also is a huge key to Neenah's success over the past few seasons and the Rockets were on top of their game on that end of the court against Oshkosh North, holding Iowa State recruit and Mr. Basketball candidate Xzavion Mitchell Xzavion Mitchell 6'7" | SF Oshkosh North | 2025 State #119 Nation WI (6-7) to 26 points, 10 below his season average. The Rockets played two FVA games this week, hosting Hortonville on Tuesday before traveling to Appleton West on Friday.

DIVISION 2 ... PLYMOUTH

Like Neenah, Plymouth's start to the 2024-25 season was less than ideal. The Panthers lost three of their first four games, although two of the setbacks came against Division I schools in Manitowoc Lincoln and Sheboygan North. Also like Neenah, Plymouth has rallied over the past few weeks, winning five straight outings to improve to 6-3. The Panthers won a key East Central Conference outings last Friday, beating visiting Kettle Moraine Lutheran 94-92 behind a 30-point outing from talented junior combination guard Kayden Schultz Kayden Schultz 6'3" | PG Plymouth | 2026 State WI , the son of Plymouth head coach Tim Schultz. An unselfish 6-foot-3 guard with excellent court visition, Kayden Schultz Kayden Schultz 6'3" | PG Plymouth | 2026 State WI also contributed four rebounds, eight assists and three steals in the hotly contested affair. Senior forward Tyson Smith (6-4) also had a big game for Plymouth as he scored a career-high 23 points. Senior Brett Shutter Brett Shutter 6'2" | SG Plymouth | 2025 WI (5-10) also turned in a career-best performance, netting 19 points to go along with seven rebounds and four assists. Plymouth has a busy week ahead as the Panthers host a very good Greenfield squad on Tuesday before home weekend games against Ripon (Friday) and West Bend East (Saturday).

DIVISION 3 ... EDGERTON

Let it be known that Daryl Fox will never, EVER, back away from a challenge. The ninth-year head coach at Edgerton loves to play a challenging non-league schedule. And he has put together a doozy for 2024-25 as the Division 3 Crimson Tide have non-conference outings with McFarland (loss), DeForest (win), Mineral Point (loss), Martin Luther (win), Wauwatosa West (win), Milton (Jan. 20), Lakeside Lutheran (Jan. 25), Oregon (Jan. 28) and Lake Mills (Feb. 10) on their schedule. On Saturday, the Crimson Tide got an exciting 67-66 victory over visiting Wauwatosa West, one of the better teams in the Division 1 Greater Metro Conference. Skilled, shifty, smart and steady senior point guard Olin Zellmer Olin Zellmer 6'0" | PG Edgerton | 2025 State WI (6-0) led the way for Edgerton against Wauwatosa West. Zellmer had 25 points and four three-point baskets in the outing. In his previous game, Zellmer had 31 points in a 78-73 win over Martin Luther at the Rick Majerus WBY Shootout at Concordia University. Wisconsin Lutheran College recruit Bryce Appel Bryce Appel 6'6" | PF Edgerton | 2025 State WI (6-6) and senior wing Jack Fox Jack Fox 6'1" | SG Edgerton | 2025 State WI (6-1) also had strong performances against Wauwatosa West with 14 points each. Edgerton, now 7-2 on the campaign, returns to Rock Valley Conference play on Friday with a game at Clinton.

DIVISION 4 ... AQUINAS

The streak, known well to alumni fan bases of both schools, had reached 17. La Crosse Central's mastery over Aquinas the past nine seasons was a monkey on the back of the Blugolds' program. Certainly, La Crosse Central's teams that featured standouts such at Kobe King, Bailey Kale, Jordan Davis, Johnny Davis and Terrance Thompson, among many others, were all outstanding. But the skid to the Riverhawks, nonetheless, stuck in the craw of the Aquinas players. So when the Blugolds traveled to La Crosse Central last Friday for a Mississippi Valley Conference confrontation, that losing skein was in the back of the minds of many, particularly the players and fans from Aquinas. This time around, though, Aquinas was dominant. After a slow start, the Blugolds raced to a convincing 59-40 victory to keep its unbeaten record intact at 9-0. Stellar junior guard Logan Becker Logan Becker 6'3" | CG Aquinas | 2026 State WI (6-3) helped Aquinas overcome its sluggish start with four three-point baskets in the first half, igniting a run that led to a 30-18 lead at intermission. Becker led Aquinas in scoring with 19 points in the contest, but equally important was his poise, decision making and calming influence on his teammates. Junior Finley Strom Finley Strom 6'4" | PG/SG Aquinas | 2026 State WI (6-3) added 12 points, senior Trey Bahr Trey Bahr 6'1" | SF Aquinas | 2025 State WI (6-1) added nine and sophomore Calvin Bahr Calvin Bahr 6'4" | SG Aquinas | 2027 State WI (6-4) contributed eight. Aquinas gets another city rival this week with a league outing Tuesday with visiting La Crosse Logan.

DIVISION 5 ... PALMYRA-EAGLE

The Panthers improved to 7-0 last week behind the strong play of rugged senior forward Devin Patrick Devin Patrick 6'4" | PF Palymyra-Eagle | 2025 State WI (6-5), who had 29 points and 15 rebounds in a 59-37 victory over Rio on Friday. Patrick's strong play has been of paramount importance to coach Brandon Wilde and the Panthers, who host Parkview Tuesday before going to Johnson Creek on Friday for a pair of Trailways South Conference outings. Through seven games, Patrick is averaging robust numbers of 23.7 ppg and 15.0 rpg. His physicality and consistent play in the post make him a difficult matchup as he often overpowers opponents. Patrick is a four-year varsity performer for Palmyra-Eagle who has a good chance to break the 1,000-point barrier a bit later this season. Senior Dylan Walsh (6-2) also has played a big role thus far for the Panthers as he is averaging 10.6 ppg and 6.6 rpg.