Prep Hoops/Zaleski Sports Teams of the Week (Feb. 10-15)

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 … MARQUETTE

Opponents got their licks in early on Marquette as the Hilltoppers needed to replace all five starters from their WIAA Division 1 state-championship team of a year ago. Coach Casey Kowalewski's team sustained some difficult setbacks through the first month and a half of the campaign, including an 82-46 shellacking from reigning WIAA Division 2 state champ Wisconsin Lutheran at the Rick Majerus WBY Shootout in December. But the tide has turned for the Hilltoppers of late. Marquette is 7-3 over its last 10 games as its young players have gotten their feet under themselves and become a spoiler in the Greater Metro Conference. Recent victories include road triumphs over Brookfield East and Menomonee Falls sandwiched around a home win over Sussex Hamilton. Junior Tommy Novotny Tommy Novotny 6'0" | CG Marquette | 2026 State WI (6-0) has been instrumental in the Hilltoppers' success. The speedy and strong backcourt performer had 22 points, six reobunds and six assists in the 89-82 win over Menomonee Falls. He also had 12 and 11 points, respecitvely, in wins over Germantown and Brookfield East. Junior Luke Gundrum Luke Gundrum 5'11" | SG Marquette University | 2026 State WI (5-11) also had performed well with 17 points, three rebounds and three assists against Menomonee Falls. Sophomore wing Christian Miller Christian Miller 6'3" | SG/SF Marquette | 2027 State WI (6-3) had a team-best 20 points against Brookfield East while junior guard Cal Ferber (6-0) added 14. Marquette is 9-11 and has games this week against Wauwatosa West (Tuesday), Wauwatosa East (Friday) and Arrowhead (Saturday).

DIVISION 2 ... LA CROSSE CENTRAL

Like Marquette, La Crosse Central opening the campaign with a bit of a green team. Also like Marquette, the Riverhawks have gotten better and better as the season has progressed. A defensive-minded squad that also can wear down an opponent with hits constant cutting and passing, La Crosse Central posted Mississippi Valley Conference wins over La Crosse Logan (68-42) and Holmen (62-52) last week to improve to 12-7 under coach Todd Fergot. La Crosse Central is one game behind league-leading Aquinas in the loss column and has a big conference game at Onalaska on Thursday. In the win over Holmen, which is tied with the Riverhawks for second place, senior guard Derrick Pangier (5-10) led the way with 13 points followed by junior forward Joey Pretasky Joey Pretasky 6'3" | SF La Crosse Central | 2026 WI (6-3) with 13 and sophomore point guard Gabe Servais Gabe Servais 5'11" | PG La Crosse Central | 2027 State WI (6-1) with 12. Servais also had 17 points in the win over La Crosse Logan, the Riverhawks' 22nd straight win over the Rangers dating back to the 2015-16 season.

DIVISION 3 ... MILWAUKEE SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES

Tucked away on the far northwest side of Milwaukee not far from Mount Mary College, Milwaukee School of Languages isn't the first school you think of when turning your attention to top high school programs in the Milwaukee City Conference. But the Hawks have won 15 of 19 outings this winter under 11th-year coach John Allen and sit in second place in the Blue Division standings of the City Conference behind Milwaukee South. A pair of seniors have led the way for MSOL, which turned back MIlwaukee Reagan 85-48 in its lone outing last week. Forward Manning Shareef Manning Shareef 6'6" | SF/PF Milwaukee School Of Languages | 2025 State WI (6-6) is putting up solid numbers and playing consistently well as he is averaging 19.6 ppg and 13.3 rpg. Senior guard Amaris Hunt Amaris Hunt 6'1" | PG/CG Milwaukee School Of Languages | 2025 State WI (6-0), who joined Manning in the starting rotation a year ago when the Hawks went 11-13, also is having a huge season, averaging 20.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 4.2 apg. Newcomer Taylor Williams Taylor Williams 6'2" | SG/CG Lancaster | 2026 State WI , a talented 5-foot-7 point guard, has proven to be one of the better class of 2028 performers in the City Conference and is contributing 15.9 ppg and 3.3 apg. The Eagles lost to Milwaukee South the first time around and get a chance at revenge on Thursday with a game at South.

DIVISION 4 ... LADYSMITH

With a non-league win over Stanley-Boyd (77-60) and a Heart O'North Conference triumph over Northwestern (80-74, OT) last week, Ladysmith improved its season record to 16-5 overall and 11-4 in league play. The Lumberjacks extended their winning streak to eight games with the hard-fought win over Northwestern as senior guard Timmy Meltz Timmy Meltz 6'2" | SG Ladysmith | 2025 State WI (6-2) went off for 35 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocked shots. He got support from teammates Andrew Lehman Andrew Lehman 6'2" | SG Ladysmith | 2025 State WI (6-2) and Braeden Little (6-2) as each contributed 15 points, helping Ladysmith avenged an earlier 13-point loss to Northwestern. Against Stanley-Boyd, one of the better teams in the Cloverbelt West Conference, Meltz had 18 points and 13 rebounds while Lehman led the way with 23 points. Little added 14 and senior Louis Zimmer Louis Zimmer 6'1" | SF Ladysmith Highschool | 2025 WI (6-1) added 12. The Lumberjacks sit two behind Cameron in the league standings and play the Comets on the road on February 27.

DIVISION 5 ... ABUNDANT LIFE CHRISTIAN

It's been a season unlike any other team in state history has had to endure for the Challengers. After staring the season 3-1, Abundant Life put its season on hold for several weeks in the wake of the tragic shooting at the eastside school. A teenage student and a substitute teacher, who was employed part time by the school, were shot and killed while the shooter, a student at the school, also died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. No team in Wisconsin has ever had to deal with such a difficult situation. Credit coach Mike Thies and his players for bouncing back after a long time of mourning. Last week, the Challengers won three games, beating Cambridge (69-63) and two school it at one time had coop programs with -- Madison Country Day (85-39) and Saint Ambrose Academy (81-35). Five players scored in double figures in the impressive win over a very good Cambridge squad. The Challengers trailed 38-31 at half, but responded with a 38-24 second-half scoring spree to win the road contest. Sophomore forward Nick Thies Nick Thies 6'4" | PF Abundant Life Christian | 2027 State WI (6-3) and senior guard Jonah Koon Jonah Koon 6'1" | CG Abundant Life Christian | 2025 State WI (6-1) led the way with 15 points each while senior Conner Whitaker Conner Whitaker 6'2" | CG Abundant Life | 2025 WI (6-2) added 13. Senior Jacob Koon Jacob Koon 6'0" | PG Abundant Life Christian | 2025 State WI (6-0), Jonah's twin brother, had 14 points and nine assists in the win over Madison Country Day while junior Anthony Ellingson (6-2) topped the team with 22 points in the win over Saint Ambrose. Abundant Life Christian is tied for first place with Deerfield in the Trailways South Conference standings heading into a league encounter with Johnson Creek on Tuesday.