WIAA Division 5 Tournament Preview

With a couple of weeks left in the regular season and seeds coming out Sunday for the WIAA playoffs, here is a quick look at things to watch for in Division 5.   SECTIONAL 1 The Favorites (Upper Bracket) New Auburn (16-4) Spring Valley (16-4) Turtle Lake (16-3) The Favorites (Lower Bracket) Bayfield (17-5) Mellen (18-3) Owen-Withee (17-4) Rib Lake (14-6) Don't Be Surprised If ... Angela Wagner becomes the first female in state history to be a head coach of a boys' team at the WIAA State Tournament. The first-year mentor at Turtle Lake has a team capable of getting all the way to Madison, thanks in large part to the strong frontline play of juniors Cam Davis (6-5) and [player_tooltip player_id='2406762' first='Brandon' last='Wagner'] (6-6). That talented duo is accounting for 35.3 ppg and 23.5 rpg for the Lakers. Turtle Lake competes in the Western Division of the Lakeland Conference and often competes up against Division 4 programs, which should help prepare the Lakers for post season play in Division 5. Sleeper Team Flambeau. The Falcons compete in the Eastern Division of the Lakeland Conference and are battling for the league crown along with Birchwood and New Auburn. Flambeau could make things tough on opponents with its strong guard play and improved play along the baseline. Coach Jeff Podgornik has been at it for 14 seasons now and his club could pull a few upsets behind the strong play of junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2628658' first='Dominic' last='Kopacz'] (6-0), who is averaging 17.9 ppg, and junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2952205' first='Chanse' last='Ludescher'] (6-3), who is netting 10.5 ppg. All-Sectional Teams First-Team [player_tooltip player_id='2493656' first='Quintin' last='Bresette'], 6-1, Sr., Bayfield [player_tooltip player_id='2547238' first='Xander' last='Beeksma'], 6-1, Sr., Mellen Winston Poehler, 6-1, Jr., Owen-Withee [player_tooltip player_id='2629220' first='Jed' last='Henderson'], 6-5, Jr., Rib Lake [player_tooltip player_id='2406762' first='Brandon' last='Wagner'], 6-6, Jr., Turtle Lake Second-Team [player_tooltip player_id='2628652' first='Lucas' last='Gindt'], 6-1, Jr., Birchwood [player_tooltip player_id='2547396' first='Jared' last='Schultz'], 6-0, Sr., Northwood [player_tooltip player_id='2447836' first='Ty' last='Roehm'], 6-3, Sr., Luck [player_tooltip player_id='1878607' first='Cade' last='Stasiek'], 6-1, Sr., Spring Valley Cam Davis, 6-5, Jr., Turtle Lake SECTIONAL 2 The Favorites (Upper Bracket) Almond-Bancroft (16-5) Pacelli (15-5) Tigerton (18-1) The Favorites (Lower Bracket) Niagara (15-5) Saint Thomas Aquinas (13-6) Sheboygan Lutheran (18-3) Don't Be Surprised If ... Almond-Bancroft and Pacelli meet for a third time in a sectional semifinal contest. Almond-Bancroft swept the Cardinals in Central Wisconsin South Conference play as talented senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1544739' first='Ayden' last='Phillips'] (6-7) went off for 29 points and 16 rebounds in the Eagles' 69-59 victory over Pacelli earlier this month. Pacelli has a senior dominated squad led by Lakeland University recruit [player_tooltip player_id='2388795' first='Camden' last='Schurk'] (6-3) and would love another chance at competing with Almond-Bancroft, the defending sectional champion. Sleeper Team Elkhart Lake. All eight of Elkhart Lake's losses in Big East North Conference play have come at the hands of Division 4 programs -- two each to Howards Grove, Manitowoc Lutheran, Saint Mary Catholic and Reedsville. Playing such a competitive league schedule could help the Resorters come playoff time. Coach Mike Koehler has three proven performers in senior [player_tooltip player_id='1961737' first='Brody' last='Feldmann'] (6-2), a UW-Stout football recruit who has scored more than 1,000 career points and is averaging 15.7 ppg and 6.8 rpg; junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1561884' first='Ashton' last='Thuecks'] (6-5), a three-year varsity performer who is averaging 15.5 ppg and 5.8 rpg; and freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='2613973' first='Brayden' last='Smith'] (6-0), a terrific shooter who is contributing 12.4 ppg. All-Sectional Teams First Team [player_tooltip player_id='1544739' first='Ayden' last='Phillips'], 6-7, Sr., Almond-Bancroft [player_tooltip player_id='2388795' first='Camden' last='Schurk'], 6-3, Sr., Pacelli [player_tooltip player_id='2224503' first='Brennen' last='Hackbarth'], 6-5, Jr., Sheboygan Lutheran [player_tooltip player_id='2493657' first='Jesse' last='DeBauch'], 6-0, Sr., Gillett [player_tooltip player_id='2630012' first='Cameron' last='Schiefelbein'], 6-6, Sr., Niagara Second Team [player_tooltip player_id='2382133' first='Marion' last='Boyland'], 6-5, Soph., Sheboygan Lutheran [player_tooltip player_id='2630000' first='Teagan' last='Anderson'], 6-1, Sr., Saint Thomas Aquinas [player_tooltip player_id='2382317' first='James' last='Brady'], 6-9, Soph., Tigerton [player_tooltip player_id='2634236' first='Canton' last='Chrisman'], 5-11, Soph., Wabeno/Laona [player_tooltip player_id='1961737' first='Brody' last='Feldmann'], 6-3, Sr., Elkhart Lake SECTIONAL 3 The Favorites (Upper Half) Alma Center Lincoln (15-5) Cochrane Fountain-City (18-2) The Favorites (Bottom Half) Highland (18-2) North Crawford (18-1) Potosi (18-3) River Ridge (19-2) Royall (20-0) Don't Be Surprised If ... There are some truly outstanding regional finals contests in the lower-half of the sectional as top teams from the Ridge & Valley, Scenic Bluffs and Six Rivers West conferences go head-to-head for a right to play at the sectional level in Prairie du Chien. The Ridge & Valley boasts four stellar teams with North Crawford leading the league standings followed by Kickapoo, Seneca and Ithaca. The Scenic Bluffs features one of a handful of undefeated teams remaining in the state in Royall while the Six Rivers West has Potosi, Highland and River Ridge all near the top. All of the teams mentioned should make for some outstanding competition at the regional level. Sleeper Team Columbus Catholic. The defending Division 5 state champion Dons lost a ton to graduation and took some early hits while competing in the Eastern Division of the Cloverbelt Conference. But coach Joe Konieczny's young squad has gained confidence since the calendar turned to 2025 as the Dons have won eight of their last nine games. As usual, Columbus Catholic is limited in size, but the Dons can shoot at a high level with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2500034' first='Mac' last='Konieczny'] (5-11) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2509448' first='Ben' last='Weiland'] (5-11) each capable of drilling multiple three-point baskets in any given game. All-Sectional Teams First Team [player_tooltip player_id='2417878' first='Jace' last='Paul'], 6-4, Sr., Alma Center Lincoln [player_tooltip player_id='2624236' first='Cameron' last='Lipinski'], 6-3, Sr., Cochrane-Fountain City [player_tooltip player_id='2636231' first='Wesley' last='Kraisinger'], 6-3, Sr., Highland [player_tooltip player_id='2501092' first='Brandon' last='Davis'], 5-10, Jr., River Ridge [player_tooltip player_id='2426884' first='Carter' last='Uppena'], 6-2, Sr., Royall Second Team [player_tooltip player_id='2552683' first='Grady' last='Poppy'], 6-4, Soph., Shullsburg [player_tooltip player_id='2550547' first='Michael' last='Esser'], 6-4, Sr., Highland [player_tooltip player_id='1561916' first='J.T.' last='Schlaefer'], 6-0, Jr., Assumption [player_tooltip player_id='2500034' first='Mac' last='Konieczny'], 5-11, Jr., Columbus Catholic [player_tooltip player_id='2423204' first='Miles' last='Ravenscroft'], 6-2, Jr., Hillsboro SECTIONAL 4 The Favorites (Upper Half) Abundant Life Christian (15-5) Barneveld (16-4) Southwestern (17-5) The Favorites (Lower Half) Cambria-Friesland (15-5) Oakfield (13-7) Palmyra-Eagle (12-8) Wayland Academy (12-3) Don't Be Surprised If ... The paths of Abundant Life Christian and Southwestern cross again in a potential sectional semifinal contest. A year ago, Abundant Life squeezed past Southwestern 63-61 in a regional final and went on to finish second in the WIAA Division 5 State Tournament. The two D5 powers met again this season with Southwestern using a balanced scoring attack to offset a 24-point performance from [player_tooltip player_id='2551622' first='Jacob' last='Koon']. Southwestern won that contest, played a the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, 67-58. Another showdown could be forthcoming as both programs again field outstanding teams. Sleeper Team Fall River. The Pirates got to an extremely slow start to the season, losing eight of their first 10 outings. But things have turned in a positive way for coach Arnie Oelke's squad as Fall River is 9-1 over its past 10 games. The impressive play of St. Norbert College recruit [player_tooltip player_id='2551614' first='Ethan' last='LeClair'] (6-7) is a big reason for the Pirates' turnaround. LeClair leads Fall River in scoring (19.6 ppg), rebounding (9.3 rpg) and blocked shots (2.3 bspg). He is getting plenty of help from sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2689862' first='Kaden' last='Seim'] (6-4), who is averaging 15.5 ppg and 8.0 rpg, and from senior [player_tooltip player_id='2638159' first='Zack' last='Osterhaus'] (6-4), who is contributing 12.1 ppg and 6.4 rpg. All-Sectional Teams First Team [player_tooltip player_id='2551618' first='Devin' last='Patrick'], 6-4, Sr., Palmyra-Eagle [player_tooltip player_id='2551628' first='Jonah' last='Koon'], 6-1, Sr., Abundant Life Christian [player_tooltip player_id='2381728' first='Nick' last='Medema'], 6-7, Sr., Randolph [player_tooltip player_id='2551614' first='Ethan' last='LeClair'], 6-7, Sr., Fall River [player_tooltip player_id='2487657' first='Sam' last='Fait'], 6-4, Soph., Catholic Central Second Team [player_tooltip player_id='2551622' first='Jacob' last='Koon'], 6-0, Sr., Abundant Life Christian [player_tooltip player_id='2621236' first='Griffin' last='Noll'], 5-11, Soph., Pecatonica [player_tooltip player_id='2638154' first='Carson' last='Burmania'], 6-3, Sr., Cambria-Friesland [player_tooltip player_id='2447323' first='Davis' last='Dercks'], 6-4, Sr., Oakfield [player_tooltip player_id='2493680' first='Kaden' last='Fillmore'], 6-5, Sr., Dodgeland

With a couple of weeks left in the regular season and seeds coming out Sunday for the WIAA playoffs, here is a quick look at things to watch for in Division 5.