Cloverbelt East Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Columbus Catholic 11-3 (18-9); 1. Owen-Withee 11-3 (18-8); 3. Loyal 10-4 (19-8); 4. Neillsville 9-5 (10-16); 5. Spencer 7-7 (15-11); 6. Colby 6-8 (10-14); 7. Gilman 2-12 (6-18); 8. Greenwood 0-14 (3-20). <br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/columbus-catholic-2/">Columbus Catholic </a></strong>-- Traditionally tough Columbus Catholic looks to win the Cloverbelt East for the third straight season behind an experienced, versatile and skilled returning core of players. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2500034' first='Mac' last='Konieczny'] (5-11, 16.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg), the son of head coach Joe Konieczny, is the reigning Player of the Year in the Cloverbelt East and headlines a gifted backcourt that also includes juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2509448' first='Ben' last='Weiland'] (5-10, 13.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2926555' first='Cole' last='Wallace'] (5-8, 5.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg). Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2933062' first='Kaleb' last='Hilgemann'] (6-4, 3.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2418691' first='Jack' last='Kohlbeck'] (6-6, 1.4 ppg) along with ever-improving junior [player_tooltip player_id='2509449' first='Carter' last='Sommer'] (6-5, 8.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg) anchor the Dons' frontline. Depth is a big asset with seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2933056' first='Mason' last='Edwards'] (6-2), Cade Jensen (5-8) and [player_tooltip player_id='2933068' first='Devlin' last='Timmler'] (6-0) also returning. Newcomers from a JV1 team that won 19 of 20 outings will provide even further depth for the 2024 WIAA Division 5 state champions. <br><br><strong>2.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/loyal/"> Loyal </a></strong>-- The Greyhounds rival Columbus Catholic in terms of returning experience as coach Brandon DeSmet has five players returning who started at times a year ago on a 19-8 squad. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2500036' first='Bryce' last='Deegan'] (6-3, 10 ppg, 4 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2622846' first='Reed' last='Stieglitz'] (6-0, 12 ppg, 9 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2622838' first='Cain' last='Toufar'] (6-4, 11 ppg, 3 rpg) all earned all-league honors as a juniors and form a strong nucleus along with senior [player_tooltip player_id='2933138' first='Hunter' last='Walter'] (6-4, 5 ppg, 4 rpg) and Rhett Lamovee (6-4, 8 ppg, 4 rpg). Loyal possesses very good size and length to go along with its wealth of experience. Depth figures to come from seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3020757' first='Carson' last='Bremmer'] (6-3, 3 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2933141' first='Joe' last='Treffinger'] (6-3, 3 ppg) along with junior Carson Prien (5-10, 3 ppg). <br><br><strong>3. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/neillsville/"><strong>Neillsville</strong> </a>-- Coach Michael Gaier starts his 10th year at Neillsville with perhaps the best inside/outside combination in the Cloverbelt East. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2492535' first='Andrew' last='Hoeser'] (6-6, 17.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg) is often a dominant force in the paint while sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2724938' first='Landon' last='Rakestraw'] (5-9, 14.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg) provides quickness, ball handling and passing from the perimeter. The one-two punch of Hoeser and Rakestraw figures to help the Warriors contend in the Cloverbelt East, but they also will need big contributions from senior [player_tooltip player_id='2933169' first='Kaiden' last='Strey'] (6-2, 4 ppg, 6 rpg), juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2933170' first='Micah' last='Ziebell'] (6-3, 4 ppg, 4 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2933172' first='Marcus' last='Luchterhand'] (6-0, 2 ppg, 3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2933163' first='Zion' last='Jones'] (5-10, 5.5 ppg), and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2933171' first='Adam' last='Hoeser'] (6-5, 3.5 ppg, 4 rpg). <br><br><strong>4. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/spencer-3/"><strong>Spencer</strong> </a>-- Six teams in the Cloverbelt East have legitimate shots are finishing at or near the very top of the league standings and you can definitely include the Rockets of Spencer in that mix. Coach Charles Jennings has five players back who played big roles on last year's club that went 15-11. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2622833' first='Sam' last='Bezlyk'] (6-3, 23.4 ppg, 13.0 rpg) is a versatile, tough-minded wing who does damage in a lot of different ways. Bezlyk and classmates [player_tooltip player_id='3022275' first='Noah' last='Anderson'] (6-0, 11.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2610601' first='Mathers' last='McHone'] (6-6, 6.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022278' first='Breckin' last='Miller'] (6-2, 5.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg) are returning starters as is junior [player_tooltip player_id='2986368' first='Wes' last='Nieman'] (5-10, 10.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg). Defense, shooting and ball handling are listed strengths while depth and rebounding are concerns for the Rockets.<br><br><strong>5. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/colby-2/"><strong>Colby</strong> </a>-- The strong backcourt combination of seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2412802' first='Reed' last='Fleischmann'] (6-0, 14 ppg, 6 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2476350' first='Luke' last='Hannula'] (5-11, 6 ppg, 4 rpg) returns for Colby, giving coach James Flink one of the better guard duos in the Cloverbelt East. Fleischmann picked up first-team all-league laurels as a junior and then turned in a strong season on the club circuit with the [program_tooltip program_id='2076033' first='Wisconsin' last='Playmakers']. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2933073' first='Colton' last='Orth'] (6-1, 5 ppg, 3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2933075' first='Devon' last='Meyer'] (5-10, 2 ppg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2933074' first='Izaac' last='Carrera'] (5-5, 2 ppg) also return to the varsity squad. Quickness and length are listed strengths for the Hornets while lack of varsity experience and outside shooting are question marks. <br><br><strong>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/owen-withee-high/">Owen-Withee</a> </strong>-- Coming off a co-championship season with Columbus Catholic, Owen-Withee lost three double-figure scorers to graduation in Mason Gay, Dominic Sherwood and [player_tooltip player_id='2826030' first='Colin' last='Fritz']. Coach Russ Weiler, now in his 26th season, does return one of the better defenders and rebounders in the league in senior [player_tooltip player_id='2935490' first='Winston' last='Poehler'] (6-2, 13 ppg, 8.5 rpg). Poehler and senior [player_tooltip player_id='2935492' first='Jack' last='Wendler'] (6-3, 8 ppg, 6 rpg) started for last year's club that finished 18-8. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2935493' first='Sam' last='Wells'] (5-10, 7 ppg, 3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2935495' first='Colton' last='Paczkowski'] (5-7, 2 ppg) figure to contend for starting roles after playing off the bench in 2024-25. <br><br><strong>7.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/gilman/"> Gilman</a> </strong>-- The Pirates have lost 66 of 70 league games over the past five seasons, but coach Tyler Pockat's group gained some valuable experience a year ago and figures to improve upon a 6-18 finish. Gilman lost its top two scorers to graduation, but three other starters are back in senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020082' first='Anthony' last='Syryczuk'] (5-9, 5.6 ppg) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2824039' first='Beau' last='Pockat'] (5-10, 9.8 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020073' first='Logan' last='Halida'] (5-9, 7.9 ppg). Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020076' first='Dawson' last='Grunseth'] (6-0, 2.5 ppg) and junior Connor Nicholas (5-10, 2.0 ppg) also return for a team that lacks size. <br><br><strong>8.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/greenwood-5/"> Greenwood/Granton </a></strong>-- [player_tooltip player_id='2834296' first='Eric' last='Johnson'] takes over the coaching duties at Greenwood/Granton, which is in its first year as a co-op program. He will work with the top two returning scorers from a year ago in junior [player_tooltip player_id='3020190' first='Keegan' last='Gipe'] (13.0 ppg) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020188' first='Anton' last='Livingston'] (7.5 ppg). Junior [player_tooltip player_id='3020192' first='Carter' last='Johnson'] (2.9 ppg) also figures to play a big role for Greenwood/Granton. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2622833' first='Sam' last='Bezlyk'] (Spencer) 23.4 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492535' first='Andrew' last='Hoeser'] (Neillsville) 17.6 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500034' first='Mac' last='Konieczny'] (Columbus Catholic) 16.8 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2724938' first='Landon' last='Rakestraw'] (Neillsville) 14.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2412802' first='Reed' last='Fleischmann'] (Colby) 14.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2509448' first='Ben' last='Weiland'] (Columbus Catholic) 13.7 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020190' first='Keegan' last='Gipe'] (Greenwood/Granton) 13.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2935490' first='Winston' last='Poehler'] (Owen-Withee) 13.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2622846' first='Reed' last='Stieglitz'] (Loyal) 12.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2622838' first='Cain' last='Toufar'] (Loyal) 11.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022275' first='Noah' last='Anderson'] (Spencer) 11.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500036' first='Bryce' last='Deegan'] (Loyal) 10.4 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2986368' first='Wes' last='Nieman'] (Spencer) 10.1 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500034' first='Mac' last='Konieczny'], 5-11, Sr., Columbus Catholic<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2412802' first='Reed' last='Fleischmann'], 6-0, Sr., Colby<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2622833' first='Sam' last='Bezlyk'], 6-3, Sr., Spencer<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2622846' first='Reed' last='Stieglitz'], 6-0, Sr., Loyal<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492535' first='Andrew' last='Hoeser'], 6-6, Sr., Neillsville<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2509448' first='Ben' last='Weiland'], 5-10, Jr., Columbus Catholic<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2509449' first='Carter' last='Sommer'], 6-5, Jr., Columbus Catholic<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500036' first='Bryce' last='Deegan'] 6-3, Sr., Loyal<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2622838' first='Cain' last='Toufar'], 6-4, Sr., Loyal<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2724938' first='Landon' last='Rakestraw'], 5-9, Soph., Neillsville<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2509448' first='Ben' last='Weiland'], Columbus Catholic<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2935490' first='Winston' last='Poehler'], Owen-Withee<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2622833' first='Sam' last='Bezlyk'], Spcner<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2492535' first='Andrew' last='Hoeser'], Neillsville<br><strong>Most Improved Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2509449' first='Carter' last='Sommer'], Columbus Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->