From Worst to First: Is Bosse the Class of the SIAC?

The Southern Indiana Athletic Conference (SIAC) is a ten team conference based around seven Evansville high schools along with Castle, with Jasper and Vincennes Lincoln both joining the conference in 2020-2021 school year. In the last 25 years, all seven Evansville schools have won atleast a share of the SIAC Title with Evansville Reitz winning it nine times, Evansville Harrison eight times, and Castle winning it seven times. With the graduation of top talent + teams losing players to transfer, there's a shake at the top of the conference. Here's my Preseason SIAC Conference Ranking + All-Conference Teams for the 2025-2026 Season:   1st: Evansville Bosse Bulldogs   Last season, Evansville Bosse Head Coach Shane Burkhart's team was something he has rarely had to deal with. Young and inexperienced. Graduating four seniors, including second leading scorer in Tizaun Tomlinson, the Bulldogs return leading scorer in 6'3” Senior Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2172596' first='Marrius' last='Harris'] who averaged just under 19 points per game. Also returning is the junior backcourt duo of Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2408663' first='Elijah' last='Chinn'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2489643' first='Elijah' last='Eastwood']. Two big time additions that will be immediate impact players are Memphis Whitehaven transfer 6'6” Senior Wing [player_tooltip player_id='1760994' first='Dorion' last='Bowen'] and 6'5” Freshman Wing/Forward Ethan Hampton. Bowen is a versatile player that can play multiple positions all over the floor. Hampton is a high potential energy piece off the bench that will rebound and knock down open threes. The Bosse Bulldogs have a chance to go from last place to first place in a matter of a year. When Shane Burkhart has dudes, he usually delivers.   Conference Record Prediction: 8-1   2nd: Evansville North Huskies   Huskies Coach Jason Roach loses two seniors from a group last season that finished 11-13. Returning are nine players that played in atleast 18 varsity games last year including leading scorer in 6'5” Senior Wing [player_tooltip player_id='1561076' first='Bryson' last='Chapman'] who averaged 17 points and eight rebounds per contest. Also returning is senior backcourt duo [player_tooltip player_id='1561101' first='Seab' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1561073' first='Sena' last='Gore'] along with junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2140367' first='Greg' last='Pieterek']. The Huskies will have the ability to play any style with their size and skill. Should be the early favorites in the Evansville 4A Sectional.   Conference Record Prediction: 7-2   3rd: Evansville Mater Dei Wildcats   Not sure there is a team in the conference with a brighter future than Coach Kurt Wildeman's Mater Dei Wildcats. 6'6” Senior Wing/Forward [player_tooltip player_id='1561015' first='Jayden' last='Overton'] transfers over from Reitz to join fellow senior in 5'9” Guard Tate Mallory, who is recovering from a broken clavicle. The stout sophomore class the Wildcats have is led by 6'5” Wing [player_tooltip player_id='2408517' first='Cole' last='Breeden']. Breeden is the Wildcats leading scorer from a season ago averaging 14 points per game while shooting 38% from three. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2797684' first='Spencer' last='Schiff'], senior Kaleb Rheinlander, and sophomore Darret Branson will be impact players on the backcourt while Mallory is out with his recovery. The Wildcats will be major players in the 2A South this year, as well as in the future.   Conference Record Prediction: 7-2   4th: Evansville Reitz Panthers   When it comes to replacing production, I'm not sure there is a team in the state that is replacing as much as the Evansville Reitz Panthers. Losing 42 points per game to graduation, plus the unexpected loss of five-star Junior Wing/Forward Jaylan Mitchell, who transferred out to prep school. 6'5” Senior Forward [player_tooltip player_id='2466252' first='Preston' last='Tolliver'] returns as the leading contributor from a season ago. He's an athletic forward that rebounds and plays above the rim while continuing to expand his game on the perimeter. [player_tooltip player_id='2892526' first='Tim' last='Swope'], a 6'0” Senior transfer making the move from Castle, will make an immediate impact as a scorer and facilitator.   Conference Record Prediction: 5-4   5th: Evansville Memorial Tigers   The defending 3A Sectional Champions Memorial Tigers return two starters for first year Head Coach Jared Swanson. Pure point guard and one of the better on ball defenders in the area, [player_tooltip player_id='1560950' first='Dylen' last='Kendrick'] returns for his senior season after averaging 8.2 points and 5.2 assists. Pass first point guard that does a really good job getting in the lane and creating open looks for others. I'm sure he will be relied upon in a bigger role as a scorer. 6'3” Senior Wing [player_tooltip player_id='1560976' first='Maxx' last='Anslinger'] is the returning leading scorer for the Tigers at 8.8 points per game. Lengthy versatile wing that guards multiple positions and shot 40% from three on low volume.   Conference Record Prediction: 5-4   6th: Evansville Central Bears   Another team replacing its entire starting five is Coach Rodney Walker's Central Bears squad. He gets a jolt of life to his program in the form of veteran transfer senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='1561102' first='Donavin' last='Williams'] making his way from Castle and Christian Hall transferring down from Taylor. Donavin is a saavy lead guard that does a really good job controlling the game between scoring and facilitating while Christian is a quick defensive minded guard that. Trio of juniors that will make an immediate impacts are 6'3” Wing [player_tooltip player_id='2964484' first='Wyatt' last='Plisky'] and 6'5” Wing/Forward [player_tooltip player_id='3037591' first='Milen' last='Garnett'] with 5'10” Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2269379' first='Cameron' last='Patterson'] joining Williams and Hall in the backcourt. All three got limited time on the varsity last year, but both are ready to take the next step and accept the challenge.   Conference Record Prediction: 5-4   7th: Jasper Wildcats   The Jasper Wildcats are coming off a 9-14 season as Head Coach John Goebel enters his 19th year at the school. Leading scorer in 6'5” Junior Forward [player_tooltip player_id='2882765' first='Jaylen' last='Maners'] returns for the Wildcats after averaging 14 points and six rebounds a season ago. Also returning are two backcourt members in 6'2” Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1560974' first='Logan' last='Day'] and 5'9” Senior Max Bueltel. Those three will be looking to have big seasons to lead the Wildcats that should be able to be competitive in that 3A sectional.   Conference Record Prediction: 4-5   8th: Vincennes Lincoln Alices   Losing their top two scorers Joel Sanders, who is now at Franklin College and Luke Hall who combined for just over 27 points per game, the Alice's will look to 6'1” Junior Guard Colton York (6.7 points per game) and 6'2” Senior Guard [player_tooltip player_id='1561091' first='Jadon' last='Miller'] (6.3 points per game) to step up and lead the way. York was a 34% three-point shooter as a sophomore while Miller struggled from distance, he's a player that thrives on making plays in the lane. Expect the Alices to be competitive and surprise some people in that 3A sectional.   Conference Record Prediction: 2-7   9th: Harrison Warriors   The defending 4A Sectional champions have to adjust to life without four-year varsity contributors Shane Sims and Jay Summitt. The cupboard isn't bare with talent, it's just inexperienced talent to the varsity game is why I have the Warriors so low. They return 6'2” Senior Dustin Gerner along with 5'8” Junior Point Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2470634' first='Ty' last='Speer']. Tyrese Harris-Armstead, [player_tooltip player_id='2489672' first='Ady' last='Thomas'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2622040' first='Dean' last='Underwood'] also returning with varsity experience. Sophomore Guard Amauri Harrell is also expected to make an inpact at the varsity level this season. The future is bright for the Warriors, but the inexperience could get to them this season.   Conference Record Prediction: 1-8   10th: Castle Knights   The Castle Knights are another team in the conference that lost basically their entire production. Losing 52 points per game in production including their top five scorers to either graduation or transfer. The Knights will be one of the most inexperienced teams that Coach Brian Gibson has had in his tenure at Castle. 5'10” Senior Guard Dylan Kain will look to make a jump from the JV team last year as an impact contributor. He's a knockdown shooter that plays well with the ball in his hands. Cade Baker, a 5'10” Freshman Guard, is expected to make an immediate impact from day one. Confident shooter that will have an adjustment period to the physicality of the varsity game, but is a key piece to the Knights future.   Conference Record Prediction: 1-8   SIAC Preseason All-Conference Team   •[player_tooltip player_id='1760994' first='Dorion' last='Bowen'] - Evansville Bosse (Player of the Year)   •[player_tooltip player_id='2408517' first='Cole' last='Breeden'] - Evansville Mater Dei   •[player_tooltip player_id='1561076' first='Bryson' last='Chapman'] - Evansville North   •[player_tooltip player_id='3037591' first='Milen' last='Garnett'] - Evansville Central   •[player_tooltip player_id='2172596' first='Marrius' last='Harris'] - Evansville Bosse   •[player_tooltip player_id='1560950' first='Dylen' last='Kendrick'] - Evansville Memorial   •[player_tooltip player_id='2466252' first='Preston' last='Tolliver'] - Evansville Reitz

The Southern Indiana Athletic Conference (SIAC) is a ten team conference based around seven Evansville high schools along with Castle, with Jasper and Vincennes Lincoln both joining the conference in 2020-2021 school year. In the last 25 years, all seven Evansville schools have won atleast a share of the SIAC Title with Evansville Reitz winning it nine times, Evansville Harrison eight times, and Castle winning it seven times. With the graduation of top talent + teams losing players to transfer, there's a shake at the top of the conference. Here's my Preseason SIAC Conference Ranking + All-Conference Teams for the 2025-2026 Season: