Marawood North Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Rib Lake 12-4 (21-8); 2. Prentice 8-8 (16-9); 3. Phillips 9-7 (17-9); 4. Athens 7-9 (8-17); 5. Abbotsford 1-13 (9-16); 6. Chequamegon 1-15 (3-22).<br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/rib-lake/">Rib Lake</a> </strong>-- A 21-8 record, a Marawood North title, a WIAA Division 5 regional crown and a trip to the sectional finals were among the many highlights for the Rib Lake basketball program last season. Coming off that remarkable campaign, much will be expected of Rib Lake as coach Todd Henderson has all five starters back, including his son in senior [player_tooltip player_id='2629220' first='Jed' last='Henderson'] (6-5, 16.1 ppg, 10.3 rpg). [player_tooltip player_id='2629220' first='Jed' last='Henderson']'s ability to put up double/doubles leads the way for a gifted senior class that also includes [player_tooltip player_id='3021940' first='Seth' last='Borchardt'] (5-11, 12.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2629230' first='Talon' last='Scheithauer'] (5-10, 13.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021941' first='Ethan' last='Cook'] (5-11, 3.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg). Coach Henderson's other son, sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2840377' first='Blake' last='Henderson'] (6-4, 7.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg), also returns for Rib Lake. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021952' first='Jackson' last='Schutt'] (6-2) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021951' first='Jeremy' last='Wiitala'] (6-1) along with sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3021947' first='Slade' last='Scheithauer'] (5-9) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021943' first='Lucas' last='Cook'] (6-0) provide quality depth. <br><br><strong>2. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/prentice/"><strong>Prentice</strong> </a>-- Experience and proven production are among the strengths at Prentice. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2629213' first='Aidan' last='Hause'] (6-3, 15.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2412829' first='Evan' last='Lord'] (6-2, 18.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg) give coach Adam Blomberg two of the most prolific scorers and dependable rebounders in the Marawood North. Three additional starters from a 16-9 squad also return in junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='3021816' first='Hardy' last='Hueckman'] (5-9, 4.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg), senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='3021818' first='Heston' last='Hueckman'] (5-10, 5.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and junior wing Hogan Isaacson (6-1, 7.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg). Off the bench, Blomberg has three additional players with varsity experience in senior [player_tooltip player_id='3021813' first='Eliah' last='Harding'] (6-0, 4.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='3021815' first='Matti' last='Heikkinen'] (5-9, 2.5 ppg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3021820' first='Ledger' last='Jones'] (6-0, 3.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg). The Buccaneers boast more experience than just about every other team in the loop and will be a tough out in 2025-26. <br><br><strong>3. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/abbotsford/"><strong>Athens</strong> </a>-- With all five starters back, Athens hopes to finish much better than the 8-17 mark it put together last season. However, coach Jeramie Penney still has a lack of size in the program, which could prove troublesome when the Bluejays go up against teams like Rib Lake and Prentice. Still, the experience of the returnees is a huge positive. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2629212' first='Riley' last='Schultz-Becker'] (6-0, 18.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg), Jordan Fahm (6-2, 6.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Kam Zamke (5-9, 8.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3018938' first='Eli' last='Paul'] (5-9, 4.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg) form a solid core along with the Bluejays' fifth returning regular, junior [player_tooltip player_id='3018937' first='Dax' last='Diethelm'] (6-0, 8.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg). A solid shooting team, Athens could also get a lift from newcomers [player_tooltip player_id='3018941' first='Brock' last='Beaty'] (6-3), [player_tooltip player_id='3018943' first='Kaleb' last='Cracraft'] (6-2) and Nick Paul (5-9). <br><br><strong>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/abbotsford/">Abbotsford</a></strong> -- A strong backcourt but a frontcourt lacking size are the main characteristics of the Abbotsford basketball program. Coach Garrett Rau can put his three returning guards up against anybody in the league, but the Falcons might have a tough time getting rebounders and defending the post. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2951766' first='Koren' last='Decker'] (5-10, 11.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2951771' first='Irvin' last='Aguilera'] (5-10, 9.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2951774' first='Christian' last='Fuentes'] (5-10, 5.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg) are returning starters from a club that went 9-16. The top two rebounders from that squad, Grayson Totzke (6-3, 16.7 ppg, 10.4 rpg) and AJ Brodhagen (6-3, 8.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg), graduated last spring, leaving some big shoes to fill along the baseline. Rau will look for seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3018788' first='Jack' last='Sheahan'] (6-1, 4.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and Chase Baller (6-0, 1.6 ppg, 1.2 rpg) to make a big step forward after coming off the bench last winter.<br><br><strong>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/phillips-3/">Phillips </a></strong>-- Skilled senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2391096' first='JJ' last='Heikkinen'] (5-8, 15 ppg, 4 rpg) is back for his fourth year of varsity competition and is talented as any other guard in the Marawood North. Trouble is, Heikkinen is the lone starter back for coach Amy Ring. So some untested players must take a big step forward to keep the Loggers in the thick of the league race. Two players who did play some off the bench and figure to contend for starting roles are junior [player_tooltip player_id='2984351' first='Johnny' last='Parker'] (5-10, 2 ppg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3021718' first='Josh' last='Edwards'] (5-9, 4.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg). Guard play and quickness are strengths for Phillips while xperience and lack of size are definite concerns.<br><br><strong>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/chequamegon/">Chequamegon</a></strong> -- There is no question Chequamegon will be a better unit this winter after winning just three of 25 outings a year ago. But moving up in the Marawood North is a big challenge, particularly with the high number of returning standouts in the six-team circuit. Still, coach Thomas Tollakson must be optimistic with four starters back, led by the top returning scorer in the league in senior [player_tooltip player_id='2522799' first='Cooper' last='Michalski'] (6-1, 23.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg). A unanimous first-team all-league performer, Michalski provides plenty of production for the Screaming Eagles. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019396' first='Marcus' last='Purdy'] (5-7, 12.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3019400' first='Jarrett' last='Heckendorf'] (5-10, 10.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019403' first='Antonio' last='Poetzl'] (5-11, 5.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg) also were starters last season. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019389' first='Mason' last='Paholke'] (6-0, 2.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg) could work his way into the starting rotation while seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019397' first='Norson' last='Rodriguez'] (5-7), Dom Cebery (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019387' first='Ian' last='Schloer'] (6-7) also return.<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2522799' first='Cooper' last='Michalski'] (Chequamegon) 23.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2412829' first='Evan' last='Lord'] (Prentice) 18.9 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629212' first='Riley' last='Schultz-Becker'] (Athens) 18.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629220' first='Jed' last='Henderson'] (Rib Lake) 16.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629213' first='Aidan' last='Hause'] (Prentice) 15.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2391096' first='JJ' last='Heikkinen'] (Phillips) 15.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629230' first='Talon' last='Scheithauer'] (Rib Lake) 13.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019396' first='Marcus' last='Purdy'] (Chequamegon) 12.8 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021940' first='Seth' last='Borchardt'] (Rib Lake) 12.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2951766' first='Koren' last='Decker'] (Abbotsford) 11.2 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019400' first='Jarrett' last='Heckendorf'] (Chequamegon) 10.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2951771' first='Irvin' last='Aguilera'] (Abbotsford) 9.4 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629212' first='Riley' last='Schultz-Becker'], 6-0, Sr., Athens<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2522799' first='Cooper' last='Michalski'], 6-1, Sr., Chequamegon<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629213' first='Aidan' last='Hause'], 6-3, Sr., Prentice<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629220' first='Jed' last='Henderson'], 6-5, Sr., Rib Lake<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2391096' first='JJ' last='Heikkinen'], 5-8, Sr., Phillips<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2412829' first='Evan' last='Lord'], 6-2, Sr., Prentice<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629230' first='Talon' last='Scheithauer'], 5-11, Sr., Rib Lake<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021940' first='Seth' last='Borchardt'], 5-10, Sr., Rib Lake<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019396' first='Marcus' last='Purdy'], 5-7, Sr., Chequamegon<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2951766' first='Koren' last='Decker'], 5-10, Sr., Abbotsford<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2629230' first='Talon' last='Scheithauer'], Rib Lake<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2629212' first='Riley' last='Schultz-Becker'], Athens<br><strong>Best Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2629220' first='Jed' last='Henderson'], Rib Lake<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2522799' first='Cooper' last='Michalski'], Chequamegon<br><strong>Most Improved:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3018945' first='Jordan' last='Frahm'], Athens</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->