Marinette and Oconto Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Crivitz 15-1 (17-8); 2. Niagara 12-4 (17-7); 2. Coleman 12-4 (12-13); 4. St. Thomas Aquinas 10-6 (16-8); 4. Gillett 10-6 (13-12); 6. Lena 4-12 (9-15); 6. Suring 4-12 (8-17); 8. Wausaukee 3-13 (8-17); 9. Oneida Nation 2-14 (4-19).<br><br><strong>2025-25 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/crivitz/"> Crivitz</a></strong> -- With four straight league crowns and a 61-3 conference record during that time span, Crivitz definitely is the measuring stick in the Marinette &amp; Oconto. That will not change this winter even with Buck Gehm taking over the coaching chores from Jeff Baumann. Gehm, a former assistant at Crivitz, has four starters back from a 17-8 squad. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2630004' first='Kade' last='Thoma'] (6-6, 21.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2630016' first='Pierce' last='Polomis'] (6-4, 11.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg) and Brayden Stellen (5-10, 5.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg), and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019579' first='Colton' last='Arpke'] (5-10, 5.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg) were starters last winter and form a strong nucleus. Also back is senior [player_tooltip player_id='2630008' first='Colten' last='Tarmann'] (5-10), who started as a sophomore but missed last season with an injury. Also back for the Wolverines are seniors Donnie Brandon (6-2, 2.1 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='3019577' first='Aiden' last='Flynn'] (5-10, 2.2 ppg) and Stephan Allard (6-3, 1.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg). <br><br><strong>2.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/coleman-2/"> Coleman</a></strong> -- Four players with multiple years of varsity experience are back at Coleman, which went 12-13 last season. Coach Jeff Bronson will call upon seniors Brady Duffek (6-1, 5.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3041941' first='Matthew' last='Tedtman'] (6-2) and Cayden Williams (5-9), along with junior twin brothers player_tooltip player_id='3041935' first='Kolton' last='Peters'] (6-0, 13.0 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3041939' first='Kollin' last='Peters'] (6-0, 3.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg) to provide the lion's share of minutes for a program that has fared so well over the past decade or so. Versatility and experience are assets while lack of size and a true point guard are concerns for Bronson.<br><br><strong>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/suring/">Suring</a></strong> -- Even after losing the top scorer and rebounder to graduation in Michael Bailey (6-1, 17.8 ppg, 12.0 rpg), Suring could prove to be the most improved team in the Marinette &amp; Oconto. Coach Gary Regal welcomes back four regulars from a team that went 8-17 and got better as the season progressed. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022503' first='Parker' last='Haak'] (6-3, 7.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022493' first='Taylor' last='Stoffregen'] (6-0, 13.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3022498' first='Kroix' last='Kempka'] (5-8, 3.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022501' first='Grant' last='Thomson'] (5-8, 1.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg) are returning starters for the Eagles. Also back are juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022494' first='CJ' last='Richards'] (5-8), [player_tooltip player_id='3022497' first='Dayne' last='Ermis'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022496' first='Karl' last='Hischke'] (6-3). Work ethic and defense are assets while shooting is a question mark. <br><br><strong>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/niagara/">Niagara</a></strong> -- Niagara won 18 games last winter, but had to endure the loss of top scorer Tommy Martin (6-2), who left the team late in the campaign. Veteran coach Terry Youren has just one proven varsity player back in senior [player_tooltip player_id='3021445' first='Brayden' last='Bartels'] (6-1, 8.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg), a good athlete who can get to the basket and finish. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021446' first='Dazavian' last='Hannah'] (5-8), [player_tooltip player_id='3021443' first='James' last='Wallace'] (5-8), [player_tooltip player_id='3021441' first='Kaden' last='Courts'] (5-10), [player_tooltip player_id='3021447' first='Christian' last='Anderson'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021440' first='Noah' last='Wheeler'] (6-1) also return, and will look to take on much bigger roles for the Badgers. <br><br><strong>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/oneida-nations/">Oneida Nation</a></strong> -- The Thunderhawks could pose big problems for opponents with the amount of returning talent and length. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3021600' first='Cory' last='McIntyre'] (5-10, 14.0 ppg, 9.3 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3021601' first='Mason' last='Laster'] (6-1, 9.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg) are honorable mention all-league returnees for coach Caleb Anderson. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3021603' first='Davian' last='Guitierrez'] (6-4, 9.8 ppg, 12.4 rpg) is a top-flight rebounder while sophomore Lanatakwe'Ku Summers-Berg (6-1, 5.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg) earned substantial playing time as a freshman. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2417117' first='Kingston' last='Webster'] (6-1) could also be a big factor for Oneida Nation in 2025-26. <br><br><strong>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/saint-thomas-aquinas-2/">St. Thomas Aquinas </a></strong>-- Replacing the strength, toughness and all-around play of the graduated Teagan Anderson (6-0, 18.0 ppg, 11.9 rpg) will be a challenge for fifth-year coach Jack Farley. Two of his younger brothers figure to play huge roles for St. Thomas Aquinas. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2815674' first='Jake' last='Farley'] (5-10, 19.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg) is one of two returning starters from a 16-8 squad along with senior [player_tooltip player_id='2505378' first='Caleb' last='Duvall'] (6-1, 12.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg). Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='3038007' first='Lucas' last='Farley'] (5-9) also figures to play a prominent role for the Cavaliers, who lack depth, size and experience outside of [player_tooltip player_id='2815674' first='Jake' last='Farley'] and Duvall. [player_tooltip player_id='2815674' first='Jake' last='Farley'] is a good shooter with quickness to attack the basket. He also led the state in steals a year ago. Senior Brody Koesling (5-8) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022401' first='Axel' last='Wilkie'] (5-11) and sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3022405' first='Ethan' last='Laird'] (5-8), [player_tooltip player_id='3022408' first='Teagan' last='Stelmaszewski'] (5-9) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022402' first='Grant' last='Klimczyk'] (5-6) also will contend for playing time. <br><br><strong>7. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/lena/"><strong>Lena</strong> </a>-- After winning nine games a year ago, Lena now must replace four key players, including top scorer and rebounder Mason Spice (6-0, 21.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg). Coach Justin Heimke starts his second season with three seniors who earned substantial playing time as juniors in [player_tooltip player_id='2954596' first='Blake' last='Behnke'] (6-0, 4.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2954597' first='Zander' last='Thomson'] (6-4, 4.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2954598' first='Cooper' last='Demmith'] (5-10, 2.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg). Those three players will be the core for Lena with Thomson ranking among the better rebounders in the Marinette &amp; Oconto. Junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='3020685' first='Dash' last='Comins'] (5-2, 2.8 ppg) and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='3020686' first='Luke' last='Koslowsky'] (5-11, 1.6 rpg) also return for a program looking for some scoring punch.<br><br><strong>8. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/gillett/">Gillett</a> </strong>-- Jesse DeBauch scored 1,953 career points and averaged 34.1 ppg and 10.8 rpg for Gillett last winter when the Tigers went 13-12. Unfortunately for Gillett coach Russ Young, DeBauch graduated last spring, leaving Gillett without its proven score of the past four years. Young does have some experience returning with starters [player_tooltip player_id='2954580' first='Jedric' last='Herzog'] (6-2, 8.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2954584' first='Bradyn' last='Wendorff'] (5-11, 1.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2954581' first='Brody' last='Halla'] (5-11, 2.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg) all back. But replacing the 43.2 ppg and 15.7 rpg provided by DeBauch and the graduated Ryan Pensis (5-11, 9.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg) will be a big hurdle for Gillett. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2386531' first='Brandon' last='Slatky'] (6-3) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3020063' first='Chase' last='Rosenlund'] (5-9), among others, will need to take on much bigger roles in 2025-26.<br><br><strong>9. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wausaukee/"><strong>Wausaukee</strong> </a>-- The only returning member from last year's starting lineup at Wausaukee is senior center [player_tooltip player_id='2630014' first='Gavin' last='Thomson'] (6-2, 9.4 ppg, 9.0 rpg). Thompson is an excellent shot blocker and can score in the paint, traits first-year coach Danny Suennen. The Rangers finished 8-17 a year ago, but lost four starters so experience and depth are concern. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2630004' first='Kade' last='Thoma'] (Crivitz) 21.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2815674' first='Jake' last='Farley'] (St. Thomas Aquinas) 19.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021600' first='Cory' last='McIntyre'] (Oneida Nation) 14.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022493' first='Taylor' last='Stoffregen'] (Suring) 13.2 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3041935' first='Kolton' last='Peters'] (Coleman) 13.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2505378' first='Caleb' last='Duvall'] (St. Thomas Aquinas) 12.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2630016' first='Pierce' last='Polomis'] (Crivitz) 11.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021603' first='Davian' last='Guitierrez'] (Oneida Nation) 9.8 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021601' first='Mason' last='Laster'] (Oneida Nation) 9.8 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2630004' first='Kade' last='Thoma'], 6-6, Sr., Crivitz<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2815674' first='Jake' last='Farley'], 5-10, Jr., St. Thomas Aquinas<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3041935' first='Kolton' last='Peters'], 6-0, Jr., Coleman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021600' first='Cory' last='McIntyre'], 5-10, Sr., Oneida Nation<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022493' first='Taylor' last='Stoffregen'], 6-0, Jr., Suring<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2630016' first='Pierce' last='Polomis'], 6-4, Sr., Crivitz<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021601' first='Mason' last='Laster'], 6-1, Jr., Oneida Nation<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2954580' first='Jedric' last='Herzog'], 6-2, Sr., Gillett<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021445' first='Brayden' last='Bartels'], 6-1, Sr., Niagara<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2505378' first='Caleb' last='Duvall'], 6-1, Sr., St. Thomas Aquinas<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2815674' first='Jake' last='Farley'], St. Thomas Aquinas<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2815674' first='Jake' last='Farley'], St. Thomas Aquinas<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2630004' first='Kade' last='Thoma'], Crivitz<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2630004' first='Kade' last='Thoma'], Crivitz<br><strong>Most Improved:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3022503' first='Parker' last='Haak'], Suring</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->