Northern Lights Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Mellen 16-2 (22-4); 2. Bayfield 15-3 (21-6); 2. Hurley 15-3 (21-5); 4. Solon Springs 12-6 (14-10); 5. Drummond 11-7 (15-11); 6. Washburn 9-9 (11-13); 7. Lac Courte Oreilles 5-13 (6-18); 7. South Shore 5-13 (6-18); 9. Mercer 2-16 (2-19); 10. Butternut 0-18 (0-19).<br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/mellen/">Mellen </a></strong>-- Now in his 30th season as the head coach at Mellen, Don Moreland needs 16 more wins to reach 400 for his stellar career. He likely will reach that significant milestone this season as four starters return from a 22-4 squad that won the Northern Lights championship. Leading the way for Mellen is senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2547238' first='Xander' last='Beeksma'] (6-3, 15.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg), who shared the Player of the Year award with Quintin Bressette of Bayfield following the 2024-25 campaign. Beeksma gets plenty of help from seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2634498' first='Ryan' last='Henri'] (6-3, 12.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2930712' first='Hayden' last='Lawver'] (5-9, 9.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2930713' first='Bryce' last='Maier'] (6-3, 7.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg). The balance and experience in the Granite Diggers program is impressive and so is its depth as newcomers from a 16-0 JV1 team join the varsity unit. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2930714' first='Brooks' last='Mesko'] (5-9, 3.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2930716' first='Camdyn' last='Casey'] (5-10, 4.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg) also return for Mellen. <br><br><strong>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/drummond/">Drummond </a></strong>-- All five starters are back for Drummond, and that is exceptional news for coach Josh Hanson as the Lumberjacks won 15 games last season with that lineup. Senior Cameron McKinney (6-3, 8.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and four juniors -- [player_tooltip player_id='2630832' first='Aaron' last='Christenson'] (6-2, 18.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3019751' first='Ben' last='Giesregen'] (5-11, 10.0 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='3019756' first='Brett' last='Hanson'] (6-1, 4.6 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019754' first='Jadon' last='Bletsch'] (5-10, 3.1 ppg) -- form a rock-solid nucleus for a squad looking to overtake Mellen and capture the Northern Lights title. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019752' first='Alex' last='Oreskovich'] (5-8, 3.0 ppg) also returns for a Drummond program that boasts talent, experience and good team chemistry. <br><br><strong>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/washburn-2/">Washburn</a></strong> -- The Castle Guards will call upon two returning all-league performers to lead the way this winter in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022706' first='Brodi' last='Anderson'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022710' first='Vaughn' last='Hoffman'] (6-5). Anderson, a second-team pick, and Hoffman, a third-team selection, helped Washburn to an 11-13 mark under long-time coach Duane Gasperini. They were joined in the Castle Guards' starting rotation by senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022702' first='Max' last='[player_tooltip player_id='2400591' first='Phillip' last='']s'] (5-10), junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022711' first='Greyson' last='St. Arnold'] (5-9) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2792316' first='Waylon' last='Witt'] (6-0). <br><br><strong>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/hurley/">Hurley </a></strong>-- Always one of the best teams in the Northern Lights, Hurley again will offer a stiff test to its nine league opponents this winter. Coach Mike Schwartz, who has won 184 games in 11 seasons, has four regulars back from a 21-5 squad. The NorthStars have good size, excellent balance and solid depth, assets that could help them win the league crown. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3020337' first='Wyatt' last='Hall'] (6-0, 11.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3020328' first='Ty' last='Hall'] (6-0, 9.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2634497' first='Jack' last='Rowe'] (6-0, 9.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg) started in 2024-25 along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2797962' first='Logan' last='Schilling'] (6-5, 11.3 ppg, 9.9 rpg). Those four players get support off the bench from senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020339' first='Parker' last='Sivula'] (5-9, 4.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3020342' first='Brenden' last='Aukee'] (5-8, 3.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg). <br><br><strong>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/solon-springs/">Solon Springs</a></strong> -- After capturing consecutive Northern Lights championships in 2023 and 2024, Solon Springs slipped to a fourth place finish last season. Coach Marcus Besonen's squad went 14-10 and looks to improve on that mark this time around behind the return of four players who saw significant playing time on last year's squad. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022230' first='Isaiah' last='Ahlberg'] (5-11), juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022228' first='Taven' last='Nelson'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='2634501' first='Jake' last='Taggart'] (5-10), and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3022227' first='Nolan' last='Hill-Smith'] (5-8) may lack size, but they possess lots of quickness, skill and toughness. Replacing Cade Lisson (6-4), a second-team all-league choice, might be difficult for a team that lacks size. <br><br><strong>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/bayfield-2/">Bayfield </a></strong>-- The top seven scorers from last year's squad that went 21-6 graduated, leaving some huge holes in the Trollers' lineup. The biggest loss, without question, for coach George Newago is guard Quintin Bressette (6-0, 28.7 ppg, 83 made three pointers), who shared Player of the Year honors in the league with [player_tooltip player_id='2547238' first='Xander' last='Beeksma'] of Mellen. Six players who received limited playing time last winter form the core for Bayfield. That group includes seniors David Boyd (6-0) and Kayden LaGrew (6-0), juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019006' first='Nakodan' last='Newago'] (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019002' first='Maddox' last='Parent'] (5-8), and sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3018997' first='Adrian' last='Antiel'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3018995' first='Jeremy' last='Peterson Jr.'] (6-0). Scoring punch and lack of experience are the biggest obstacles for the Trollers to overcome. <br><br><strong>7. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/south-shoresch/"><strong>South Shore</strong> </a>-- South Shore won six games a year ago and brings back three key contributors from that team in juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022253' first='Sylas' last='Jardine'] (6-2, 6.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3022257' first='Brandon' last='Madison'] (5-11, 7.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022256' first='Dexton' last='Wilcox'] (5-9, 2.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg). Coach [player_tooltip player_id='3022257' first='Brandon' last='Madison'] will count on others as well with senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022252' first='Soren' last='Hoyer'] (5-7) and sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3022254' first='Tucker' last='Mueller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3022259' first='Nathaniel' last='Spuhler'] expected to play important roles. <br><br><strong>8. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/lac-courte-oreilles/">Lac Courte Oreilles </a></strong>-- The Eagles lost four starters to graduation so coach [player_tooltip player_id='2400591' first='Phillip' last=''] Zeigle has some holes to fill in his lineup. The lone returning regular for Lac Courte Oreilles is senior guard Matthew White (5-9, 8.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg). Junior guard Darien Goodsky (6-1, 1.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg) started a handful of games and figures to team with White in the Eagles' backcourt. Lack of size, scoring, shooting and experience are all concerns. <br><br><strong>9. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/mercer/">Mercer </a></strong>-- The Tigers won two games last season, both over Butternut, and will be hard pressed to log a huge turnaround in 2025-26. Scoring punch, depth and size are all question marks for Mercer, but coach Anthony Pemble does have some experience back with guards [player_tooltip player_id='3021023' first='Dylan' last='Eith'] (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021031' first='Keewin' last='Wilson'] (5-9) leading the way. Others who figure to be key contributors include [player_tooltip player_id='3021021' first='Ben' last='Joustra'], [player_tooltip player_id='3021025' first='Aiden' last='Galloway'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3021029' first='Connor' last='Heikkinen'].<br><br><strong>10.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/butternut/"> Butternut </a></strong>-- That nasty losing streak is up to 69 in a row for Butternut. The last time the Midgets experienced a victory was February 19, 2022 when Butternut registered a 68-53 win over White Lake. Some 69 games later, here Butternut sits, trying to keep afloat a program with a high school enrollment of just 49 students. Coach Will Smudde does return four starters from an 0-19 squad in seniors Jayden Motjo and [player_tooltip player_id='3019255' first='Grady' last='Dennis'] along with sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3019251' first='Evan' last='Lynch'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3019253' first='Noah' last='Montgomery']. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2630832' first='Aaron' last='Christenson'] (Drummond) 18.8 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2547238' first='Xander' last='Beeksma'] (Mellen) 15.6 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634498' first='Ryan' last='Henri'] (Mellen) 12.5 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2797962' first='Logan' last='Schilling'] (Hurley) 11.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020337' first='Wyatt' last='Hall'] (Hurley) 11.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019751' first='Ben' last='Giesregen'] (Drummond) 10.0 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2547238' first='Xander' last='Beeksma'], 6-3, Sr. Mellen<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2630832' first='Aaron' last='Christenson'], Drummond<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020337' first='Wyatt' last='Hall'], Hurley<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022706' first='Brodi' last='Anderson'], Washburn<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634498' first='Ryan' last='Henri'], 6-3, Sr., Mellen<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2797962' first='Logan' last='Schilling'], Hurley<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634501' first='Jake' last='Taggart'], Solon Springs<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019751' first='Ben' last='Giesregen'], Drummond<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020328' first='Ty' last='Hall'], Hurley<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2930712' first='Hayden' last='Lawver'], 5-9, Sr., Mellen<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2930712' first='Hayden' last='Lawver'], Mellen<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2547238' first='Xander' last='Beeksma'], Mellen<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2797962' first='Logan' last='Schilling'], Hurley<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2547238' first='Xander' last='Beeksma'], Mellen<br><strong>Most Improved: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3022253' first='Sylas' last='Jardine'], South Shore</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->