Ridge and Valley Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:</strong><br><br>1. North Crawford 14-0 (25-3); 2. Ithaca 10-4 (19-7); 2 Kickapoo 10-4 (17-9); 4. Seneca 9-5 (17-8); 5. De Soto 5-9 (10-14); 6. La Farge 3-11 (10-15); 6. Weston 3-11 (5-17); 8. Wauzeka-Steuben 2-12 (4-20). <br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/north-crawford/"><strong>North Crawford</strong> </a>-- The Trojans shoot for third straight championship in the Ridge &amp; Valley this winter as coach Chris Wettstein brings back three starters and two key backups from a year ago. Leading the way is the league's reigning Player of the Year in [player_tooltip player_id='2424246' first='Cullen' last='Jacobus'] (5-10, 18.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg), a quick, energetic backcourt performer who has a nose for the basket. Joining Jacobus as returning starters are senior [player_tooltip player_id='2634881' first='Landen' last='Blaha'] (6-0, 8.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2914986' first='Zack' last='Bender'] (6-2, 9.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg). Also returning for the Trojans are senior [player_tooltip player_id='3021467' first='Gavin' last='Tamling'] (5-11, 2.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3021469' first='Sawyer' last='Stluka'] (5-10, 5.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg). Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2915082' first='Landry' last='Stluka'] (6-1) and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2886158' first='Damien' last='McCormick'] (6-1) could also be key performers for North Crawford.<br><br><strong>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/kickapoo/">Kickapoo</a></strong> -- Big things are anticipated for the Panthers' basketball program as five players who started on last season's 17-9 squad are back for coach Mat Wood. All five are capable of scoring in double figures and two also are potential double figure rebounders. An exceptionally strong senior class includes [player_tooltip player_id='2412774' first='Warren' last='Uhe'] (5-9, 9 ppg, 5 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3020543' first='Aidric' last='Egge'] (6-0, 8 ppg, 4 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2634917' first='Malachi' last='McCauley'] (6-3, 12.1 ppg, 5 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2501110' first='Arlon' last='Walter'] (6-6, 11.6 ppg, 10.3 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2914619' first='Breken' last='Miller'] (6-0, 10.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg), Jeff Olson (5-8, 4 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020548' first='Brayden' last='Linder'] (6-2, 3 ppg, 3 rpg). Those seven players along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3020539' first='Jace' last='Nagel'] (5-10, 5 ppg, 3 rpg) form the core for Kickapoo, which will attempt to win its first league title since the 1990s. <br><br><strong>3. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/seneca-3/"><strong>Seneca</strong> </a>-- Tyler Payne begins his first season as head coach at Seneca with three starters returning from a club that finished 17-8. Seneca may have the most improved player in the circuit in senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2915144' first='Jackson' last='Konichek'] (6-4, 10.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg). Konichek took big strides in his game over the summer and headlines an experienced group that includes seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2915151' first='Hunter' last='Hagensick'] (5-11, 8 ppg, 4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2634896' first='Gage' last='Wall'] (5-11, 10.1 ppg, 5 rpg). Also returning for the Royals is senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022104' first='Kaden' last='Roberts'] (5-9, 2 ppg). Quickness and competitiveness are listed strengths while rebounding is a question mark. <br><br><strong>4. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/ithaca-3/"><strong>Ithaca</strong> </a>-- One of the more dominating big men in the Ridge &amp; Valley returns for Ithaca in senior [player_tooltip player_id='2634852' first='Devin' last='Ihm'] (6-4, 17.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg). A returning first-team all-league performer, Ihm has the potential to average a double/double this season for coach Aaron Huebsch. Also returning to the starting lineup from a 19-7 squad is senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='3020389' first='Cody' last='Byrnes'] (6-0, 8.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg). Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2452750' first='Ethan' last='Birkrem'] (6-1, 5.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020390' first='Caden' last='Keller'] (5-9, 1.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg) along with seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3020395' first='Hewsten' last='Garcia-Boland'] (6-1, 3.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020394' first='Keegan' last='Jones'] (6-1, 1.3 ppg) figure to challenge for starting positions after coming off the bench last winter. <br><br><strong>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/de-soto-2/">De Soto</a></strong> -- Garrett Redman's seventh season as the head coach at De Soto could very well be a good one as five players who started at times a year ago on a 10-14 squad return for the Pirates. The lone loss from a year ago -- forward Harris Krueger (6-3, 10.3 ppg, 8.9 rpg) -- will be missed, but De Soto has the luxury of having plenty of experience and good balance. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2634909' first='Jackson' last='Trussoni'] (6-1, 11.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.3 apg), [player_tooltip player_id='3019667' first='Bryce' last='Schultz'] (6-0, 6.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.0 apg), [player_tooltip player_id='3019664' first='Finn' last='Wrobel'] (6-1, 3.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and Austin DeFlorian (5-10, 2.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg) form a strong nucleus along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2815287' first='Adam' last='Venner'] (6-4, 9.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg). Those five players could help the Pirates contend with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019669' first='Oscar' last='Zink'] (5-11, 4.0 ppg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3019659' first='Eli' last='Brosinski'] (5-8, 3.6 ppg) also playing key roles. <br><br><strong>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wauzeka-steuben/">Wauzeka-Steuben</a></strong> -- Coming off a 4-20 season, the Hornets look to improve their lot within the Ridge &amp; Valley and will do so with four returning starters, led by senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2501090' first='Cooper' last='Lomas'] (6-2, 16.0 ppg, 9.4 rpg). One of the top all-around players in the league, Lomas is a returning first-team all-league choice for coach Isaiah Okey. Other returning regulars include seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022821' first='Theodore' last='Millin'] (6-2, 5.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3022816' first='Julius' last='Cooley'] (6-1, 7.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022814' first='Clint' last='Mitchell'] (5-7, 1.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg). Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3022811' first='Josh' last='Martin'] (5-8, 3.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg) also is back for Wauzeka-Steuben, which must overcome a lack of depth due to low numbers in the program. <br><br><strong>7. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/weston-3/">Weston</a></strong> -- Weston again will feature one of the league's most athletic performers in senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022890' first='Isaac' last='Jennings'] (6-2, 16.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg), but whether the Eagles can get enough help for Jennings to better a 5-17 record remains to be seen. Coach Tracy Jennings lost three starters to graduation, but he does bring back two strong performers in his son, Isaac, along with senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022893' first='Trevor' last='Westphal'] (5-10, 9.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg). The other player with some substantial varsity experience back for the Eagles is junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='3022891' first='Gavin' last='Kast'] (5-11, 3.0 ppg). <br><br><strong>8. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/la-farge/">La Farge</a></strong> -- Competing in one of the better WIAA Division 5 conferences in the state, La Farge will be hard pressed to get more than the 10 victories it earned a year ago. Three regulars are back for coach Matt Benson in seniors Theo Patt (6-1, 10.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020604' first='William' last='Wirts'] (6-1, 12.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3020603' first='Braxtyn' last='Kastner'] (6-1, 6.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg). Those three, by far, have the most experience in the Wildcats' program. Senior Brian Poitter (6-4) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2809403' first='Bentley' last='Nelson'] (6-3) provide some size along the baseline.<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2424246' first='Cullen' last='Jacobus'] (North Crawford) 18.2 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634852' first='Devin' last='Ihm'] (Ithaca) 17.8 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022890' first='Isaac' last='Jennings'] (Weston) 16.4 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2501090' first='Cooper' last='Lomas'] (Wauzeka-Steuben) 16.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020604' first='William' last='Wirts'] (La Farge) 12.8 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634917' first='Malachi' last='McCauley'] (Kickapoo) 12.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2501110' first='Arlon' last='Walter'] (Kickapoo) 11.6 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634909' first='Jackson' last='Trussoni'] (De Soto) 11.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020597' first='Theo' last='Parr'] (La Farge) 10.7 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634896' first='Gage' last='Wall'] (Seneca) 10.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2915144' first='Jackson' last='Konichek'] (Seneca) 10.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2914619' first='Breken' last='Miller'] (Kickapoo) 10.0 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634852' first='Devin' last='Ihm'], 6-4, Sr., Ithaca<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634917' first='Malachi' last='McCauley'], 6-3, Sr., Kickapoo<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2424246' first='Cullen' last='Jacobus'], 5-10, Sr., North Crawford<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2914986' first='Zack' last='Bender'], 6-2, Jr., North Crawford<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2915144' first='Jackson' last='Konichek'], 6-4, Sr., Seneca<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2501090' first='Cooper' last='Lomas'], 6-2, Sr., Wauzeka-Steuben<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022890' first='Isaac' last='Jennings'], 6-2, Sr., Weston<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2815287' first='Adam' last='Venner'], 6-4, Jr., De Soto<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2501110' first='Arlon' last='Walter'], 6-6, Sr., Kickapoo<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020604' first='William' last='Wirts'], 6-1, Sr., La Farge<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2634917' first='Malachi' last='McCauley'], Kickapoo<br><strong>Best Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3020604' first='William' last='Wirts'], La Farge<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2501110' first='Arlon' last='Walter'], Kickapoo<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2424246' first='Cullen' last='Jacobus'], North Crawford<br><strong>Most Improved: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2915144' first='Jackson' last='Konichek'], Seneca</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->