Six Rivers West Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Highland 17-2 (23-4); 1. River Ridge 17-2 (23-3); 1. Potosi 17-2 (22-5); 4. Belmont 10-9 (13-14); 5. Shullsburg 7-12 (11-15); 6. Cassville 6-13 (8-17); 7. Benton 2-17 (2-23).<br><br><em>Note: Potosi and Cassville have formed a new co-op program for 2025-26. </em><br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/potosi-2/">Potosi-Cassville</a></strong> -- This new co-op program brings together two schools with storied traditions. Potosi has won 353 games over the past 23 seasons under coach Mike Uppena while Cassville won WIAA Division 4 state titles in 1994 and 1995 under Mike Uppena's father, Dennis Uppena. Look for Potosi-Cassville to have one of the top teams in the Six Rivers West with Cassville's [player_tooltip player_id='2636258' first='Ben' last='Infield'] (6-0, 16.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019334' first='Sam' last='Infield'] (5-10, 5.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg) teaming with Potosi's [player_tooltip player_id='3021787' first='Aaron' last='Edge'] (6-2, 9.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg) to provide a strong core. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2815857' first='Alex' last='Friederick'] (6-0, 3.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2381703' first='Will' last='Tobin'] (6-4, 2.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg) also figure to make big contributions.<br><br><strong>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/river-ridge-2/">River Ridge</a></strong> -- Dan Morris moves up from the JV1 program to take over the varsity coaching duties at River Ridge. Morris replaces Jim Wagner, who guided the Timberwolves to a 44-8 record the past two seasons. Talented senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2501092' first='Brandon' last='Davis'] (6-0, 15.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg) is back for his fourth year of varsity play and will lead an otherwise young squad. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022004' first='Brock' last='Bunge'] (6-0, 3.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022005' first='Reese' last='Drew'] (5-11, 3.0 ppg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022002' first='Noah' last='Copsey'] (5-10, 4.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg) figure to contend for starting spots alongside Davis. <br><br><strong>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/belmont-3/">Belmont</a></strong> -- A team to watch, for sure, this winter in the Six Rivers West is upstart Belmont, which won 13 games and brings back four key players. Leading the way for the Braves are two talented sophomores in forward [player_tooltip player_id='3041815' first='Thomas' last='Freeman'] (6-6, 16.7 ppg, 8.6 rpg) and wing [player_tooltip player_id='3041808' first='Wyatt' last='Temperly'] (6-2, 11.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg). Both players have the ability to be all-league players for coach Beau Buchs and headline a talented returning core that also includes senior [player_tooltip player_id='3041801' first='Logan' last='Kress'] (6-1, 7.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3041802' first='Josiah' last='Ruiz'] (5-8, 4.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg). Ruiz is coming off an injury and might not be set to go at the start of the season so Buchs will also look for seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3041800' first='Ian' last='Austin'] (6-2, 4.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019021' first='Cody' last='Kletecka'] (6-1) to compete for playing time along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3041806' first='Chase' last='Riechers'] (6-5, 2.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg).<br><br><strong>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/highland-6/">Highland</a></strong> -- Coming off a memorable 23-4 season, Highland most definitely lost some key pieces to graduation with four starters moving on. At the same time, coach Ryan Hill has a couple of proven players back to build around in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3020226' first='Jack' last='Tarrell'] (6-1, 8.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020230' first='Kaden' last='Washa'] (6-1, 8.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg). Both players were instrumental in Highland's success a year ago. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3020231' first='Koyer' last='Zadrazil'] (6-0, 1.8 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='3020237' first='Landis' last='Newberry'] (6-0, 2.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3020227' first='Liam' last='Thielorn'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020234' first='Hunter' last='Kelsey'] (5-6) also return. Guard play and transition offense are strengths while size and depth are listed concerns by coach Hill.<br><br><strong>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/shullsburg/">Shullsburg</a></strong> -- New coach Adam O'Brien will look to a talented sophomore class to help keep Shullsburg among the competitive teams in the Six Rivers West. Sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3041812' first='Boone' last='Havens'] (5-11, 12.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2833628' first='Lane' last='Martin'] (5-5, 4.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2409340' first='Connor' last='Doyle'] (5-10, 4.5 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='3022211' first='Maddux' last='Russell'] (5-9, 6.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022202' first='Aden' last='Wiegel'] (6-2, 2.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg) will give the Miners a good base to build around. Even with the loss of junior [player_tooltip player_id='2552683' first='Grady' last='Poppy'] (6-4, 18.8 ppg, 10.9 rpg) via transfer to Platteville, Shullsburg figures to be a team worth watching this winter. <br><br><strong>6.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/benton-5/"> Benton</a></strong> -- Despite its low high school enrollment of just 61 students, Benton chugs along with varsity squads each winter. Coach Luke Tyson has a promising junior class to work with as the Zephyrs attempt to improve on a 2-23 finish. Indeed, class of 2027 prospects [player_tooltip player_id='2636263' first='Brayden' last='Kilcoyne'] (5-8, 12.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3019046' first='Nolan' last='Keleher'] (5-8, 8.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2830709' first='Carter' last='Rury'] (5-11, 6.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg) are returning regulars for Benton. They will form the nucleus of this year's squad along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019044' first='Sam' last='Klang'] (5-9, 1.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019050' first='Desmand' last='Morrissey'] (5-11) along with seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019049' first='Isaiah' last='Santiago'] (6-2, 2.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019047' first='Tyler' last='Reints'] (6-0).<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='3041815' first='Thomas' last='Freeman'] (Belmont) 16.7 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636258' first='Ben' last='Infield'] (Potosi-Cassville) 16.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2501092' first='Brandon' last='Davis'] (River Ridge) 15.4 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3041812' first='Boone' last='Havens'] (Shullsburg) 12.2 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636263' first='Brayden' last='Kilcoyne'] (Benton) 12.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3041808' first='Wyatt' last='Temperly'] (Belmont) 11.4 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021787' first='Aaron' last='Edge'] (Potosi-Cassville) 9.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019046' first='Nolan' last='Keleher'] (Benton) 8.9 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020226' first='Jack' last='Tarrell'] (Highland) 8.9 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='3041815' first='Thomas' last='Freeman'], 6-5, Soph., Belmont<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3041808' first='Wyatt' last='Temperly'], 6-2, Soph., Bemont<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636258' first='Ben' last='Infield'], 6-0, Jr., Potosi-Cassville<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021787' first='Aaron' last='Edge'], 6-2, Jr., Potosi-Cassville<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2501092' first='Brandon' last='Davis'], 6-0, Sr., River Ridge<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020226' first='Jack' last='Tarrell'], 6-1, Sr., Highland<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636263' first='Brayden' last='Kilcoyne'], 5-8, Jr., Benton<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020230' first='Kaden' last='Washa'], 6-1, Sr., Highland<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3041812' first='Boone' last='Havens'], 5-11, Soph., Shullsburg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022211' first='Maddux' last='Russell'], 5-10, Soph., Shullsburg<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3041808' first='Wyatt' last='Temperly'], Belmont<br><strong>Best Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2501092' first='Brandon' last='Davis'], River Ridge<br><strong>Best Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3041815' first='Thomas' last='Freeman'], Belmont<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='3041808' first='Wyatt' last='Temperly'], Belmont<br><strong>Most Improved:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3022004' first='Brock' last='Bunge'], River Ridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->