South Central Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Westfield 9-1 (21-5); 1. Wisconsin Dells 9-1 (22-6); 3. Adams-Friendship 5-5 (13-13); 4. Nekoosa 4-6 (11-12); 5. Mauston 3-7 (6-19); 6. Wautoma 0-10 (1-24).<br><br><em>Note: Berlin and Ripon join the South Central from the now-defunct East Central for 2025-26.</em><br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/mauston/"><strong>Mauston</strong> </a>-- [player_tooltip player_id='2369883' first='Jase' last='Navis'] continues to grow. Both in height and in terms of his ability on the basketball floor. That is great news for Mauston fans and not-so-good info for rivals in the South Central. As a freshman, Navis averaged 21.9 ppg and 10.2 rpg as a 6-foot-4 wing. He's now up to 6-foot-7, meaning he will be an even more difficult matchup for opponents because of his length, size and skill. Navis is one of five starters back for coach Ryan Frye as seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2636712' first='Will' last='Miller'] (6-4, 9.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2537934' first='Cody' last='Komiskey'] (6-0, 6.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3020959' first='Isaac' last='Steinke'] (6-1, 5.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2636710' first='Johann' last='Wolf'] (5-10, 4.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg) also return for the Golden Eagles. The experience of the five returning starters and the overall ability of Navis to take over a game makes Mauston a slight favorite to win the league crown. Also looking to contribute are senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020961' first='[player_tooltip player_id='2423702' first='Terrell' last='']' last='Frogg'] (6-0, 2.3 ppg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='2829005' first='Carter' last='Ruland'] (6-3, 3.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg) and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2829042' first='Andrew' last='Dillin'] (6-0). <br><br><strong>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wisconsin-dells/">Wisconsin Dells</a> </strong>-- The Cadillac program in the South Central, Wisconsin Dells has won eight straight league titles and owns a 74-4 record in conference outings during that time frame. More success is anticipated despite the fact coach Brad Rohling lost four starters and three double-figure scorers to graduation from a 22-6 team. The Chiefs welcome back starter [player_tooltip player_id='2980419' first='Cory' last='Hindsley'] (6-4, 8.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and look for seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022998' first='Cooper' last='Whitehurst'] (6-2, 1.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022997' first='Carter' last='Syverson'] (6-0, 3.1, 1.7 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022989' first='Jax' last='Gall'] (5-10) to take big steps forward this winter. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022991' first='Boyd' last='Witt'] (5-11), [player_tooltip player_id='3022992' first='Logan' last='Cunningham'] (5-10), Curtis Greifenhagen (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022994' first='Blake' last='Meister'] (6-0) also could be in the mix for Wisconsin Dells. <br><br><strong>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/berlin/">Berlin</a></strong> -- Coach Jeremy Mercer's players are accustomed to playing against good competition as a former member of the now-defunct East Central Conference. In moving over to the South Central, look for Berlin to finish among the top teams in the league as Mercer brings back four starters from a 17-10 squad. Leading the way for Berlin is muscular and skilled 6-foot-5 senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2387128' first='Hayden' last='Redington'], who averaged 17.6 points and 10.9 rebounds as a junior. A NCAA Division II football recruit for Augustana (S.D.), Redington can score away from the basket and in the paint. Also returning are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2913732' first='Carter' last='Hess'] (6-0, 12.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2913773' first='Blake' last='Metoxen'] (6-0, 7.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3019052' first='James' last='Paskey'] (6-4, 3.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2980495' first='Carson' last='Starks'] (6-5, 2.8 ppg). Depth is a question mark for Berlin, but shooting and length are strong suits. <br><br><strong>4. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/adams-friendship/"><strong>Adams-Friendship</strong> </a>-- Replacing the all-around strong play of the graduated SaVont Johnson (6-3, 20.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg) will be a challenge for the Green Devils, but Adams-Friendship coach Keith Bork returns a good deal of experience from last year's 13-13 squad. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3018802' first='Zarek' last='Nawrot'] (6-3, 4.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3018798' first='Kale' last='Gatterman'] (6-3, 2.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3018804' first='Xander' last='Cook'] (6-3, 1.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg) started at times last year as did sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2615532' first='Nolan' last='Bork'] (6-0, 10.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.1 apg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2731559' first='Caleb' last='Decorah'] (6-2, 7.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg). Bork, the son of the head coach, and Decorah are two of the better young players in a league loaded with talent in the sophomore class. Also back for the Green Devils are juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2959178' first='Isaac' last='Rommelfanger'] (6-8, 5.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.7 bspg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3018801' first='Danny' last='Matson'] (6-0, 2.8 ppg). Guard play, experience, defense and size are listed strengths while three-point shooting is a concern.<br><br><strong>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/westfield-area/">Westfield </a></strong>-- After sharing the South Central title with Wisconsin Dells last season, Westfield will look to senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2610549' first='Austin' last='Lyon'] (6-1, 19.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg) to provide leadership and scoring punch to a lineup that must replace four starters. Coach Nick Brakebush guided Westfield to a 21-5 mark and Lyon played a huge role in that success. Now, senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022885' first='Brayden' last='Lentz'] (6-1, 1.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022881' first='Ethan' last='Kind'] (5-7, 1.0 ppg) need to take major steps forward in order for the Pioneers to remain in the upper half of the league standings. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022882' first='Colvin' last='Adams'] (6-0), Treyten Ross (5-8), Miles Groskreutz (6-7) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022883' first='Andrew' last='Crivello'] (5-11) could also be in the rotation for the Pioneers along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022879' first='Drew' last='Brakebush'] (5-7). <br><br><strong>6. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/ripon-2/"><strong>Ripon</strong> </a>-- It was a hard season a year ago as Ripon went just 2-23 after losing its head coach just weeks before the start of the season. Andy Bradley stepped in to serve as the Tigers' mentor last season and is back again to provide stability for a young group of promising players who figure to collectively be much improved from a year ago. Leading the way for Ripon is Bradley's son, sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2401435' first='Blake' last='Bradley'] (6-2). As a freshman, Bradley showed plenty of skill in averaging 18.1 points and 4.3 rebounds. Joining Bradley as returning starters are senior [player_tooltip player_id='2851993' first='Logan' last='Pollesch'] (5-11, 7.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2381599' first='Tyler' last='Brewer'] (6-0, 6.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg). Depth is a strength for Ripon with senior [player_tooltip player_id='3021980' first='Reid' last='Stollfuss'] (5-9, 2.0 ppg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='3021981' first='Devin' last='Donovan'] (6-0, 2.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2401436' first='Ben' last='Calmes'] (5-10, 3.5 ppg) all looking to be in the playing rotation. <br><br><strong>7. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wautoma/">Wautoma</a> </strong>-- The Hornets won just a single game in 2024-25 so coach Mike Pica's squad will look for a complete turn around in 2025-26. Wautoma figures to be vastly improved as five key players return, led by double-figure scorers [player_tooltip player_id='2830610' first='Peyton' last='Pica'] (6-2, 12.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2636708' first='Skyler' last='Royston'] (5-11, 12.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg). Pica and Royston headline an experienced group that also includes senior [player_tooltip player_id='2980988' first='Eli' last='Graser'] (6-2, 2.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg), juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2980989' first='Marshal' last='Woyak'] (5-9, 2.2 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022799' first='Grant' last='Kulibert'] (5-10, 2.4 ppg), and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3022802' first='Carson' last='Rose'] (6-1, 4.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg). Coach Pica lists speed, quickness and shooting as strengths with lack of size his biggest concern.<br><br><strong>8. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/nekoosa/"><strong>Nekoosa</strong> </a>-- No other team in the South Central was hit as hard by graduation as Nekoosa. The Papermakers graduated all five starters from last year's 11-12 squad, including four-year varsity performer Nash Krcmar (5-10, 13 ppg, 3 rpg). Coach Josh Kolo will look to Krcmar's brother, junior [player_tooltip player_id='2980823' first='Finlei' last='Krcmar'] (6-0, 8 ppg, 6 rpg) to lead an otherwise inexperienced team. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2980824' first='Adam' last='Alameda'] (5-10), junior [player_tooltip player_id='2980825' first='Pryce' last='Newlun'] (5-11) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2980827' first='Aidan' last='White Eagle'] (5-10) are among newcomers who figure to earn spots in the Papermakers' playing rotation. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2980826' first='Landon' last='Wilhorn'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021347' first='Deklin' last='Christianson'] (5-9) also could be in the mix. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2369883' first='Jase' last='Navis'] (Mauston) 21.9 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2610549' first='Austin' last='Lyon'] (Westfield) 19.6 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2401435' first='Blake' last='Bradley'] (Ripon) 18.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2387128' first='Hayden' last='Redington'] (Berlin) 17.6 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636708' first='Skyler' last='Royston'] (Wautoma) 12.8 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2830610' first='Peyton' last='Pica'] (Wautoma) 12.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2913732' first='Carter' last='Hess'] (Berlin) 12.2 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2615532' first='Nolan' last='Bork'] (Adams-Friendship) 10.1 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team<br></strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2615532' first='Nolan' last='Bork'], 6-0, Soph., Adams-Friendship<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2387128' first='Hayden' last='Redington'], 6-5, Sr., Berlin<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2369883' first='Jase' last='Navis'], 6-6, Soph., Mauston<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2610549' first='Austin' last='Lyon'], 6-1, Sr., Westfield<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2980419' first='Cory' last='Hindsley'], 6-4, Jr., Wisconsin Dells<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2913732' first='Carter' last='Hess'], 6-0, Sr., Berlin<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636712' first='Will' last='Miller'], 6-3, Sr., Mauston<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2401435' first='Blake' last='Bradley'], 6-2, Soph., Ripon<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2830610' first='Peyton' last='Pica'], 6-2, Jr., Wautoma<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022997' first='Carter' last='Syverson'], 6-0, Sr., Wisconsin Dells<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2401435' first='Blake' last='Bradley'], Ripon<br><strong>Best Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2615532' first='Nolan' last='Bork'], Adams-Friendship<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2387128' first='Hayden' last='Redington'], Berlin<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2369883' first='Jase' last='Navis'], Mauston<br><strong>Most Improved: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3022989' first='Jax' last='Gall'], Wisconsin Dells</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->