Southwest Wisconsin Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Platteville 10-0 (19-8); 2. Lancaster 7-3 (18-9); 3. River Valley 5-5 (14-13); 4. Dodgeville 4-6 (11-15); 4. Richland Center 4-6 (13-13); 6. Prairie du Chien 0-10 (0-25).<br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/platteville/"><strong>Platteville</strong> </a>-- Three-time defending Southwest Wisconsin champion Platteville looks to make it four in a row this winter behind the return of three seniors and a couple of experienced juniors. Toss in talented Shullsburg transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2552683' first='Grady' last='Poppy'] (6-4, 18.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg) and the Hillmen appear to have the firepower required to notch another crown. Cat-quick senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2637314' first='Myron' last='Reuter'] (6-0, 16.1 ppg) and senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2922012' first='Jauron' last='Blevins'] (5-9, 6.6 ppg) are returning starters from a 19-8 squad. Also returning are senior [player_tooltip player_id='3021739' first='Henry' last='Stange'] (6-1) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021737' first='Brody' last='Digman'] (5-10, 3.0 ppg) and Will Zielinkski (6-3, 2.0 ppg). Coach Mike Huser lists quickness and perimeter play as strengths with rebounding and experience question marks.<br><br><strong>2. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/lancaster-5/"><strong>Lancaster</strong> -</a>- With four players back who averaged in double figures last season, Lancaster is looking at a very promising campaign. The off-season development of coach Brian Knapp's players only adds credence to the idea the Arrows could win the Southwest Wisconsin championship in 2025-26. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2358023' first='Zach' last='Hermsen'] (6-5, 14.2 ppg, 8 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2121317' first='Taylor' last='Williams'] (6-2, 12.2 ppg, 6 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2825387' first='Dayne' last='Kauffman'] (5-11, 14.6 ppg, 3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020679' first='Brady' last='Schmitz'] (6-0, 10.3 ppg, 4 rpg) give Lancaster an experienced, talented and versatile returning core to build around. Also back are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3020677' first='Brody' last='Crubel'] (5-10, 2 ppg, 2 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3020682' first='Anthony' last='Busch'] (6-1, 2 ppg, 2 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2381698' first='Brady' last='Mack'] (6-2, 4 ppg, 3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020680' first='Aiden' last='Wilson'] (6-2) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2815769' first='Lukas' last='Weber'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020681' first='Trason' last='Fishnick'] (6-2).<br><br><strong>3. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/dodgeville/"><strong>Dodgeville</strong> </a>-- Rebounding and interior defense are question marks for Dodgeville, but coach Matt McGraw isn't nearly as concerned about the quickness and guard play in his program. Four starters are back from an 11-15 squad, including backcourt aces [player_tooltip player_id='2381699' first='Bryce' last='Crubaugh-Lockard'] (6-0, 20.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2429729' first='Griffin' last='Busch'] (5-11, 2.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2829559' first='Jayce' last='Halverson'] (5-11, 14.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg). Crubaugh-Lockard is a returning first-team all-league performer while Halverson was voted second-team all-conference. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2921882' first='Andrew' last='Hesseling'] (6-2, 7.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg) is the fourth returning starter for the Dodgers. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019729' first='Brock' last='Fockler'] (5-11, 2.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019734' first='Isaiah' last='Argall'] (6-2, 3.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019736' first='Jentry' last='Olson'] (5-11, 2.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg) also figure to be in the playing rotation for Dodgeland.<br><br><strong>4. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/river-valley/"><strong>River Valley</strong> </a>-- The race for the title in the Southwest Wisconsin figures to come down to Platteville, Lancaster and Dodgeville. The other league entrants -- River Valley, Richland Center and Prairie du Chien -- may not have the firepower of the top three, but they do have reason to be optimistic, nonetheless. Coach Luke Thatcher at River Valley welcomes back three regulars from a 14-13 squad in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022014' first='Lucas' last='Klein'] (5-11, 10.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3022017' first='Quincy' last='Blakley'] (5-11, 4.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2922144' first='Keagan' last='Heiser'] (6-1, 6.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg). Depth figures to come from senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022018' first='Sumner' last='Nachreiner'] (5-11, 4.3 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022015' first='Kaden' last='Plumley'] (6-1, 2.2 ppg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2886056' first='Jackson' last='Thatcher'] (6-3, 4.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg). <br><br><strong>5. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/richland-center/"><strong>Richland Center</strong> </a>-- The Hornets have three players returning with proven production in the Southwest Wisconsin Conference. After that, coach Brian Puls has a whole bunch of question marks. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2440772' first='Liam' last='Fingerson'] (6-6, 9.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2922219' first='Brady' last='Dosch'] (5-11, 8.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2509451' first='Jayden' last='Schoepp'] (6-1, 12.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg) provide Richland Cener with experience, length and experience. They will lead a team that also returns some players who came off the bench on last year's 13-13 team. That group includes senior [player_tooltip player_id='3021964' first='Cutler' last='Palmer'] (6-4, 1.2 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021962' first='Abe' last='Bosworth'] (6-3) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3021963' first='Kyzan' last='Schwichtenberg'] (6-6, 1.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg). Puls lists size, length and perimeter defense as strengths while outside shooting and depth are concerns.<br><br><strong>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/prairie-du-chien/">Prairie du Chien</a></strong> -- This once proud program slammed into rock bottom last season. Not only did the varsity squad finish 0-25, but the JV1 team also went winless, completing its season at 0-24. New coach Jacob Marshall, who previously served as the head coach at Jefferson, looks to lead Prairie du Chien back to respectability but realizes it may take time. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2829696' first='Sam' last='Kramer'] (6-0, 7.4 pgp, 3.2 rpg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2922045' first='Cayden' last='Sutter'] (5-10, 4.3 ppg, 1.6 rpg) are returning starters for the Blackhawks. Also returning are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021802' first='Brock' last='Folsom'] (6-1, 4.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2976687' first='Steven' last='Duha'] (6-0, 1.3 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='3021805' first='Ashton' last='Landt'] (5-9, 3.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2976689' first='Garrett' last='DeHart'] (5-8, 3.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg) along with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3021803' first='Brock' last='Radloff'] (6-1, 4.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg).<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2381699' first='Bryce' last='Crubaugh-Lockard'] (Dodgeville) 20.4 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2637314' first='Myron' last='Reuter'] (Platteville) 16.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2825387' first='Dayne' last='Kauffman'] (Lancaster) 14.6 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2829559' first='Jayce' last='Halverson'] (Dodgeville) 14.4 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2358023' first='Zach' last='Hermsen'] (Lancaster) 14.2 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2121317' first='Taylor' last='Williams'] (Lancaster) 14.2 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2509451' first='Jayden' last='Schoepp'] (Prairie du Chien) 12.5 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020679' first='Brady' last='Schmitz'] (Lancaster) 10.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022014' first='Lucas' last='Klein'] (River Valley) 10.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2440772' first='Liam' last='Fingerson'] (Richland Center) 9.5 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2381699' first='Bryce' last='Crubaugh-Lockard'], 6-0, Sr., Dodgeville<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2358023' first='Zach' last='Hermsen'], 6-5, Sr., Lancaster<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2825387' first='Dayne' last='Kauffman'], 5-11, Sr., Lancaster<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2637314' first='Myron' last='Reuter'], 6-0, Sr., Platteville<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2552683' first='Grady' last='Poppy'], 6-4, Jr., Platteville<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2829559' first='Jayce' last='Halverson'], 5-11, Jr., Dodgeville<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2121317' first='Taylor' last='Williams'], 6-2, Sr., Lancaster<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2829696' first='Sam' last='Kramer'], 6-0, Sr., Prairie du Chien<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2509451' first='Jayden' last='Schoepp'], 6-1, Jr., Richland Center<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022014' first='Lucas' last='Klein'], 5-11, Sr., River Valley<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2829559' first='Jayce' last='Halverson'], Dodgeville<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2637314' first='Myron' last='Reuter'], Platteville<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2358023' first='Zach' last='Hermsen'], Lancaster<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2552683' first='Grady' last='Poppy'], Platteville<br><strong>Most Improved:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2440772' first='Liam' last='Fingerson'], Richland Center</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->