Prep Hoops/Zaleski Sports Teams of the Week

Mark Miller December 21, 2025 @ 08:07 PM

DIVISION 1 ... KAUKAUNA

The Ghosts improved to 6-0 on the season and handed two previously undefeated teams their first losses of the season in the process. In a highly competitive outing against Appleton North on the road, Kaukauna got late basket from De Paul recruit Andrew Jensen Andrew Jensen 6'9" | PF Kaukauna | 2026 State WI to lift the Ghosts to a 60-59 win over the Lightning. Jensen finished the game with 20 points and 22 rebounds. Sophomore Tyler Schwalbach Tyler Schwalbach 6'3" | PG/SG Kaukauna | 2028 State WI added 18 points as coach Ryan Bowers' squad improved to 4-0 in the Fox Valley Association to take the early lead in the race for the coveted league crown. On Saturday, Kaukauna traveled to Middleton to take on the Cardinals and the Ghosts used a late run to post a 68-59 triumph. Schwalbach led the way with 18 points while sharpshooting senior Jonah Roehrig Jonah Roehrig 6'3" | SG Kaukauna | 2026 State WI added 17. Josh Carl Josh Carl 6'2" | SG/CG Kaukauna | 2027 State WI contributed 14 while Jensen had 11 points and 17 rebounds. Kaukauna is next in action at the Rick Majerus WBY Shootout when it meets Marquette High on December 30.

DIVISION 2 ... ONALASKA

Posting two impressive victories over state-ranked teams, Onalaska's Hilltoppers head into the Christmas break with a 5-0 record. Coach Craig Kowal's squad posted an impressive 72-42 non-league win over De Forest last Tuesday before coming back and getting a hard-earned, come-from-behind 77-68 road win over Mississippi Valley Conference rival Aquinas on Saturday. In the win over Aquinas, Kowal's son, sophomore guard Tyler Kowal Tyler Kowal 5'11" | PG Onalaska | 2028 State WI , erupted for 28 points and made nine-of-11 shots from the foul stripe. A quick, aggressive and relentless attacker of the basket, Tyler Kowal Tyler Kowal 5'11" | PG Onalaska | 2028 State WI got plenty of support from his older brother, senior Ian Kowal Ian Kowal 6'3" | CG/SF Onalaska | 2026 State WI , who had 10 points. The Hilltoppers travel to the Milwaukee area this weekend for a couple of games at Kettle Moraine. Onalaska meets Sheboygan North on Saturday and an opponent to be determined on Sunday.

DIVISION 3 ... ALTOONA

Altoona and Osceola are the only unbeaten teams in the Middle Border Conference at this point in the season. The Rails pushed their record to 4-0 with wins over Chippewa Falls (82-62) and Amery (71-50) last week. Leading the way for Altoona is talented and athletic junior guard Greysen Becker (6-2). He had 31 points and went to the line to attempt 17 foul shots (making 12) in the win over Chippewa Falls. Becker, one of the state's better class of 2027 prospects, owns a NCAA Division II offer from Michigan Tech and is averaging 32.7 ppg for Altoona, which has an intriguing non-league game with nearby Fall Creek on Monday. Junior wing Owen Gunderson Owen Gunderson 6'0" | SG/PG Altoona | 2027 State WI , a terrific long-distance shooter, is contributing 17.0 ppg to the offense, which is averaging 76.0 ppg.

DIVISION 4 ...SPENCER

Spencer moved to 7-0 on the young season with three impressive wins last week. The Rockets knocked off Cloverbelt East Conference title contender Loyal 62-53 last Tuesday while also notching wins over both Nekoosa (62-57) and Colby (63-57). Coach Charles Jennings squad got 18 points and three triples from senior forward Mathers McHone (6-6) in the big win over Loyal. Senior guard Noah Anderson Noah Anderson 6'0" | CG Spencer | 2026 WI (6-0) added 10 points for the Rockets. McHone had 22 points and junior guard Weston Nieman Weston Nieman 5'10" | CG Spencer | 2027 WI (5-11) added 25 in the win over Nekoosa. The Rockets play a non-league outing with Blair-Taylor this week before competing in the Tomahawk Tournament next week. An important league game with Columbus Catholic looms just after the holiday break.

DIVISION 5 ... ST. AMBROSE ACADEMY

Three years into having their own program after competing as a co-op program for several years with Abundant Life Christian, St. Ambrose Academy is off to an unexpected 6-0 record under coach Chris Zwettler. One the biggest win to date for the Guardians came last week when they traveled to Abundant Life and pulled out a 49-46 overtime victory over a program that played in the WIAA State Tournament the past two seasons. St. Ambrose Academy is getting consistent play from all five of its starters as each is more than capable of reaching double figures on any given night. In fact, the five regulars are averaging between 9.3 ppg and 11.8 ppg on the young campaign. Senior Nathan Pietrzykowski Nathan Pietrzykowski 6'3" | SF St. Ambrose Academy | 2026 WI (6-1) leads the way at 11.8 ppg in his first year playing varsity at St. Ambrose after his transfer to the school from Wisconsin Heights at the end of his sophomore year. Damien Hebert Damien Hebert 6'2" | SF St. Ambrose Academy | 2027 WI (11.7 ppg), Isaac Moreland Isaac Moreland 5'11" | CG St. Ambrose Academy | 2028 WI (11.3 ppg), Michael Schmiesing Michael Schmiesing 6'2" | CG St. Ambrose Academy | 2027 WI (11.2 ppg) and Adam Sturm Adam Sturm 5'8" | CG St. Ambrose Academy | 2028 WI (9.3 ppg) round out the starting rotation for the Guardians, who play in the Elkhart Lake Tournament December 29-30.