Superior off to 5-0 start behind Calvin Anderson

The 1973-74 season was a long time ago. Too long if you are a fan of the <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/superior/">Superior Spartans </a>boys' basketball program. For an extremely proud program that has 27 trips to the WIAA State Tournament, the past 51 years have resulted in zero trips for Superior to Madison for the state's biggest event. That 1973-74 team won the Class A state title under coach Don Olson as the Spartans beat Milwaukee Lincoln 74-67 in overtime to secure the school's fourth state title. Fast forward to the 2025-26 campaign and there is some serious hope Superior could finally end its drought of trips to the state tournament. Coach Kory Deadrick has an experienced, talented and together squad that has reeled off five straight victories to open the season. The catalyst behind the Spartans' success has been versatile, skilled and productive 6-foot-6 senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2045262' first='Calvin' last='Anderson'], a NCAA Division II recruit for Minnesota Duluth. Anderson, a four-year varsity player for Superior, is averaging 28.6 points and 8.0 rebounds for Superior, which owns decisive victories over D.C. Everest, Wausau West, Chippewa Falls, Proctor, Minn., and Grand Rapids, Minn. In the season-opening 76-61 triumph over a good D.C. Everest squad in the Wausau East Classic, Anderson swished six three-point shots and scored 27 points -- in the first half alone. He ended up with 37 points, double-figures in rebounds and several beautiful assists. He simply dominated the game from opening tip until he left the contest in the closing minutes of the contest. Anderson went a step further in Monday in Superior's 89-36 win over Proctor, scoring a school-record 42 points in just 22 minutes of play. Anderson's point total broke the previous school mark of 41 set by Eric Thompson in 2005. However, the 42 points came up just shy of the city record set by Superior Cathedral's Pat Ward, who scored 44 points in a win over Grand Marias, Minn., in 1957. Anderson figures to become the all-time leading scorer at Superior in the coming weeks as his 1,354 career total is just 26 behind Joel Lindberg's record of 1,380. "We have 10 seniors back from last year's team that went 14-11, Deadrick said. "Our guys had a good off season, led by Cal. Our guys realize that has got to be our year." In addition to Anderson, Superior is getting production from senior [player_tooltip player_id='2432824' first='Drew' last='Eisel'] (6-3), another four-year varsity player who had 15 points against D.C. Everest and was able to use his physical strength and aggressiveness to get to the basket and foul line. Unfortunately, Eisel sustained a fractured wrist recently and will miss another four weeks or so before returning to the Spartans' lineup. "We won't have Drew for our games with Eau Claire Memorial and River Falls, but we are hoping to get him back some time in January," Deadrick said. Smooth shooting senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2957103' first='Colson' last='Schumacher'] (6-0), physical wing [player_tooltip player_id='2860533' first='Landon' last='Anrig'] (6-0) and guard Jayce Rue (6-0) join Anderson and Eisel in Superior's starting rotation. Schumacher and Anrig reached double figures in the win over D.C. Everest with Schumacher finishing with 11 and Anrig 10. "Beating D.C. Everest on the road was a good win," Deadrick said. "We were up 40 on Chippewa Falls before going to the bench. We are playing well, but our schedule picks up soon. We have some tests ahead for sure." Looking toward March, Superior competes in Sectional 1 of Division 1 and will battle with very good teams from the Fox Valley Association, Wisconsin Valley and Big Rivers. The trek to Madison won't be easy, but the Spartans have a real difference maker in Anderson, an experienced squad with all five starters back from a year ago, a hunger to put the city back on the prep basketball map, and a coach ready to lead them back to the promised land. "We honored that 1973-74 squad a few years ago for their 50th anniversary," Deadrick said. "Several of those guys are still around Superior. But it's been too long of a dry spell for our school and community. We'd love to get back to state."

The 1973-74 season was a long time ago.

Too long if you are a fan of the Superior Spartans boys' basketball program.

For an extremely proud program that has 27 trips to the WIAA State Tournament, the past 51 years have resulted in zero trips for Superior to Madison for the state's biggest event.

That 1973-74 team won the Class A state title under coach Don Olson as the Spartans beat Milwaukee Lincoln 74-67 in overtime to secure the school's fourth state title.

Fast forward to the 2025-26 campaign and there is some serious hope Superior could finally end its drought of trips to the state tournament. Coach Kory Deadrick has an experienced, talented and together squad that has reeled off five straight victories to open the season.

The catalyst behind the Spartans' success has been versatile, skilled and productive 6-foot-6 senior forward Calvin Anderson Calvin Anderson 6'6" | SF/PF Superior | 2026 State WI , a NCAA Division II recruit for Minnesota Duluth.

Anderson, a four-year varsity player for Superior, is averaging 28.6 points and 8.0 rebounds for Superior, which owns decisive victories over D.C. Everest, Wausau West, Chippewa Falls, Proctor, Minn., and Grand Rapids, Minn.

In the season-opening 76-61 triumph over a good D.C. Everest squad in the Wausau East Classic, Anderson swished six three-point shots and scored 27 points -- in the first half alone. He ended up with 37 points, double-figures in rebounds and several beautiful assists. He simply dominated the game from opening tip until he left the contest in the closing minutes of the contest.

Anderson went a step further in Monday in Superior's 89-36 win over Proctor, scoring a school-record 42 points in just 22 minutes of play. Anderson's point total broke the previous school mark of 41 set by Eric Thompson in 2005. However, the 42 points came up just shy of the city record set by Superior Cathedral's Pat Ward, who scored 44 points in a win over Grand Marias, Minn., in 1957.

Anderson figures to become the all-time leading scorer at Superior in the coming weeks as his 1,354 career total is just 26 behind Joel Lindberg's record of 1,380.

"We have 10 seniors back from last year's team that went 14-11, Deadrick said. "Our guys had a good off season, led by Cal. Our guys realize that has got to be our year."

In addition to Anderson, Superior is getting production from senior Drew Eisel Drew Eisel 6'3" | PF Superior | 2026 State WI (6-3), another four-year varsity player who had 15 points against D.C. Everest and was able to use his physical strength and aggressiveness to get to the basket and foul line.

Unfortunately, Eisel sustained a fractured wrist recently and will miss another four weeks or so before returning to the Spartans' lineup.

"We won't have Drew for our games with Eau Claire Memorial and River Falls, but we are hoping to get him back some time in January," Deadrick said.

Smooth shooting senior guard Colson Schumacher Colson Schumacher 6'0" | CG Superior | 2026 WI (6-0), physical wing Landon Anrig Landon Anrig 6'0" | PG Superior | 2026 WI (6-0) and guard Jayce Rue (6-0) join Anderson and Eisel in Superior's starting rotation. Schumacher and Anrig reached double figures in the win over D.C. Everest with Schumacher finishing with 11 and Anrig 10.

"Beating D.C. Everest on the road was a good win," Deadrick said. "We were up 40 on Chippewa Falls before going to the bench. We are playing well, but our schedule picks up soon. We have some tests ahead for sure."

Looking toward March, Superior competes in Sectional 1 of Division 1 and will battle with very good teams from the Fox Valley Association, Wisconsin Valley and Big Rivers. The trek to Madison won't be easy, but the Spartans have a real difference maker in Anderson, an experienced squad with all five starters back from a year ago, a hunger to put the city back on the prep basketball map, and a coach ready to lead them back to the promised land.

"We honored that 1973-74 squad a few years ago for their 50th anniversary," Deadrick said. "Several of those guys are still around Superior. But it's been too long of a dry spell for our school and community. We'd love to get back to state."