Division 2 Basketball: Top Surprise Teams

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Which teams at the WIAA Division 1 level have surprised the most this season based on preseason prognostications? Let's dive into the list and give these programs, players and coaches the credit they deserve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/port-washington/">Port Washington</a></strong> -- Coming off an 11-15 season and with starters graduating last spring, Port Washington had some questions to answer heading into the 2025-26 campaign. To say coach Garrett Hoffmann's squad completely aced those questions is an understatement. Port Washington currently sits at 22-1 and is ranked No. 1 in the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association/Prep Hoops Wisconsin state-wide poll for WIAA Division 2 programs. Few, if anybody, saw that coming from the Pirates back on November 17 when practice began. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2303643' first='Cal' last='Loose'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2417348' first='Grady' last='Karrels'] have led the way for Port Washington, which takes a 20-game winning streak into its regular-season finale at Plymouth on Thursday. Loose is shooting 45 percent from three-point range, making 61-of-136 attempts through the first 20 games of the season. The UW-Stevens Point recruit also is averaging 19.6 points and 5.3 rebounds. Karrels is equally important to the Pirates' success as he is averaging 13.4 ppg and 5.2 rpg. Hoffmann's team also has received solid contributions from [player_tooltip player_id='2939623' first='Izaiah' last='Scheftgen'] (9.4 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2939622' first='Aiden' last='Mitchell'] (7.0 ppg), among others.<br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/sauk-prairie/">Sauk Prairie</a></strong> -- With a victory over last-place Portage on Thursday, Sauk Prairie will secure no less than a tie for first place in the Badger Small Conference. Not bad for a squad projected to finish fifth in the eight-team conference. Coach Sean McGann is getting steady play from seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2641947' first='Otis' last='Andres'] (12.1 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3356872' first='Jake' last='Buckles'] (5.5 ppg), the lone returning starters from last year's club that finished 12-13. But what has put the Eagles over the top has been the play of senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022082' first='Boden' last='Breunig'] (17.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2508486' first='Brendan' last='Marquardt'] (6.2 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022088' first='Lincoln' last='Ganser'] (11.6 ppg). Breunig, Marquardt and Ganser have each taken big strides in their game after coming off the bench in 2024-25. Sauk Prairie would finish 11-3 in league games and 17-7 overall with a win over Portage, and enters the Division 2 playoffs with hopes of winning a regional title and contending for a state berth.<br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/notre-dame-academy/">Notre Dame</a></strong> -- Notre Dame almost always fields a competitive boys' basketball team. That is certainly the case again this winter. But what separates this Tritons' team from others is the fact they can win the Fox River Classic Conference title outright with a win over visiting De Pere on Thursday. Picked to finish fourth in the 10-team league, Notre Dame has been on a roll of late, beating league contenders Sheboygan North, West DePere and Bay Port in its last three games. Coach Brian Bobinski lost three starters from a team that went 21-7 and advanced to the sectional final last season, but he has been able to put another high quality squad on the floor thanks to the strong play and leadership from seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2400083' first='Leo' last='Weber'] (14.7 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2400119' first='Jack' last='Warden'] (11.4 ppg), along with the smart, consistent and defensive-minded play of junior twins [player_tooltip player_id='2140868' first='AJ' last='Hendricks'] (16.2 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2140873' first='Austin' last='Hendricks'] (16.2 ppg). De Pere has won the last four FRCC titles so Notre Dame will have to play its A-plus game in order to capture the first FRCC title in school history.<br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/new-richmond/">New Richmond</a></strong> -- Tabbed for a fifth-place finish in the eight-team Big Rivers Conference to start the season, New Richmond can no lower than third place with wins over second-division squads Chippewa Falls and Rice Lake this week. First-year coach Kyle Allen has the Tigers playing an exciting brand of basketball that includes lots of three-point shots, lots of fast breaks and lots of quick offense. New Richmond lost twice to Big Rivers power Hudson but split with River Falls, which is tied for first place in the league standings with Hudson with one game left. Physical senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2501099' first='Nick' last='Stellrecht'] has been a consistent performer for New Richmond and leads the club in scoring (18.9 ppg) and rebounding (8.1 rpg). Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2140885' first='Braxton' last='Landa'] is third on the club in scoring at 12.2 ppg while freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2412728' first='McCoy' last='Monson'] (13.3 ppg, 2.0 apg) has played with poise and confidence and been a big addition to the Tigers' attack. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2860936' first='Isaac' last='Schwartz'] has played well of late and is contributing 7.0 ppg and 3.6 rpg.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->