Division 4 Basketball: Top Surprise Teams

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Which teams at the WIAA Division 4 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/chetek-weyerhaeuser/">Chetek-Weyerhaeuser </a></strong>-- In its first season in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference after previously competing in the Heart O'North, Chetek-Weyerhaeuser has expected some surprising success under coach Hans Olson. The Bulldogs are 15-8 overall and tied for fourth place at 7-8 in league play after coming into the year projected to finish sixth in the conference. Seniors Broderick Olson and [player_tooltip player_id='3034606' first='Luke' last='Anderson'] were expected to do much of the heavy lifting and they have done just that with Olson averaging 13.3 ppg and Anderson contributing 8.9 ppg and 5.5 rpg. A pair of varsity newcomers have made very successful adjustments to the speed and physicality at the varsity level as junior guards [player_tooltip player_id='3019419' first='Jude' last='Poppe'] (15.0 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019425' first='Tanner' last='Wood'] (6.2 ppg) have been key performers for Chetek-Weyerhaeuser, which earned a No. 3 seed in Sectional 1.<br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/iola-scandinavia/">Iola-Scandinavia</a></strong> -- The forecast at the start of the season was bright for Iola-Scandinavia. And then, just days before the start of practice, talented junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2352817' first='Alex' last='Robbins'] went down with an injury that kept him out of the lineup for the first 13 games. The Thunderbirds were able to rely on clutch performers [player_tooltip player_id='2542526' first='Korz' last='Loken'] (14.0 ppg, 9.6 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='1859310' first='RJ' last='Opperman'] (13.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3004507' first='Charlie' last='Tappa'] (3.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.5 apg) during Robbins' absence as coach Sam Bertsch's squad carved out a 9-4 mark with Robbins watching from the sideline. Robbins returned to the T-Birds lineup 10 games ago and the potential NCAA Division I recruit has averaged 22.9 points and 9.6 rebounds while helping the squad to a 10-0 record during his time on the floor."<br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/markesan/">Markesan</a> </strong>-- The Hornets lost three of their first six games, including a Trailways West contest at Pardeeville. But coach Skip Laper's squad has responded exceptionally well to its slow start, winning 13 of 16 games and capturing the title in the Trailways West with a 13-1 conference record. Markesan avenged its early season loss to Pardeeville with a 54-51 triumph over the Bulldogs in early February behind 23 points and six rebounds from sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='3020931' first='Graham' last='Vredeveld'], who leads the squad in scoring at 15.4 ppg. Senior Cohen Hoffmann also is averaging in double figures for the Hornets at 13.5 ppg. Despite winning the league title and owning a better record than Pardeeville, Markesan was seeded lower than Pardeeville. The Hornets received a No. 4 seed in Sectional 3 and will play next Friday against the winner of the Poynette versus Wayland Academy regional quarterfinal.<br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/hurley/">Hurley </a></strong>-- Picked for fourth place in the Northern Lights Conference to start the season, Hurley can win the championship tonight by beating Drummond. Both squads take 15-2 league marks into the contest. Hurley, which earned a No. 2 seed in Sectional 4, is 20-3 overall under veteran coach Mike Swartz. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2634497' first='Jack' last='Rowe'] (6-0), [player_tooltip player_id='3020337' first='Wyatt' last='Hall'] (6-0), [player_tooltip player_id='3020339' first='Parker' last='Sivula'] (5-9) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020337' first='Wyatt' last='Hall'] (6-0) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2797962' first='Logan' last='Schilling'] (6-5) have been mainstays in the North Stars' lineup. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->