Division 5 Basketball: Top Surprise Teams

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Which teams at the WIAA Division 5 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/saint-ambrose-academy/">Saint Ambrose Academy</a></strong> -- The Guardians have enjoyed a breakout season in Year 3 of having a stand alone program after previously having a coop program with Abundant Life Christian. Saint Ambrose won three games last season and seven two years ago. But coach Chris Zwettler's squad has put together an impressive and somewhat unexpected 18-6 mark playing an independent schedule this winter. The Guardians have defeated some very solid teams in Abundant Life Christian (18-6), Pecatonica (17-7) and Horicon (16-8), among others. Leading the way for this surprise squad is a stalwart five that has played major minutes all winter. That group includes senior [player_tooltip player_id='2957672' first='Nathan' last='Pietrzykowski'] (11.8 ppg), juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2628169' first='Michael' last='Schmiesing'] (9.3 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2957667' first='Damien' last='Hebert'] (10.8 ppg), along with sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2957668' first='Adam' last='Sturm'] (10.1 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2972295' first='Isaac' last='Moreland'] (12.6 ppg). Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3142085' first='Grayson' last='Sabbarese'] and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='3142087' first='Anthony' last='Pietrzykowski'] also have played key roles for Saint Ambrose, which opens WIAA play by hosting Cambria-Friesland.<br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/de-soto-2/">De Soto </a></strong>-- Selected to finish in fifth place in the Ridge &amp; Valley Conference to begin the season, the Pirates definitely have exceeded those expectations. Coach Garrett Redman's team has won 18 of 24 games and finished in third place in the league standings. The Pirates did lose twice each to the two teams that finished above them in the league in Kickapoo and North Crawford, but De Soto went 10-0 in its other conference outings. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2634909' first='Jackson' last='Trussoni'] (16.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019667' first='Bryce' last='Schultz'] (6.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg) have led the way for a talented team that includes a pair of big-time contributing underclassmen in junior [player_tooltip player_id='2815287' first='Adam' last='Venner'] (12.3 ppg, 9.1 rpg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3019659' first='Eli' last='Brosinski'] (10.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.0 rpg). De Soto received a six seed and will host Benton in a regional quarterfinal on Tuesday.<br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/tigerton/">Tigerton</a> </strong>-- Most expected Tigerton to repeat as league champions in the Northern Division of the Central Wisconsin Conference. But few anticipated coach Dan Hoffa's team running the table with a 24-0 record during the regular season. Tigerton is one of just three teams with an undefeated record in the state, joining Division 1 juggernaut Wisconsin Lutheran and Division 4 Kewaunee with unblemished marks. The majority of Tigerton's wins have come against Division 5 opponents and some have questioned the strength of the Tigers' schedule. What they don't question is the impact of 6-foot-10 junior center [player_tooltip player_id='2382317' first='James' last='Brady'], an improving big man who is averaging 24.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.8 blocked shots. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2947704' first='Sam' last='Anheuser'] (15.8 ppg, 6.9 apg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022559' first='Brody' last='Miller'] (7.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022562' first='Izaiah' last='Lederhaus'] (7.4 ppg) have played big roles in addition to Brady.<br><br><strong>Central Wisconsin Christian </strong>-- Projected to finish fifth in the Trailways East Conference, Central Wisconsin Christian went 10-4 in league play to finish alone in third place in the conference standings. The Crusaders take a 15-9 overall record into the WIAA playoffs and will host Princeton/Green Lake in a regional quarterfinal on Tuesday. Coach Josh Gibbons had just one returning starter to begin the season, but he has received some solid play from some talented underclassmen. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2917223' first='Connor' last='Buteyn'] (5.7 ppg), sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3019376' first='Caleb' last='Ten Napel'] (11.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3143386' first='Brennan' last='Schaumburg'] (4.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg), and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019378' first='Dylan' last='Buwalda'] (9.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg) have been key performers all winter. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019385' first='Landon' last='Smits'] (14.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019383' first='Carson' last='Mulder'] (9.8 ppg) have provided great leadership and court production to the young players in the CWC program. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->