Prep Hoops/Zaleski Sports Teams of the Week

Mark Miller February 28, 2026 @ 09:28 PM

DIVISION 1 ... MIDDLETON
The players on the Middleton boys' basketball squad knew full well what was at stake last Thursday when the Cardinals hosted Madison Memorial in a regular-season finale. With Middleton sitting one game behind Madison Memorial in the Big Eight Conference standings, the Cardinals understood a victory would yield a share of the league title while a loss would result in a second-place finish. Middleton went out and got the win and in convincing fashion, beating a Spartans' team that came in with a 22-1 record by a final count of 71-57. Middleton, which enters the WIAA playoffs with a 20-4 record, got 19 points from senior guard John Grimes John Grimes 6'0" | PG Middleton | 2026 State WI along with 13 points and seven rebounds from sophomore forward Carter Parks Carter Parks 6'3" | SF/PF Middleton | 2028 State WI . Jackson Guerrero Jackson Guerrero 6'0" | PG/CG Middleton | 2026 State WI (11 points) and Luke Sheehan Luke Sheehan 6'3" | PF Middleton | 2026 WI (11 points) also reached double figures for coach Kevin Bavery's squad.

DIVISION 2 ... PORT WASHINGTON
The Pirates wrapped up an undefeated season in the first year of the Glacier Trails Conference and won their 21st game in a row last Thursday when coach Garrett Hoffmann's team nipped Plymouth, 53-52. Ranked No. 1 among Division 2 teams in the state in the WBCA/Prep Hoops Wisconsin poll, Port Washington is 23-1 entering the post season. Earlier in the week, Port Washington defeated a solid Cedar Grove unit, 79-64. In the narrow win over Plymouth, Port Washington overcame a 31-point outburst by the Panthers' Kaden Schultz with a balanced scoring attack. Grady Karrels Grady Karrels 6'4" | SF Port Washington | 2026 State WI had 13 points, Kiya Sullivan Kiya Sullivan 5'8" | PG WI added 11 and Cal Loose Cal Loose 6'2" | SG Port Washington | 2026 State WI contributed eight. Loose, a UW-Stevens Point recruit, had 29 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals in the win over Cedar Grove.

DIVISION 3 ... DODGEVILLE
The Dodgers went on the road last Tuesday to turn back Six Rivers East Conference champion Barneveld 82-76 before garnering a share of the Southwest Wisconsin Conference championship later in the week with a comfortable 88-30 triumph over Prairie du Chien. Coach Matt McGraw's club shared the SWC crown with Lancaster and Platteville as all three squads went 7-3 in league play. Instrumental to the Dodgers' success has been the play of 1,000-point scorer Bryce Crubaugh-Lockard Bryce Crubaugh-Lockard 6'0" | CG Dodgeville | 2026 WI , who leads the team in scoring at 18.3 ppg. Junior Jayce Halverson Jayce Halverson 5'11" | CG Dodgeville | 2027 State WI adds 14.3 ppg and 4.7 rpg while junior Elliott Hesseling contributes 9.2 ppg and senior Andrew Hesseling Andrew Hesseling 6'2" | SG Dodgeville | 2026 WI 7.5 ppg. Dodgeville takes a 15-9 record into the playoffs and will host Westby (14-10) in a regional quarterfinal Tuesday.

DIVISION 4 ... EDGAR
Edgar heads into the playoffs with some momentum after registering Marawood South Conference wins over Newman Catholic and league-champion Marathon last week. The Wildcats of coach Zach Paul held off a determined Newman Catholic squad behind 16 points from senior Gavin Mauer Gavin Mauer 5'11" | CG Edgar | 2026 WI . Mauer's point total helped in the 57-47 win over the visiting Cardinals as did the rebounding of senior Tucker Streit Tucker Streit 6'0" | SF Edgar | 2026 WI , who snared 15 caroms in the contest. In the 64-52 win over Marathon, four Edgar players finished with double scoring figures, led by junior Carson Nowak Carson Nowak 6'1" | SF Edgar | 2027 WI with 17. Freshman Graham Streit Graham Streit 5'11" | CG Edgar | 2029 WI contributed 12 points and six rebounds in the upset victory.

DIVISION 5 ... ABUNDANT LIFE CHRISTIAN
Abundant Life Christian entered last week needing to beat long-time nemesis Deerfield on the road and Williams Bay at home in order to share the Trailways South Conference crown with Parkview. The Challengers were up to the challenge. Coach Mike Thies' squad turned back Deerfield 60-53 behind 20 points from his junior son, Nick. Abundant Life also got 16 points from Warren Kurth Warren Kurth 5'9" | CG Abundant Life Christian | 2026 WI and nine rebounds and six assists from senior Anthony Ellingson Anthony Ellingson 6'3" | SF Abundant Life Christian | 2026 WI . A few days later, Nick Thies Nick Thies 6'5" | PF Abundant Life Christian | 2027 State WI went off for 32 points in an 83-41 win over Williams Bay. Abundant Life Christian and Parkview both finished 10-2 in league play. The Challengers open WIAA play on Tuesday by hosting Monticello.