Division 1, Sectional 2: First Look

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As usual, Sectional 2 is loaded with very good teams and long-standing successful programs. Arrowhead, Brookfield East, Neenah and Sheboygan North jump out immediately as having particularly strong squads in 2026-27, but there are others in this grouping of 16 that also could make a deep playoff run. The odd thing about Sectional 2 is the inclusion of Appleton East, which has split off from city-rivals Appleton North and Appleton West, which remain in Sectional 1. <br><br>Following is a quick look at the top teams and the top players in Sectional 2:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Five Players in Sectional 2</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2138537' first='Trey' last='Resch'], 6-2, Sr., G, Arrowhead<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2412856' first='Theo' last='Toepel'], 6-4, Sr., F, Arrowhead<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2853467' first='Max' last='McMullen'], 6-0, Soph., PG, Brookfield East<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2716963' first='Kolton' last='Fleege'], 6-2, Sr., G, Neenah<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2509483' first='Rylan' last='Buhr'], 6-5, Jr., G/F, Sheboygan North<br><strong><br>Five Breakout Performers in Sectional 2</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2381486' first='Byron' last='Jones'], 6-6, Jr., F, Fond du Lac<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2401532' first='Matthew' last='Christianson'], 6-5, Soph., G/F, Brookfield East<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2889019' first='Jett' last='Rortvedt'], 6-4, Soph., G, Arrowhead<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2389907' first='Jacob' last='Jungwirth'], 6-8, Sr., F, Neenah<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2870652' first='Breylon' last='Melvin'], 6-6, Soph., F, Hartford<br><br><strong>Top Five Teams in Sectional 2</strong><br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/arrowhead/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/arrowhead/">1. Arrowhead</a></strong> -- The Warhawks are loaded with talent and very well might be the deepest team in Wisconsin. Coach Craig Haase begins his 27th year as the head coach at the school with four starters back from a 19-7 squad. Add in a couple of talented returning sophomores and the transfer of sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2889019' first='Jett' last='Rortvedt'] from Kettle Moraine and the Warhawks have the size, depth and skill to make a strong push for the WIAA State Tournament. The list of talented performers begins with a returning senior core of guards in [player_tooltip player_id='2138537' first='Trey' last='Resch'], [player_tooltip player_id='2351196' first='Blake' last='Basich'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2412841' first='Rylan' last='Schulz']. It also includes forwards [player_tooltip player_id='2412856' first='Theo' last='Toepel'], [player_tooltip player_id='2401280' first='Thomas' last='Toepel'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2920347' first='Bennett' last='Johnson']. Arrowhead may lack a true dominating big man who can control the lane area, but the Warhawks are loaded with poised, athletic and proven performers. <br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/brookfield-east/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/brookfield-east/">2. Brookfield East </a></strong>-- Having the luxury of possessing quite possibly the most gifted sophomore in the state is a good place to start a season and Brookfield East has just that with the return of dynamic 2029 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2853467' first='Max' last='McMullen']. Ranked as the No. 1 player in Wisconsin in the <a href="https://prephoops.com/wisconsin/rankings/2029-rankings/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/wisconsin/rankings/2029-rankings/">Prep Hoops Player Rankings for the Class of 2029</a>, McMullen is coming off a freshman campaign where he averaged 18 points and 4.4 rebounds while helping the Spartans of coach Joe Rux to a 22-6 record. Versatile junior [player_tooltip player_id='2438156' first='Davian' last='White'] joined McMullen in the starting rotation while seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2140937' first='Jonah' last='Cannizzo'], [player_tooltip player_id='2140915' first='Eric' last='Dusick'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2381963' first='Reuben' last='Veldhouse'] all earned plenty of playing time off the bench. Look for emerging sophomore Matthewn Christianson to also make a big impact for Brookfield East. <br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/neenah/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/neenah/">3. Neenah</a></strong> -- A senior class boasting stellar guard play, improved post play and incredible depth could carry the Rockets into new heights in 2026-27. Coming off a 16-10 season, few expect the Rockets to reach double-figures in the loss column this time around as coach Lee Rabas returns a deep core of players eager for success. Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2140993' first='Xavier' last='Bezares'], [player_tooltip player_id='2716963' first='Kolton' last='Fleege'], [player_tooltip player_id='3021335' first='Matthias' last='Charles'], [player_tooltip player_id='2824123' first='Chase' last='Nitz'], [player_tooltip player_id='2592263' first='Gavin' last='Keepers'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2508673' first='Jackson' last='Rindt'] along with 6-foot-8 senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2389907' first='Jacob' last='Jungwirth'] and 6-3 senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='3021331' first='Henry' last='Farrell'] comprise the deepest and most talented 2027 class in the rugged Fox Valley Association. Look for Neenah to challenge Kaukauna, Kimberly and Fond du Lac for the FVA title before embarking on what it hopes will be a deep playoff run. <br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/sheboygan-north/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/sheboygan-north/">4. Sheboygan North</a></strong> -- The Golden Raiders get the chance to sharpen their savvy during the regular season against teams like De Pere, Bay Port, [program_tooltip program_id='2829078' first='West' last='De Pere'] and Notre Dame in the Fox River Classic Conference. Playing those difficult opponents should prepare coach Eric Worth's squad for what lies ahead in Sectional 2. Sheboygan North will count heavily on a pair of gifted juniors who have breakout seasons a year ago in wing [player_tooltip player_id='2509483' first='Rylan' last='Buhr'] and sharpshooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='2619589' first='Nolan' last='Ten Pas']. In addition, senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2417980' first='Samuel' last='Olsen'] is back to provide some physicality and toughness to the Golden Raiders' lineup. <br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/fond-du-lac/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/fond-du-lac/">5. Fond du Lac</a></strong> -- Think of Fond du Lac and its storied history in basketball and one name pops up again and again -- Diener. Whether it was Dick or Tom Diener playing at a high level for the Cardinals in the previous century or Derek Diener, Drew Diener, Drake Diener or Travis Diener excelling in more recent days gone by, the Diener family name is synonymous with success. Well, don't look now but a Diener has returned to take over the coaching duties as Drake Diener was named as the Cardinals' new coach last spring after a very successful stint as the head coach at Marian University. Drake has some talent to work with as well as juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2381486' first='Byron' last='Jones'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2639753' first='Eli' last='Michalkiewicz'] each played big minutes as a sophomore and provide a nice nucleus to build around. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019973' first='Kamon' last='Parker-Hersey'], [player_tooltip player_id='2381450' first='Jensen' last='Jacobitz'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2400262' first='Julius' last='Ferguson'] also return for the Cardinals. <br><br><strong>Sleeper Team</strong><br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/hartford-union/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/hartford-union/">Hartford</a></strong> -- Few coaches in the North Shore Conference are expecting all that much from Hartford this winter. Instead, Slinger, Whitefish Bay, Nicolet and Homestead are getting most of votes as teams to beat from the league's seven coaches. That might be a mistake. Chris Smith-coached clubs always come prepared, always come ready to compete and always work hard on proving the skeptics wrong. Hartford did lose three key players from an 18-8 squad, but the Orioles also welcome back some players who have experienced the rigors of the North Shore in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2140870' first='Alex' last='Kuepper'], [player_tooltip player_id='2932217' first='Ethan' last='Webb'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2932229' first='Alex' last='Hoffmann']. In addition, sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2870652' first='Breylon' last='Melvin'] and Trevor Janicki earned varsity minutes as freshmen and appear ready to make a big jump in production. Count the Orioles out at your own peril as they have good size and strong guard play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->