Division 2, Sectional 2: First Look

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The biggest off-season development in Sectional 2 of Division 2 came last month when the WIAA placed Homestead in the grouping of 23 teams thanks to an enrollment drop that moved the Highlanders below the 1,200 enrollment threshold for being placed in Division 1. Homestead joins a lower-half of the field loaded with outstanding teams such as Slinger and Kettle Moraine Lutheran from the north shore area of Milwaukee. In the upper half, several strong teams from the Fox Valley area will duke it out for a chance at the sectional final with Fox Valley Lutheran, Notre Dame and [program_tooltip program_id='2829078' first='West' last='De Pere'] ranking among the strongest. <br><br>Following is a look at the top players and top teams from Sectional 2:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Five Players in Sectional 2</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2351190' first='Jack' last='Kohnen'], 6-6, Sr., F, Slinger<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2398448' first='Joey' last='Kohnen'], 6-4, Jr., G, Slinger<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2138098' first='Michael' last='Rogers Jr.'], 6-0, Sr., G, Homestead<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140968' first='Oliver' last='Belot'], 6-0, Sr., G, Homestead<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140873' first='Austin' last='Hendricks'], 6-2, Sr., G, Notre Dame<strong><br><br>Five Breakout Performers in Sectional 2</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140897' first='Carson' last='Samson'], 6-0, Sr., PG, West DePere<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140868' first='AJ' last='Hendricks'], 6-3, Sr., G, Notre Dame<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2398988' first='Nick' last='Grice'], 6-4, Jr., G/F, Homestead<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2509484' first='Jaylen' last='Trotter'], 6-3, Jr., G, Homestead<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2387053' first='Ryan' last='Dalhoe'], 6-5, Sr., G/F, New London<strong><br><br>Top Five Teams in Sectional 2</strong><br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/homestead/">1. Homestead</a></strong> -- If all the pieces fall neatly into place for coach Sean Crider, Homestead could emerge as an elite team in the rugged North Shore Conference and one of the teams to beat among the entire WIAA Division 2 field. While Slinger has the Kohnen brothers to lean on for success, and that is a big trump card, Homestead possesses plenty of balance, talent, size and depth. The senior backcourt tandem of Northern Illinois recruit [player_tooltip player_id='2138098' first='Michael' last='Rogers Jr.'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2140968' first='Oliver' last='Belot'] is outstanding with Rogers directing the show, getting to the basket and making long-range jump shots and Belot ranking as one of the premier snipers from deep in the state. Junior wings [player_tooltip player_id='2509484' first='Jaylen' last='Trotter'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2398988' first='Nick' last='Grice'] are versatile performers who can score, defend and rebound and junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2398490' first='Ben' last='Hills'] provides some height at 6-foot-5. A challenging non-league schedule that includes outings with Wauwatosa East, Brookfield Central, West DePere, Milwaukee Academy of Science, Wauwatosa West, Bay Port and Verona, among others, should prepare the Highlanders for the rigors of post-season play. <br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/slinger/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/slinger/">2. Slinger </a></strong>-- Iowa State recruit [player_tooltip player_id='2351190' first='Jack' last='Kohnen'] and skilled junior [player_tooltip player_id='2398448' first='Joey' last='Kohnen'] give Slinger the best one-two punch in the sectional. The brothers bring plenty of skill, basketball IQ and desire to the court each time out. But there are questions surrounding the Slinger program, which currently is without a coach since former coach Alex Lavine recently accepted the athletic director position at the school. Replacing three starters from a club that finished second in the WIAA Division 2 State Tournament is another challenge the Owls must overcome. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2508415' first='Jude' last='Siikarla'] (6-6) is an experienced frontline player who figures to move into the starting rotation while senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020630' first='Nate' last='Bogdanovich'] is ready for varsity minutes after playing on the JV1 squad last winter following a transfer to Slinger from Lake Country Lutheran. <br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/west-de-pere/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/west-de-pere/">3. West DePere</a></strong> -- The improvement of senior lead guard [player_tooltip player_id='2140897' first='Carson' last='Samson'] and senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2381929' first='Jack' last='Wilichowski'] over the spring and summer on the club and high school circuits must have West DePere coach Todd Deschane excited about the Phantoms prospects of contending for a title in the Fox River Classic Conference next winter. Samson is a steady and smart backcourt performer who can run a team, score and provide strong perimeter defense while Wilichowski has good size at 6-foot-7 and is able to positively affect a game with his length, skill and determination. Northern Michigan football recruit [player_tooltip player_id='2399057' first='Cooper' last='Borowicz'] also returns and should give the Phantoms plenty of physicality and strong perimeter defense. <br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/notre-dame/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/notre-dame/">4. Notre Dame</a></strong> -- With sectional final appearances in each of the past two seasons, Notre Dame has shed its image as merely a football school under basketball coach Brian Bobinski. While the Tritons did lose three starters to graduation, Bobinski welcomes back two of the top guards in the Fox River Classic Conference in senior twins [player_tooltip player_id='2140873' first='Austin' last='Hendricks'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2140868' first='AJ' last='Hendricks'], both strong performers on both ends of the court. Joining Hendricks as a key returning player in senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='3021526' first='Herbie' last='Haese'] along with promising junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='3571996' first='David' last='Washington']. Finding enough scoring outside of the Hendricks brothers is the biggest concern for Notre Dame, but based on recent success, it would be foolish to discount the Tritons. <br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/fox-valley-lutheran/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/fox-valley-lutheran/">5. Fox Valley Lutheran</a></strong> -- The sum of the parts at Fox Valley Lutheran is perhaps greater than the individuals in coach Tommy Stelter's program. That isn't to say there aren't talented players in the program, but when you put them all together, they tend to be even more impressive. Three regulars return from a 16-10 squad in [player_tooltip player_id='2381575' first='Braden' last='Heiges'], [player_tooltip player_id='2811198' first='Cael' last='Loberger'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2811197' first='Wyatt' last='Schlueter']. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2381590' first='Ezra' last='Schaser'] also returns while newcomers from JV1 and JV2 teams that finished a combined 41-3 also will push for substantial playing time with the Foxes. Physicality, speed and athleticism are positive attributes for FVL, which also boasts plenty of versatility. <strong><br><br>Sleeper Team</strong><br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/cedarburg/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/cedarburg/">Cedarburg</a></strong> -- Competing in the North Shore Conference along with Homestead, Slinger, Whitefish Bay and Nicolet is a plus for Cedarburg as the Bulldogs will enter the playoffs with no fear of playing top-notch squads. And the Bulldogs also have established themselves as a quality program with plenty of grit and toughness under coach Nick Mueller. Although Cedarburg may lack the star power of the top teams in this sectional, it does welcome back three starters in [player_tooltip player_id='2818007' first='Drew' last='Dykstra'], [player_tooltip player_id='3019374' first='Lucas' last='Peterman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2819653' first='Braeden' last='Graceffa'] from a squad that went 10-16 a year after playing in the WIAA Division 2 State Tournament. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019373' first='Mason' last='Eickberg'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3415568' first='Gabe' last='Remm'] also figures to play key roles for the Bulldogs, who will rely on their defense and hustle to remain highly competitive in the North Shore Conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->