Division 4, Sectional 3: First Look

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four schools that competed in Division 3 a year ago join the ranks of Division 4, Sectional 3 this time around as Lancaster, Mineral Point, New Glarus and Westby join the field of 26 teams. The new teams give the sectional quality depth in a grouping that also includes Darlington, Dodgeland/Hustisford, Laconia, Lomira, Marshall and Pardeeville, among others. It's a quality sectional with several teams looming as likely Top 10 teams during the regular season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at the top teams and top players in Sectional 3:<br><br><strong>Top Five Players in Sectional 3</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2505508' first='Zeke' last='Zuberbuhler'], 6-1, Sr., G, Darlington<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2423549' first='Jaylen' last='Miggins'], 6-2, Sr., G, Marshall<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2510497' first='Devin' last='Jerome'], 6-4, Sr., G/F, Pardeeville<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2450160' first='Lavonte' last='Johnson'], 6-5, Soph., F, Marshall<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2381926' first='Keegan' last='Kell'], 6-0, Sr., G, Lomira<strong><br></strong><br><strong>Five Breakout Performers in Sectional 3</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140902' first='Charlie' last='Cole'], 5-10, Sr., G, Lomira<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2628291' first='Mason' last='Langenfeld'], 6-3, Sr., F, Laconia<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2630123' first='Aiden' last='Patterson'], 6-3, Jr., G, Mineral Point<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2369903' first='Ryder' last='Fitzsimons'], 6-3, Jr., G, Darlington<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021380' first='Nolan' last='Julseth'], 5-9, Sr., G, New Glarus<strong><br><br>Top Five Teams in Sectional 3</strong><br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/darlington/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/darlington/">1. Darlington</a></strong> -- There are some significant changes in the Darlington program as the Redbirds have a new head coach in Will Schwartz and must replace two starters from a 23-4 squad, including UW-Platteville recruit Broker Buschor, who scored 1,565 career points. But one thing remains constant, the Redbirds again will be a tough team to beat in the highly regarded Southwest Wisconsin Activities League. Schwartz has three returning regulars to build around in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2505508' first='Zeke' last='Zuberbuhler'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2509473' first='Dante' last='Glendenning'] along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2369903' first='Ryder' last='Fitzsimons']. All three are all-conference caliber performers who figure to average in double figures in 2026-27. There is some experienced back beyond the three starters in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019642' first='Marcus' last='Kendall'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3681239' first='Landon' last='Edgerton'] along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019640' first='Sloan' last='Glendenning']. And sophomores Parker Smith and Tag Goebel also could work their way into the rotation as the Redbirds look to utilize their considerable physical strength and athleticism to outpoint opponents.<br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/marshall/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/marshall/">2. Marshall</a></strong> -- An already strong program received a boost over the summer when sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2450160' first='Lavonte' last='Johnson'], a 6-foot-5 forward who played an important role on Madison Memorial's WIAA Division 1 state-runner-up team last winter, opted to transfer into the Cardinals' program. Johnson gives coach TJ Zweifel's team some athleticism, size and versatility along the baseline and joins a group of returning starters that includes prolific-scoring senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2423549' first='Jaylen' last='Miggins'], who averaged 27.1 points and 7.2 rebounds as a junior. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020947' first='Logan' last='Ney'] and junior Reid Christianson Vacha joined Miggins in the starting lineup last winter while senior [player_tooltip player_id='3165160' first='Landon' last='Connelly'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3165162' first='Max' last='Moses'] look to make contributions after missing most of last season with injuries. Senior guard Santiago Alvarez Cano also returns for a deep and very talented squad looking to win the Capitol South Conference title. <br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/lomira/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/lomira/">3. Lomira</a></strong> -- Questions abound at Lomira, but there appears to be enough answers to warrant inclusion among the top teams in Sectional 3. Gone from last year's 26-2 squad is 6-foot-9 center Jake Broeske, who averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds and now is playing at NCAA Division II Northern Michigan. Hunter Duley also graduated last spring, leaving two spots open in the starting rotation. And the health of returning senior [player_tooltip player_id='2381930' first='Blake' last='Steger'] is another question for coach Nick Kohler, who coached all summer with Steger sidelined with an injury. Still, the Lions do bring back plenty of toughness and grit in the form of seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2381926' first='Keegan' last='Kell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2140902' first='Charlie' last='Cole']. Both players earned all-Wisconsin Flyway Conference honors as juniors. Also back are some key reserves in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2381934' first='Jackson' last='Bloohm'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2826123' first='Cooper' last='King'] along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2673551' first='Maddox' last='Bodden'] and Mason Schlevan. Lomira will have a strong shooting team that defends and comes to play each time out. <br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/pardeeville/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/pardeeville/">4. Pardeeville</a></strong> -- Pardeeville owns a 38-4 record and two league championships over the past three seasons as a member of the Trailways West Conference. Further success is anticipated for coach Chris Lindert's program this time around as three starters are back from a 19-8 squad. The Bulldogs feature two of the premier scorers in the sectional in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2510497' first='Devin' last='Jerome'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2830615' first='Julian' last='Wells']. Jerome, a versatile 6-foot-4 forward who can score in different ways, tossed in 20.4 ppg as a junior and has 963 career points while Wells added 17.2 ppg. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3157867' first='Cody' last='Gentz'] also returns after leading the team in rebounding at 10.8 rpg. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3157856' first='Chance' last='Millard'] figures to contend for a starting role along with some newcomers from a 14-4 JV1 team. <br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/dodgeland/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/dodgeland/">5. Dodgeland/Hustisford</a></strong> -- There is plenty of optimism surrounding this new co-op program as eight players who started at either Dodgeland or Hustisford a year ago form a rock-solid nucleus for coach Jason White. Returning regulars from Dodgeland's 11-13 squad include senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2389774' first='Trewyn' last='White'] along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2917048' first='Noah' last='Kohn'], [player_tooltip player_id='2392723' first='Collin' last='Kruchten'], [player_tooltip player_id='2893790' first='Sawyer' last='Ninmann'], [player_tooltip player_id='2986611' first='Kameron' last='Birrenkott'] and sophomore Kiptyn Walker. White, Kohn, Kruchten and Ninmann averaged in double-scoring figures with the 6-foot-3 Kruchten growing a few inches since last season while also playing at a new level over the spring/summer. Returning starters from Hustisford include junior [player_tooltip player_id='2969205' first='Bryson' last='Brusveen'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3143509' first='Dawson' last='Maas']. Guard play and perimeter shooting are assets for a team that figures to play at an up-tempo pace in 2026-27.<strong><br><br>Sleeper Team</strong><br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/new-glarus/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/new-glarus/">New Glarus</a></strong> -- The Glarner Knights get the luxury of sharpening their teeth all winter against a rugged schedule both inside and outside of Capitol South Conference. As usual, coach Travis Sysko has a challenging schedule in line for a team that brings back several key players from a 16-10 squad. Non-league dates with Evansville, Lakeside Lutheran, Lake Mills, Dodgeville, Mineral Point, Monroe and Platteville, among others, should toughen up New Glarus for a playoff run. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='3021380' first='Nolan' last='Julseth'] leads the way for the Glarner Knights as he is entering his fourth year of varsity play and averaged 19.4 ppg and 5.5 rpg as a junior. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2829064' first='Brock' last='Weeden'], [player_tooltip player_id='3021381' first='Quinn' last='Marty'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3003021' first='Tucker' last='Sysko'] also boast plenty of varsity experience and will figure heavily into the success of the team. Newcomers from a 21-3 JV1 team give New Glarus some quality depth. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->