Division 5, Sectional 4: First Look

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A couple of strong teams have been moved from other sectionals in Division 5 to Sectional 4 in Elkhart Lake and Barneveld. In addition, the new co-op program from Monticello/Albany and the first-year program at Augustine Prep North have been played in the 32-team Sectional 4 grouping. Barneveld and Elkhart Lake figure to be among the stronger teams in the sectional and both could make a strong push to a trip to Madison next March.<br><br>Following is a look at the top players and top teams in Sectional 4:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Five Players in Sectional 4</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2487657' first='Sam' last='Fait'], 6-4, Sr., G, Catholic Central<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2621236' first='Griffin' last='Noll'], 6-4, Sr., G, Pecatonica<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2509476' first='Oliver' last='Leibham'], 5-11, Sr., G, Sheboygan Lutheran<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2399579' first='Nick' last='Thies'], 6-5, Sr., F, Abundant Life Christian<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2514254' first='Harlan' last='Kuehn'], 6-5, Sr., F, Lourdes Academy<br><br><strong>Five Breakout Performers in Sectional 4</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2689862' first='Kaden' last='Seim'], 6-5, Sr., F, Fall River<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2636025' first='Ty' last='Durtschi'], 6-5, Sr., F, Monticello/Albany<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2613973' first='Brayden' last='Smith'], 6-2, Jr., G, Elkhart Lake<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2562463' first='McCoy' last='Michael'], 5-11, Jr., G, Sheboygan Lutheran<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3103197' first='Mason' last='Durst'], 6-7, Jr., F/C, Barneveld<br><br><strong>Top Five Teams in Sectional 4</strong><br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/sheboygan-lutheran/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/sheboygan-lutheran/">1. Sheboygan Lutheran</a></strong> -- The pair of backcourt players Sheboygan Lutheran puts on the floor each game ranks among the best in all of Division 5. Experienced, tough and skilled, senior [player_tooltip player_id='2509476' first='Oliver' last='Leibham'] (5-11) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2562463' first='McCoy' last='Michael'] (5-11) may lack size, but their quickness and ball handling, passing and shooting skills are outstanding. Both averaged around 13 points per game last winter while helping coach Nick Verhagen's squad to a 23-7 record and a trip to the WIAA State Tournament. Also returning to the starting rotation for the Crusaders are a pair of seniors in wing [player_tooltip player_id='2828754' first='Ben' last='Verhagen'] (6-2) and forward [player_tooltip player_id='3022155' first='James' last='Schulze'] (6-4), both of whom averaged around 7.5 ppg. Depth is a concern, but Sheboygan Lutheran does have some gifted newcomers from a JV1 team that finished 18-5. As usual, Sheboygan Lutheran will get tested in the Big East South Conference, but that difficult schedule usually pays dividends come playoff time. <br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/fall-river/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/fall-river/">2. Fall River </a></strong>-- Size and experience rank among the top strengths for Fall River and coach Arnie Oelke, the dean of Wisconsin high school coaches now entering his 41st season as head coach of the Pirates. WIth more than 500 career victories, Oelke knows how to put together winning teams and that figures to be the case in 2026-27 as three double-figure scorers are back from a 13-13 squad in senior [player_tooltip player_id='2689862' first='Kaden' last='Seim'] (6-5), junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019944' first='Jayden' last='Abegglen'] (6-3) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2430695' first='Mason' last='Bobholz'] (6-6). Seim is a returning first-team all-Trailways West Conference performer who averaged 17.3 points and 9.0 rebounds while Bobholz picked up second-team honors as a freshman by averaging 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds. Abegglen earned honorable mention all-league honors after averaging 11.8 ppg and 5.0 rpg. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3151193' first='Jack' last='Samplawski'] (5-6) also returns while sophomore Travis Alvin (6-1) transferred to Fall River after averaging 3.5 ppg and 3.7 rpg as a freshman at league-rival Randolph.<br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/lourdes-academy/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/lourdes-academy/">3. Lourdes Academy</a></strong> -- Like Fall River, Lourdes Academy went 13-13 last winter but welcomes back an abundance of experience as seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2140955' first='Lucas' last='Neuens'] (5-10), [player_tooltip player_id='2637713' first='Jackson' last='Buttke'] (5-11), [player_tooltip player_id='2514254' first='Harlan' last='Kuehn'] (6-4), [player_tooltip player_id='3119640' first='Henry' last='Achterberg'] (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020742' first='Brady' last='Bauer'] (6-0) were starters for the Knights under coach Brett Baehman in 2025-26. Buttke is a skilled lead guard who earned first-team all-Trailways East Conference recognition after averaging 12.2 ppg and 4.0 rpg. Kuehn provides some muscle in the paint and was voted second-team all-league after netting 11.8 ppg and grabbing 8.2 rpg. Bauer, a strong all-around athlete and quarterback of the Knights' football team, earned honorable mention all-conference honors after averaging 9.2 ppg and 5.0 rpg. Nuens was injured for parts of last season, but he sill managed to put up good numbers are 13.1 ppg and 3.2 rpg. Also back are three additional seniors in [player_tooltip player_id='3119799' first='Max' last='Behnke'] (5-10), [player_tooltip player_id='3119386' first='Eli' last='Halla'] (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='3119536' first='Cameron' last='Kapral'] (6-0). <br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/pecatonica/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/pecatonica/">4. Pecatonica</a></strong> -- Paced by the strong play of two-time first-team all-Six Rivers East Conference performer [player_tooltip player_id='2621236' first='Griffin' last='Noll'] (6-4), Pecatonica looks to improve on a 17-8 record. Noll brings excellent size and a scoring mentality unmatched by others in the league as he averaged 25.6 points and 7.1 rebounds as a junior. He is also good at creating for others such as talented senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='3021685' first='Luke' last='Leonard'] (6-3) along with seniors Martin Anderson (5-10) and Bo Statcher (6-1). Noll, Leonard, Anderson and Statcher, all starters a year ago, form a strong nucleus for the Vikings, who will also count heavily on seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021686' first='Brock' last='Erickson'] (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021682' first='Alex' last='Domine'] (6-1). <br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/barneveld/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/barneveld/">5. Barneveld</a></strong> -- The four-time defending conference champions in the Six Rivers East lost its entire starting lineup to graduation, but this winning culture and young talent in the program could very well help the Eagles challenge for yet another league title this season. Coach Tyler Sullivan, now in his 10th season, has one of the top frontline players in the league to work with in 6-foot-7 juniro [player_tooltip player_id='3103197' first='Mason' last='Durst'], who came off the bench to average 11 points and 8 rebounds as a sophomore. With Durst anchoring the middle, Barneveld will look to seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3103192' first='Brigham' last='Schauff'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='3103190' first='Kadyn' last='Schlimgen'] (5-11) to take care of the backcourt duties. Talented sophomores from an undefeated JV2 team will figure into the rotation as Barneveld looks to emphasis its team speed and defensive intensity as it battles the likes of Pecatonic and Monticello/Albany for the league title. <br><br><strong>Sleeper Team</strong><br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/elkhart-lake-glenbeulah/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/elkhart-lake-glenbeulah/">Elkhart Lake</a></strong> -- The Resorters have become more competitive in recent seasons, including finishing 18-10 a year ago. Three starters are back for coach Mike Koehler in senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019868' first='Soren' last='Holzwart'] (5-10), junior [player_tooltip player_id='2613973' first='Brayden' last='Smith'] (6-1) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3068967' first='Evan' last='Conrad'] (6-2). Smith is a three-point shooting standout who also contributes in other ways while Holzwart and Conrad bring plenty of experience to the court. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='3187322' first='Mason' last='Chapman'] (6-0) is also back after playing off the bench in 2025-26 while Elkhart Lake also welcomes a very strong freshmen class anchored by 6-foot-5 forward [player_tooltip player_id='3717609' first='Brighton' last='Webb'], one of the better class of 2030 prospects in Wisconsin. The Resorters might take a few punches during the regular season as a member of the Big East North Conference that also includes Howards Grove and St. Mary Catholic, among others, but look out for this squad come March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->