Big East South Preview 2026-27

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025-26 Final Standings</strong><br><br>1. Oostburg 12-0 (24-4); 2. Sheboygan Lutheran 9-3 (23-7); 3. Cedar Grove 8-4 (21-6); 4. Kohler 6-6 (17-9); 5. Ozaukee 4-8 (12-14); 6. Sheboygan Christian 3-9 (7-18); 7. Random Lake 0-12 (1-25).<br><br><strong>2026-27 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/sheboygan-lutheran/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/sheboygan-lutheran/">Sheboygan Lutheran</a> -- The Crusaders might boast the best guard tandem in all of WIAA Division 5 as 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) bring their high skill level, pesky defense and strong desire to win back for another season. Leibham averaged 13.4 ppg and 5.2 rpg while Michael added 13.0 ppg and 3.1 rpg a year ago when Sheboygan Lutheran finished 23-7 and lost in the state semifinals at the Kohl Center in a memorable contest with eventual state champion Reedsville. While Leibham and Michael form the nucleus for coach Nick Verhagen, senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2828754' first='Ben' last='Verhagen'] (6-2) and senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='3022155' first='James' last='Schulze'] (6-4) also return to the starting rotation after averaging around 7.0 ppg each. Newcomers from an 18-5 JV1 team along with senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022153' first='Eli' last='Leibham'] (6-2) also figure to play important roles for Sheboygan Lutheran, which has won 297 games during Verhagen's 14 years as head coach.<br><br>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/kohler/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/kohler/">Kohler</a> -- The Blue Bombers always seem to be in the discussion when discussing the premier teams in the Big East South Conference and that should be the case once again in 2026-27. Coach Ken Roeder has built a very strong program at the tradition-rich school during his 18 years as head coach. He will have three starters back from a 17-9 squad in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2883490' first='Carter' last='Zimmermann'] (6-3), [player_tooltip player_id='2921014' first='Jackson' last='Mannon'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='2921017' first='Aiden' last='Oldenhoff'] (6-0). Zimmermann is one of the better all-around performers in the league and is coming off a productive junior season where he averaged 16.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists. Mannon added 9.5 ppg and 4.2 apg while Oldenoff pitched in 9.0 ppg and 4.1 apg. Three additional seniors also figure to play prominent roles for the Blue Bombers as [player_tooltip player_id='3020574' first='Louie' last='Baxter'] (6-5), [player_tooltip player_id='3020575' first='Nolan' last='Kading'] (6-2) and [player_tooltip player_id='3373298' first='Evan' last='Raden'] (6-1) each earned playing time off the bench in 2025-26.<br><br>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/oostburg/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/oostburg/">Oostburg</a> -- Champions of the past two league titles, Oostburg finds itself in a bit of a rebuilding situation as four starters from a 24-4 squad graduated, including two of the top scorers in school history in Bethel recruit JJ Zavatchin (2,367) and Hillsdale recruit Cade Dirkse (1,811). Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3021613' first='Cade' last='Jaeger'] (6-3) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2508205' first='Westin' last='Zavatchin'] (6-5) both earned substantial playing time for coach Kevin Bruggink and form a strong core for the Flying Dutchmen. Zavatchin is a long wingspan and an improved all-around game while Jaeger gives his squad strong senior leadership. Other returning players who figure to be key contributors include senior [player_tooltip player_id='2991281' first='Devon' last='Wilterdink'] (6-0), [player_tooltip player_id='3335725' first='Jakari' last='DeBlaey'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='3789705' first='Isaac' last='Brill'] (5-10) along with sophomores Trey VanEss (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='3630090' first='Carson' last='Miller'] (6-0). Bruggink, now in his 29th year at Oostburg, is just 21 victories shy of reaching 600 for his coaching career.<br><br>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/cedar-grove-belgium/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/cedar-grove-belgium/">Cedar Grove</a> -- Only one player in Cedar Grove basketball history scored more points than Owen Gulke, who graduated last spring after dropping in 1,679 points during his stellar four-year career with the Rockets. 1961 graduate Mark VanderJagt remains the school's all-time top scorer with 1,904 markers. Replacing the production of Gulke and three others who graduated will be a big hurdle to overcome for coach Jake Hock. But he does start the 2026-27 campaign with one of the top atheltes in the Big East Conference in senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2991915' first='Griffin' last='Knight'] (6-2), who put up 12.8 ppg and snared 7.7 rpg as a junior. Knight is, by far, the most experienced player in the Rockets program. He will need to get help from newcomers such as [player_tooltip player_id='3019365' first='Grady' last='Ketterhagen'] (5-10), [player_tooltip player_id='3731517' first='Austin' last='Hopeman'] (6-3), [player_tooltip player_id='3731519' first='Jack' last='Meinen'] (6-3), [player_tooltip player_id='3731520' first='Evan' last='Halleman'] (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='3731521' first='Gavin' last='Aponte'] (6-0). This squad figures to improve as the season progresses as players from JV1 and JV2 teams that finished a combined 36-6 get up to speed for competing at the varsity level.<br><br>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/sheboygan-county-christian/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/sheboygan-county-christian/">Sheboygan Christian</a> -- Brett Flipse starts his 31st season as head coach at Sheboygan Christian needing to replace an all-league player who led the team in scoring a year ago in the graduated Cameron Ferriano (16.9 ppg). But at the same time, Flipse is optimistic his club can be highly competitive in a highly competitive league, thanks in large part to the return of four key players from a club that finished 7-18. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2827633' first='Noah' last='Mueller'] (5-11) is the premier player for the Eagles as he averaged 11.8 ppg and 3.7 rpg as a sophomore. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2990574' first='Chase' last='DeBlaey'] (6-0) joined Mueller in the starting rotation and contributed 5.7 ppg and 2.2 rpg. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='3076506' first='Josiah' last='Neeb'] (6-3) earned varsity playing time as a freshman and figures to contend for a starting role along with athletic junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022143' first='Taye' last='Turner'] (6-2). Also back for Sheboygan Christian are senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022136' first='Ben' last='Torrenga'] (6-0) and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3698280' first='Jackson' last='Vervelde'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3698273' first='Logan' last='Frame'] (5-11).<br><br>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/ozaukee/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/ozaukee/">Ozaukee</a> -- One thing is for certain regarding the Ozaukee boys' basketball team -- senior [player_tooltip player_id='2140888' first='Braydon' last='Lowrance-Eischen'] (6-6) will be at the top of every opponent's scouting report. And with good reason. The versatile Lowrance-Eischen is one of the leading candidates for Player of the Year laurels in the league after averaging 21.0 points and 7.4 rebounds as a junior. He begins his final year of prep hoops with 1,036 career points. And he will need help from his teammates to help offset the defensive attention he is bound to attract. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='3021649' first='Nick' last='Schubert'] (5-9) is a returning starter along with Lowrance-Eischen, but coach Bob Domach's squad is largely untested beyond those two players. Seniors C.J. Dvorak (5-9), [player_tooltip player_id='3549211' first='Phil' last='Kaminski'] (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='3549212' first='Luke' last='Hamm'] (6-0) look to break into the playing rotation as do junior [player_tooltip player_id='2978865' first='Gavin' last='Ayala'] (5-9) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3549209' first='Jaxon' last='Klas'] (5-8).<br><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/random-lake/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/random-lake/"><br>7. Random Lake</a> -- Random Lake, coming off a 1-25 season, will be greatly improved this winter. Whether that means a bunch more victories or not remains to be seen as the Rams play in a difficult conference. But coach Matt Merlo's rebuilding project is gaining momentum and progressing. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2991099' first='Jackson' last='Mayer'] (6-1), [player_tooltip player_id='3174453' first='Reed' last='Traus'] (6-2) and [player_tooltip player_id='2991098' first='Griffin' last='Donahue'] (6-1) along with sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3174422' first='Michael' last='Merlo'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3630416' first='Oskar' last='Steinbauer'] (6-0) are returning starters. [player_tooltip player_id='3174422' first='Michael' last='Merlo'], the son of the head coach, was a prolific scorer as a freshman as 21.9 ppg and figures to be a marked man in 2026-27.<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='3174422' first='Michael' last='Merlo'], Random Lake (21.9 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140888' first='Braydon' last='Lowrance-Eischen'], Ozaukee (21.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2883490' first='Carter' last='Zimmermann'], Kohler (16.5 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2509476' first='Oliver' last='Leibham'], Sheboygan Lutheran (13.4 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2562463' first='McCoy' last='Michael'], Sheboygan Lutheran (13.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2991915' first='Griffin' last='Knight'], Cedar Grove (12.8 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2827633' first='Noah' last='Mueller'], Sheboygan Christian (11.8 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2991915' first='Griffin' last='Knight'], 6-2, Sr., Cedar Grove<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2883490' first='Carter' last='Zimmermann'], 6-3, Sr., Kohler<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2508205' first='Westin' last='Zavatchin'], 6-5, Jr., Oostburg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140888' first='Braydon' last='Lowrance-Eischen'], 6-6, Sr., Ozaukee<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2509476' first='Oliver' last='Leibham'], 5-11, Sr., Sheboygan Lutheran<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2921014' first='Jackson' last='Mannon'], 6-0, Sr., Kohler<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2562463' first='McCoy' last='Michael'], 5-11, Jr., Sheboygan Lutheran<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021613' first='Cade' last='Jaeger'], 6-3, Sr., Oostburg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3174422' first='Michael' last='Merlo'], 6-0, Soph., Random Lake<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2827633' first='Noah' last='Mueller'], 5-11, Jr., Sheboygan Christian<strong><br><br>The Big Five<br>Top Shooter</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='2140888' first='Braydon' last='Lowrance-Eischen'], Ozaukee<br><strong>Top Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2883490' first='Carter' last='Zimmermann'], Kohler<br><strong>Best Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2562463' first='McCoy' last='Michael'], Sheboygan Lutheran<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2508205' first='Westin' last='Zavatchin'], Oostburg<br><strong>Most Improved: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2991915' first='Griffin' last='Knight'], Cedar Grove</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->