Big Rivers Preview 2026-27

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2025-26 Standings</strong><br><br>1. (tie) Hudson 12-2 (17-8); 1. (tie) River Falls 12-2 (19-7); 3. Menomonie 9-5 (19-9); 4. New Richmond 8-6 (16-10); 5. Eau Claire Memorial 6-8 (8-17); 6. Eau Claire North 4-10 (8-17); 7. Chippewa Falls 3-11 (5-20); 8. Rice Lake 2-12 (7-19)<br><br><strong>2026-27 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/hudson/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/hudson/">Hudson </a>-- Replacing standout Jace Mataczynski, a 6-foot-3 forward who averaged 24.5 ppg and 5.2 rpg and now is playing professional baseball with the Boston Red Sox, will be difficult to overcome, but coach Brent Larson hopes to parlay excellent guard play and balanced scoring into the Raiders' second consecutive league title. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2416653' first='Alex' last='Healy'] (6-0) is one of the better all-around athletes in the Big Rivers and averaged 15.8 ppg and 3.9 rpg as a junior. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2852491' first='Lucas' last='Larson'] (6-0), son of the head coach, also returns and is one of the better class of 2029 prospects in the state. Healy, Larson and senior [player_tooltip player_id='3553898' first='Jack' last='Hatfield'] (6-0) give Hudson a solid guard trio while senior forwards [player_tooltip player_id='3020325' first='Jack' last='Dumond'] (6-4) and [player_tooltip player_id='3553914' first='Miles' last='Webb'] (6-3) will play alongside the baseline for the Raiders. Hudson once again plays several out-of-state squads from Minnesota and will open its season against one of Iowa's top programs with a non-league game at Just A Game Fieldhouse on December 5th against Dubuque, Iowa, Senior High School.<br><br>2.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/menomonie/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/menomonie/"> Menomonie</a> -- This is a squad to keep an eye on once the WIAA Division 2 playoffs get underway as the Mustangs have some impressive pieces to make a deep run in the post season in addition to contending for the Big Rivers title. the Mustangs' success will depend largely on the play of senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2417746' first='Trevor' last='Robert'] (6-8), one of the top frontline prospects in the state's 2027 class. Known more for his defense than his offense earlier in his career, Robert emerged last winter as a go-to scoring threat for coach Greg Van Grunsven as he averaged 18.0 ppg to go along with 9.1 rpg. His defensive presence near the basket remains a huge asset for Menomonie, which won 19 games in 2025-26 and welcomes back three starters in Robert, [player_tooltip player_id='2993843' first='DJ' last='Butler'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='2828565' first='Blake' last='Behrens'] (6-4). Two sophomores also figure to play key roles for Menomonie as [player_tooltip player_id='3356998' first='Parker' last='Behrens'] (6-2) and [player_tooltip player_id='2949196' first='Javan' last='Butler'] (6-2) each played some varsity minutes in reserve roles last winter. <br><br>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/river-falls/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/river-falls/">River Falls</a> -- The Wildcats lost four starters from a 19-win squad to graduation, but there remains an optimistic outlook for success in 2026-27 as coach Zach Turpin works with some improved players who will step into more prominent roles. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2140922' first='Gavin' last='Carufel'] (6-1) brings plenty of experience as the lone starter back for River Falls while seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2419970' first='Cullen' last='Johnson'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='2389814' first='Chase' last='Radloff'] (6-6) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2920744' first='Colton' last='Nesbitt'] (6-7) all saw plenty of playing time off the bench. Carufel is a good shooter who averaged 6.1 ppg and 3.1 rpg while Johnson brings plenty of defense and hustle to the court. Nesbitt, who came on during the second half of last season to average 5.7 ppg and 4.7 rpg, gives the Wildcats some inside scoring while Randloff also gives Turpin some size in the paint. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2420015' first='Gavin' last='Benedict'] (5-11) and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3356677' first='Brady' last='Larsen'] (6-2) and [player_tooltip player_id='3512729' first='James' last='Treichel'] (6-4) also figure to contend for significant action.<br><br>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/eau-claire-memorial/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/eau-claire-memorial/">Eau Claire Memorial </a>-- A young squad with lots of promise, Eau Claire Memorial appears to be a team that will improve as the season progresses and the underclassmen gain varsity experience. The Old Abes went 8-17 a year ago under coach Chad Brieske and bring back three starters in senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019811' first='Andrew' last='Hudson'] (5-9), juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2828793' first='Lucas' last='Lokken'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='3102653' first='Abbott' last='Jepsen'] (6-2). Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2391081' first='Brevan' last='Hedtke'] (5-11) missed last season with an ACL injury, but he looks to move into the starting lineup along with [player_tooltip player_id='2369880' first='Bennett' last='Risler'] (6-3), a sophomore who started at Eau Claire Regis as a freshman. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019808' first='Mason' last='McCarthy'] (6-4) proved to be a valuable player off the bench as he averaged 7.0 ppg and 2.8 rpg for the Old Abes. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='3102658' first='Jemarri' last='Barkley'] (5-10) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2888205' first='Bennett' last='Gardow'] (6-1) also could factor into the regular playing grouping for Eau Claire Memorial.<br><br>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/new-richmond/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/new-richmond/">New Richmond</a> -- The prognosis for New Richmond took an unfortunate turn with an injury to junior [player_tooltip player_id='2860936' first='Isaac' last='Schwartz'] (6-7) that could sideline the talented forward for a good chunck of the season. Schwartz averaged 6.4 ppg and 3.5 rpg as a sophomore and flashed impressive potential. His absence will be a hurdle to overcome for coach Kyle Allen's group, but talent remains at New Richmond in the form of senior [player_tooltip player_id='2140885' first='Braxton' last='Landa'] (6-1), junior [player_tooltip player_id='3476875' first='Preston' last='Hidde'] (6-3) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2412728' first='McCoy' last='Monson'] (5-11). Landa started on last year's 16-10 squad and averaged 11.3 ppg and 3.4 while Monson came off the bench to contribute 13.4 ppg and 2.6 rpg. Hidde also proved to be productive in the Tigers' up-tempo offense as he contributed 7.9 ppg and 5.2 rpg. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3734662' first='Jackson' last='Schroeder'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3734665' first='Zach' last='Ader'] (5-10), along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3734663' first='Drew' last='Gretzlock'] (6-4) and [player_tooltip player_id='3734666' first='Ty' last='Palmer'] (5-9) also figure to be key players.<br><br>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/chippewa-falls/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/chippewa-falls/">Chippewa Falls</a> -- After failing to win a league contest for two straight seasons, Chippewa Falls secured two triumphs in the Big Rivers last winter. The Cardinals could double or even triple that total this time around as coach Jason Proue has the benefit of going into contests with the best shooter in the league in senior [player_tooltip player_id='2829504' first='Owen' last='Munson'] (6-2), who averaged 19.5 ppg and 4.1 rpg as a junior and begins his final year of prep basketball with 741 career points. Munson and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2821342' first='Kobe' last='Twyman'] (6-0), who put in 7.0 ppg as a sophomore, also returns to the starting lineup. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2873533' first='Jacobi' last='Jenkins'] (6-2) and [player_tooltip player_id='3255761' first='Drew' last='Thornton'] (5-5) each played substantially as juniors as the Cardinals rely on their strong perimeter shooting to become a highly competitive squad in the Big Rivers.<br><br>7. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/eau-claire-north/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/eau-claire-north/">Eau Claire North</a> -- First-year coach Mike Cooper spent last season on the coaching staff at UW-Milwaukee and brings that collegiate experience at the NCAA Division I level to the Eau Claire North program. Cooper has four regulars returning from an 8-17 team and they are all seniors -- [player_tooltip player_id='2140978' first='Robert' last='Hutchinson'] (6-3), [player_tooltip player_id='2140971' first='Owen' last='Ruppert'] (6-1), [player_tooltip player_id='2830282' first='Dempsey' last='Bauer'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='2820360' first='Brady' last='Andrew'] (6-4). Hutchinson is the top returning scorer for the Huskies at 10.0 ppg while Ruppert is the top returning rebounder at 3.1 rpg. Juniors JaQuan Purnell (6-6) and [player_tooltip player_id='2414681' first='Reagan' last='Hutchinson'] (6-6) give Cooper some size and both players did earn some varsity minutes as sophomores. Look for Eau Claire North to employ a full-court defense and transition offense in an effort to move up in the league standings.<br><br>8. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/rice-lake/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/rice-lake/">Rice Lake</a> -- Zach Schradle takes over as the new head coach at Rice Lake as former mentor Kevin Orr moved over to coach the girls' program at Rice Lake after 25 seasons on the boys' side of things. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3021954' first='Ben' last='Vande Vort'] (5-11) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2819320' first='Landon' last='Brown'] (5-11) are both returning starters for the Warriors and give Schradle an experienced backcourt tandem. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2826582' first='Grady' last='Sheplee'] (6-6) averaged 3.2 ppg and 2.6 rpg as a backup post player while juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2993949' first='Bjorn' last='Helstad'] (6-5) and [player_tooltip player_id='2858000' first='Parker' last='Dvorak'] (5-11) also earned varsity playing time as reserves. Lack of depth and overall experience are listed concerns for Rice Lake.<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2829504' first='Owen' last='Munson'], Chippewa Falls (19.5 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2417746' first='Trevor' last='Robert'], Menomonie (18.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2416653' first='Alex' last='Healy'], Hudson (15.8 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140885' first='Braxton' last='Landa'], New Richmond (11.3 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140978' first='Robert' last='Hutchinson'], Eau Claire North (10.0 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2829504' first='Owen' last='Munson'], 6-2, Sr., Chippewa Falls<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2416653' first='Alex' last='Healy'], 6-0, Sr., Hudson<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2417746' first='Trevor' last='Robert'], 6-8, Sr., Menomonie<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2920744' first='Colton' last='Nesbitt'], 6-7, Jr., River Falls<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2391081' first='Brevan' last='Hedtke'], 5-11, Soph., Eau Claire Memorial<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2852491' first='Lucas' last='Larson'], 6-0, Soph., Hudson<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140885' first='Braxton' last='Landa'], 6-1, Sr., New Richmond<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2412728' first='McCoy' last='Monson'], 5-11, Soph., New Richmond<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140922' first='Gavin' last='Carufel'], 6-1, Sr., River Falls<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2369880' first='Bennett' last='Risler'], 6-3, Soph., Eau Claire Memorial<br><br><strong>The Big Five<br>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2829504' first='Owen' last='Munson'], Chippewa Falls<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2416653' first='Alex' last='Healy'], Hudson<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2417746' first='Trevor' last='Robert'], Menomonie<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2417746' first='Trevor' last='Robert'], Menomonie<br><strong>Most Improved:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2419970' first='Cullen' last='Johnson'], River Falls</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->