Dunn-St. Croix Preview 2026-27

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2025-26 Standings</strong><br><br>1. Durand-Arkansaw 15-1 (22-6); 2. Colfax 12-4 (16-8); 3. Clear Lake 11-5 (20-8); 4. Glenwood City 8-8 (11-13); 5. (tie) Mondovi 7-9 (11-15); 5. (tie) Chetek-Weyerhaeuser 7-9 (16-10); 7. Spring Valley 5-11 (7-18); 8. Boyceville 4-12 (9-16); 9. Elmwood/Plum City 3-13 (7-18)<br><br><strong>2026-27 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/clear-lake/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/clear-lake/"> Clear Lake</a> -- Paced by the return of three double-figure scorers, Clear Lake enters the campaign favored to win the Dunn-St. Croix title in just its second year in the conference. The Warriors went 20-8 overall and 11-5 in league play a year ago, thanks in large part to the stellar play of first-team all-league pick [player_tooltip player_id='2429609' first='Caleb' last='Arcand'] (6-2) and second-team selections [player_tooltip player_id='3019456' first='Max' last='Everts'] (6-4) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019464' first='Miles' last='Johnson'] (6-3). All three return for Clear Lake with Arcand coming off a season where he averaged 20.2 ppg and 5.5 rpg, followed by Everts at 16.8 ppg and 5.8 rpg and Johnson at 10.9 ppg and 4.8 rpg. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3648255' first='Connor' last='Monson'] (6-3) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3648256' first='Bennett' last='Buhr'] (6-0) played important roles off the bench last winter and look to join Arcand, Everts and Johnson in the starting rotation. Now in his 25th year as head coach at the school, Jason Sargent believes his club boasts solid overall size and will work hard to control the boards on both ends of the court. <br><br>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/colfax/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/colfax/">Colfax</a> -- Like Clear Lake, Colfax welcomes back a handful of double-figure scorers. The Vikings went 16-8 a year ago and four players who averaged double-scoring figures from that squad return for coach Nick Heit. That group includes senior [player_tooltip player_id='3021313' first='Trey' last='Larson'] (5-10) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2551493' first='Russell' last='Polkoski'] (6-6), [player_tooltip player_id='2836351' first='Tegan' last='Lydon'] (6-3) and [player_tooltip player_id='2421037' first='Isaiah' last='Entzminger'] (5-10). Polkoski led the team in scoring (13.1 ppg) and finished second in rebounding (7.3 rpg) while Lydon put up impressive numbers across the board at 12.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg and 5.0 apg. Entzminger contributed 12.1 ppg and 5.0 rpg while Larson added 11.2 ppg and 3.1 rpg. The key for Colfax will be finding the right pieces to fit in around the four returning starters. Top candidates include senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019517' first='Austin' last='Coates'] (6-3) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3334450' first='Easton' last='Wedlund'] (5-11). <br><br>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/durand-arkansaw/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/durand-arkansaw/">Durand-Arkansaw</a> -- Winners of the past three league titles in the Dunn-St. Croix, Durand-Arkansaw will contend for a fourth crown in a row behind senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2509446' first='Luke' last='Weber'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019766' first='Dylan' last='Berger'] (5-11). Weber was a second-team all-league choice as a sophomore before missing all but nine games with an injury a year ago. He still managed to average 16.0 ppg for the Panthers. Berger was voted honorable mention all-Dunn-St. Croix after averaging 7.1 ppg and 5.3 rpg as a junior. Outside of the talented backcourt tandem, the Panthers are somewhat untested, although seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019769' first='Miles' last='Krawleski'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019764' first='Akin' last='Fuentes'] (6-0) did play substantially as reserves on last year's 22-6 squad. Coach Justin Redetzke believes experience and guard play are assets while size and rebounding are concerns for the Panthers in 2026-27.<br><br>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/mondovi/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/mondovi/">Mondovi </a>-- Sarah Brunner starts her fourth season as head coach at Mondovi with the same lineup that yielded an 11-15 mark a year ago. Returning starters for the Buffaloes include senior [player_tooltip player_id='3021234' first='Mason' last='Brenner'] (6-1) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021249' first='Griffin' last='Rud'] (5-8), [player_tooltip player_id='3021233' first='Beau' last='Spindler'] (6-1), [player_tooltip player_id='3021231' first='Bode' last='Falkner'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021236' first='Tyler' last='Brenner'] (5-11). Spindler and Falkner each averaged around 13 ppg while Spindler also grabbed 7.9 rpg. The scoring balance on the roster is impressive, but lack of size is a concern with just one player -- junior reserve [player_tooltip player_id='3756191' first='Trent' last='Roetter'] (6-3) -- taller than 6-foot-1. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3756192' first='Arthur' last='Mathis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3756193' first='Quin' last='Sandberg'] figure to provide good depth for Mondovi.<br><br>5.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/spring-valley/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/spring-valley/"> Spring Valley </a>-- The Cardinals went with youth last winter and had some growing pains while finishing 7-18. But veteran coach Rob Bosshart, now in his 37th season as the head coach at Spring Valley, now has a more experienced team and one capable of winning more games than a year ago. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022290' first='Jake' last='Hannack'] (5-1), juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022295' first='Tyler' last='Traynor'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='2821140' first='Brady' last='Lamb'] (6-5), and sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3042705' first='Jake' last='Kotten'] (6-4) and [player_tooltip player_id='3648023' first='Cooper' last='Supri'] (5-9) are returning starters for the Cardinals. That group averaged between 4.1 ppg and 9.5 ppg so scoring balance is going to be an asset for Spring Valley, which also welcomes back key reserves [player_tooltip player_id='3022297' first='Parker' last='Cipriano'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3475098' first='Sam' last='Bauer'] (6-5). Bosshart lists depth, experience, coachability and team chemistry as strengths. <br><br>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/chetek-weyerhaeuser/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/chetek-weyerhaeuser/">Chetek-Weyerhaeuser</a> -- Former assistant Lee Killoren takes over the coaching duties at Chetek-Weyerhaeuser looking to build on a 16-10 finish of a year ago. That might prove difficult, though, as Chetek-Weyerhaeuser lost four key players to graduation, including first-team all-Dunn-St. Croix performer Brodrick Olson. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019419' first='Jude' last='Poppe'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019425' first='Tanner' last='Wood'] (5-8) give the Bulldogs a proven backcourt as each played big minutes a year ago and averaged 14.8 ppg and 6.8 ppg, respectively. Seniors Cole Olson, [player_tooltip player_id='3019422' first='Anders' last='Olson'] (5-11) and Ryker Meskers along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3826206' first='Dawson' last='Castner'] (5-11) likely will step into bigger roles in 2026-27 after playing limited minutes last season. Lack of size and depth are both concerns for the Bulldogs. <br><br>7. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/elmwoodplum-city/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/elmwoodplum-city/">Elmwood/Plum City</a> -- After finishing in either last place or second-to-last-place in each of the past four seasons in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference, the Wolves hope to make a move up in the standings this time around. And with four starters back, coach Paul McDonough appears to have the firepower to better last year's 7-18 record. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021744' first='Logan' last='Auth'] (6-0), [player_tooltip player_id='3021751' first='Brewer' last='Link'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='2836354' first='Landen' last='McDonough'] (5-11) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3758254' first='Caleb' last='Kopp'] (6-2) form a strong nucleus for Elmwood/Plum City. Auth led the squad in scoring (11.5 ppg) and rebounding (7.3 rpg) while the other three returning regulars all average just over 9.0 ppg. That balance, along with senior leadership and quickness, will be a strength in 2026-27. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='3827762' first='David' last='Kopp'] (6-4) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3827782' first='Gus' last='Elbe'] (6-3) also figure to play key roles for the Wolves.<br><br>8. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/glenwood-city/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/glenwood-city/">Glenwood City</a> -- Two players with substantial experience are back for Glenwood City, which has a new coach in Rob Ohman and will have a new look with Brody Olson (6-7) now playing at Bethel College in the Twin Cities. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020088' first='Tristen' last='Wink'] (6-2) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3346085' first='Connor' last='Dopkins'] (5-10) are the top returning players for the Hilltoppers. Wink averaged 6.8 ppg and 3.5 rpg while Dopkins contributed 5.5 ppg for a team that went 11-13. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3346081' first='Max' last='Peterson'] (5-10), juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3346037' first='Max' last='Voeltz'] (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='3346079' first='Jordan' last='Hager'] (5-7), and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3346089' first='Dylan' last='Miller'] (6-2) also figure to be in the mix at Glenwood City. <br><br>9. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/boyceville/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/boyceville/">Boyceville</a> -- An eighth-place finish a year ago is a testament to the rigors of play in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference as the Bulldogs went just 4-14 in league play, but won five of nine non-league outings. New coach Sam Benoy will need to replace four starters, but has an experienced guard to build around in junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019149' first='Gavin' last='Rydel'] (6-0), who averaged 9.4 ppg and 3.6 rpg as a sophomore. Rydel is, by far, the most experienced player on the roster so Benoy will need others to step up their production, including juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019148' first='Eli' last='Weber'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='3701118' first='Walter' last='Schaff'] (5-10) along with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3701124' first='Clayton' last='Score'] (6-2). Defense and athleticism are strengths for Boyceville, but the lack of experience and depth are major concerns in a league as difficult as the Dunn-St. Croix.<br><strong><br>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2429609' first='Caleb' last='Arcand'], Clear Lake (20.2 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019456' first='Max' last='Everts'], Clear Lake (16.8 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2509446' first='Luke' last='Weber'], Durand-Arkansaw (16.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019419' first='Jude' last='Poppe'], Chetek-Weyerhaeuser (14.8 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021231' first='Bode' last='Falkner'], Mondovi (13.2 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021233' first='Beau' last='Spindler'], Mondovi (13.1 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2551493' first='Russell' last='Polkoski'], Colfax (13.1 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2836351' first='Tegan' last='Lydon'], Colfax (12.9 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2421037' first='Isaiah' last='Entzminger'], Colfax (12.1 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021744' first='Logan' last='Auth'], Elmwood/Plum City (11.5 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021313' first='Trey' last='Larson'], Colfax (11.2 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019464' first='Miles' last='Johnson'], Clear Lake (10.0 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2551493' first='Russell' last='Polkoski'], 6-6, Jr., Colfax<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2836351' first='Tegan' last='Lydon'], 6-3, Jr., Colfax<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2509446' first='Luke' last='Weber'], 5-11, Sr., Durand-Arkansaw<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2429609' first='Caleb' last='Arcand'], 6-2, Sr., Clear Lake<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019456' first='Max' last='Everts'], 6-4, Sr., Clear Lake<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2421037' first='Isaiah' last='Entzminger'], 5-10, Jr., Colfax<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021233' first='Beau' last='Spindler'], 6-1, Jr., Mondovi<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021231' first='Bode' last='Falkner'], 6-0, Jr., Mondovi<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021744' first='Logan' last='Auth'], 6-0, Sr., Elmwood/Plum City<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3042705' first='Jake' last='Kotten'], 6-4, Soph., Spring Valley<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019419' first='Jude' last='Poppe'], 5-11, Sr., Chetek-Weyerhaeuser<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><strong>Top Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3019456' first='Max' last='Everts'], Clear Lake<br><strong>Top Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2509446' first='Luke' last='Weber'], Durand-Arkansaw<br><strong>Top Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3021233' first='Beau' last='Spindler'], Mondovi<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2551493' first='Russell' last='Polkoski'], Colfax<br><strong>Most Improved:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3042705' first='Jake' last='Kotten'], Spring Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->