Five Teams Who Will Be Better Than Expected in 2023-24

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While these teams were hit hard by graduation, here's a look at five teams across the state that won't fall off as much as expected...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WEST SALEM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Are they a state championship contender, especially now that they're moving up to Division 2? No, but the two-time Division 3 runner-ups can still make a run. Coming off a 28-2 season, West Salem lost Carson Koepnick, Peter Lattos, Brett McConkey and others. With senior guard Tammarrein Henderson (10.7 ppg) back, he's a guy that can get 16-18 a night. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2388785' first='Kyle' last='Hehli'] (10.5 ppg) was also a double-figure scorer for the Panthers last season. Could see this group once again taking the Coulee Conference despite losing a big chunk of their core.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1160035"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65550af831b20"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MIDDLETON</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Look for the Cardinals to finish in the top 2-3 of the Big Eight Conference this season. Do-it-all guard Gavyn Hurley is now at Winona State, but Middleton had a lot of young pieces who should take the next step. Junior center [player_tooltip player_id='1447229' first='Will' last='Garlock'] (11.4 ppg) could be a walking double-double this winter. He's also one of the top rim protectors in the state. The Cardinals need sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1756989' first='Isaiah' last='Oliver'] (3.8 ppg) and senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1555020' first='Avery' last='Houden'] (2.2 ppg) to become more than role players this winter and tap into their potential. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1447229"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65550af831b75"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ARROWHEAD</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I still see the Warhawks as a formidable state title contender. Maybe not one of the two favorites as they were all last season, but a group that can get back to Madison with the right draw. One of the reasons this program is so tough, they've got football players on the interior who just set a tone. Leading the frontcourt this season will be Iowa State bound [player_tooltip player_id='1364523' first='Jace' last='Gilbert'] (11.0 ppg) and Penn State commit Garrett Sexton (4.4 ppg). The losses of Mac Wrecke (UW-Green Bay) and Austin Villareal (UW-Milwaukee) will be tough, but UW-Green Bay commit [player_tooltip player_id='1142119' first='Bennett' last='Basich'] (15.9 ppg) is a bonafide No. 1 option. Look for freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2138537' first='Trey' last='Resch'] to also give this team a boost.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1142119"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65550af831bb8"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SUSSEX HAMILTON</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No Luther Smith (Southern Indiana) might suggest that the Chargers are no longer a force in the Greater Metro. I'd dispute that heavily. You're going to see the best of senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1142132' first='Aidan' last='Konop'] (10.3 ppg) this winter. Injured last season and never really able to get fully back to his old self, Konop has looked has good as he ever has during the travel season. Fellow senior [player_tooltip player_id='1144119' first='Cooper' last='Grams'] (8.0 ppg) is also one of the most improved players in the state, giving Hamilton a strong senior-led backcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1142132"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65550af831bf7"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MARSHFIELD</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers lose a pair of double-digit scorers and three of their top four scorers overall from last season. However, when you have [player_tooltip player_id='1244808' first='Brooks' last='Hinson'] (15.6 ppg) with the keys to the car, you're gonna be alright. One of the top pure point guards in the state, Hinson can carry Marshfield to big things in 2023-24. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1973149' first='Chris' last='Pohl'] (6.6 ppg) also emerged as one of the top players in this class over the summer. A stretch forward with budding versatility, the 6-foot-6 Pohl has a chance to be a real mismatch problem. These two together in the pick n' roll could be deadly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1244808"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65550af831c35"} /-->