Division 2, Sectional 3: First Look

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We continue a late summer trek through the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association sectionals, today looking at Division 2, Sectional 3.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Teams:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beaver Dam<br>Brookfield Central<br>Elkhorn<br>Fort Atkinson<br>McFarland<br>Mount Horeb<br>Stoughton<br>Wauwatosa West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Overview:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wauwatosa West would have been the easy pick in this sectional had 6-foot-11 [player_tooltip player_id='1240335' first='Kai' last='Rogers'] returned for his senior season. Instead, the highly acclaimed national recruit is headed to Overtime Elite. After leading Wauwatosa West the past three seasons with his strong scoring and rebounding skills, Rogers hopes to develop his game in a league loaded with talent. He is still considering his collegiate choice and Wisconsin is among his finalists. With Rogers no longer in play, the sectional takes on a different look. Several teams, including Wauwatosa West, now appear to have a great shot of advancing to the WIAA State Tournament next March. Coach Chris Newbauer's Wauwatosa West squad still features some formidable talent, led by senior shooting ace [player_tooltip player_id='1240337' first='Jake' last='Hansen'], junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1561869' first='Matthew' last='Kloskey'] and talented sophomore combination guard [player_tooltip player_id='2288469' first='Jalen' last='Brown']. All three of those players averaged in double figures a year ago when the Trojans went 18-9. Beaver Dam gained a talented transfer student over the summer when Isaian Yuenger left Dodgeland and enrolled at Beaver Dam. Yuenger is a talented 6-foot-4 sophomore who averaged 21.0 points and 5.8 rebounds as a freshman. He joins [player_tooltip player_id='2614137' first='Parker' last='Stobbe'], [player_tooltip player_id='2391088' first='E.J.' last='Salettel'], [player_tooltip player_id='2496335' first='Parker' last='Blank'], Jackson Freund and [player_tooltip player_id='2140933' first='Jaxon' last='Ladron'] to give the Beavers multiple offensive weapons. Brookfield Central competes with Wauwatosa West in the rugged Greater Metro Conference and slips to Division 2 after a slight enrollment decrease. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1272671' first='Anthony' last='Rise'] and junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1561913' first='Henry' last='Gruetzmacher'] give veteran coach Dan Wandrey a solid inside/outside combo. Fort Atkinson could contend for the crown in the Badger Large Conference behind a strong senior class while McFarland, Mount Horeb and Stoughton all boast scholarship-level performers in [player_tooltip player_id='2140913' first='Eli' last='Krueger'], [player_tooltip player_id='1561888' first='Josh' last='Manchester'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1561944' first='Jacob' last='Hibner'], respectively. Elkhorn has plenty of scoring balance and is considered a title contender in the Southern Lakes Conference. <br><br><strong>Pre-Season All-Sectional Team:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1240337"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c6395a56446"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A confident player who competes with high energy and the flat-out ability to make multiple long-distance shots, Hansen is a four-year varsity performer for Wauwatosa West. His jump shot is one of the better in the state so defenses must always account for his presence on the court. Hansen loves the game and is always searching for shot opportunities so his movement without the ball is excellent. He recently picked up a NCAA Division I scholarship offer from Buffalo and is coming off a junior season at Tosa West where he averaged 17.1 points and 2.8 rebounds while earning second-team all-Greater Metro Conference honors. Hansen is just 28 points shy of reacihng 1,000 for his prep career. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1272671"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c6395a564de"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rise brings skill, quickness, experience and toughness to the Brookfield Central lineup. A returning second-team all-Greater Metro Conference selection, Rise is a four-year varsity performer who averaged 12.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists as a junior, helping Brookfield Central to a 14-11 mark. Rise's activity on defense is also a strength as he does a good job of anticipating steals and getting into the passing lanes. He picked up a NCAA Division II scholarship offer from Northern Michigan recently and performed well all spring and summer for the [program_tooltip program_id='2076501' first='Chapman' last='Basketball Academy'] program. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2288469"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c6395a56540"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brown is the third player on the Pre-Season Sectional team who earned second-team all-league recognition in the Greater Metro Conference a year ago. One of the top players in the 2027 class, Brown can play either guard spot and can score in different ways. He has the size to score in the post or from mid range, but also the skill to make perimeter jump shots. Off the dribble, he is a handful to defend because of his length and quickness. Brown averaged 14.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists as a freshman. He was a key cog in the [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] 15U squad that advanced to the quarterfinal round of the EYBL Peach Jam Tournament over the summer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1561888"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c6395a5659d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">An electric offensive player who can wear down a scorekeeper's pencil, Manchester scores in bunches, but almost always ends up with very high totals. He has a smooth jump shot from the perimeter and his range extends well beyond the three-point line. He's also aggressive off the bounce and can score at the rim and the foul line. As a sophomore, Manchester helped Mount Horeb to a 21-6 record by averaging 24.6 points and 5.0 rebounds. His penchant for finding the bottom of the net is a major asset for a Mount Horeb program expected to have another big season as seniors Zach MaGuire, Chris Kiel and [player_tooltip player_id='2811286' first='Griffin' last='Hannah'] all return and joined Manchester in the Vikings' starting rotation in 2023-24. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1561944"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c6395a565fd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">NCAA Division II scholarship offers came pouring in for Hibner this summer as he absolutely excelled on the club circuit with [program_tooltip program_id='2076023' first='Wisconsin' last='Academy']. The 6-foot-3, left-handed wing guard has a pure stroke from distance and is powerful and determined on drives to the basket. He finishes well through contact because of his physical strength, and can guard different spots on the other end of the floor due to his athleticism and mobility. Hibner received offers from Minnesota Duluth, Northern Michigan, Rockhurst and Winona State in recent weeks, and is poised for a huge junior season for a Stoughton program coming off a 24-4 season and Badger Small Conference championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pre-Season Pick to Click:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is an exceptionally difficult sectional to handicap. There are several solid teams in both the top and bottom half of the sectional. In addition to the teams already mentioned in this article, there are others who could surprise, including Golda Meir, Milwaukee Lutheran and Sauk Prairie in the top, and Edgewood, Milton, Monona Grove and Monroe on the bottom. One oddity ... Wauwatosa West is in Sectional 3 while Wauwatosa East wound up in Sectional 4. My pick to click is a program that has not had recent success. In fact, Fort Atkinson finished no higher than tied for sixth place in the eight-team Badger Large Conference last season. Regardless, the Blackhawks appear to have what it takes for a deep run in the post season. Coach Mike Hintz welcomes back five starters and three key reserves while also adding three talented underclassmen, giving Fort Atkinson experience and depth. Size is another big asset with seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2492727' first='Brennan' last='Dempsey'] (6-5), Ben Evans (6-7) and Jaren Strasburg (6-4) all expected to play key roles. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2508476' first='Oliver' last='Evans'] (6-8) also could be a factor for a team that has plenty of scoring balance. Dempsey averaged 14.2 points while classmate [player_tooltip player_id='2493675' first='Owen' last='Geiger'] led the squad at 14.3 pppg. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1598976' first='Lakyn' last='Hintz'] is a very good perimeter shooter and contributed 9.3 ppg while senior Caleb Enger added 6.1 ppg. Four others also averaged at least 2.3 ppg for a team that went 10-15. Look for sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2508477' first='Graeson' last='Geiger'] and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2390204' first='Carter' last='Klopcic'] to potentially play important roles as the Blackhawks look to contend for the championship in the deep, talented and non-forgiving Badger Large.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->