Coulee Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-24 Final Standings</strong><br><br>1. West Salem 12-0 (25-4); 2. Luther 9-3 (19-7); 3. Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau 8-4 (20-8); 4. Arcadia 4-8 (14-13); 4. Viroqua 4-8 (12-14); 6. Westby 3-9 (10-16); 7. Black River Falls 2-10 (7-17).<br><br><strong>2024-25 Picks</strong><br><br><strong>1. West Salem</strong> -- It might be some time before a team other than West Salem is projected to win the Coulee Conference title. The Panthers have the largest enrollment in the league at 603 students, boast an incredibly deep and talented program, and will aim for their fourth straight conference crown in 2024-25. West Salem owns a 38-game winning streak within league play entering the season, a number that figures to increase behind the return of three starters from a team that went 25-4 and advanced to the WIAA Division 2 State Tournament. Returning regulars for West Salem include seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2388785' first='Kyle' last='Hehli'] (6-0, 16.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and Carter Pontius (6-5, 4.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2500048' first='Nathan' last='Dillaber'] (6-0, 8.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg). Hehli might be small in stature, but he's exceptionally skilled and a big-shot maker for coach Mark Wagner. Hehli, Dillaber and senior [player_tooltip player_id='2430336' first='Nathan' last='Karr'] (6-1, 8.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg) finished among the team leaders in three-point field goals last year. Also back are versatile junior [player_tooltip player_id='1561937' first='Landon' last='Michlig'] (6-4, 6.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg), rugged sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2434284' first='Drew' last='McConkey'] (6-1, 2.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and dependable senior Luke Baginski (6-1, 2.4 ppg). Depth is a huge asset for West Salem as newcomers from JV1 and JV2 teams combined to finish 38-6. <br><br><strong>2. Luther</strong> -- The Knights were hit hard by graduation as the school's all-time leading scorer, Logan Bahr (6-7, 23.4 ppg, 10.8 rpg, now playing at La Crosse), graduated last spring after scoring 1,508 career points and helping Luther to the WIAA Division 4 state championship in 2002-03. Also gone from last season are Sam Horman (6-3, 8.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, now playing at Stout) and Adam Scriver (5-9, 5.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg). Second-year coach Dan Unke does have two double-figure scorers returning, however, in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2432857' first='Synclair' last='Byus'] (6-3, 14.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2623674' first='Will' last='Huelskamp'] (6-5, 12.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg). A deep senior class and the return of junior [player_tooltip player_id='2926297' first='Max' last='Huelskamp'] (6-1, 2.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg) should help the Knights remain among the top teams in the Coulee. <br><strong><br>3. Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau</strong> -- Cody Schmitz scored 2,654 points for G-E-T over the past four seasons and averaged 30 points and 11 rebounds as a senior. The athletic and dynamic backcourt phenom now is playing at NCAA Division II Northern Michigan. Also gone from a year ago is head coach Jared McCutchen and wing Braden Anibas (6-2, 10 ppg, 3 rpg). Ian Anderson takes over the coaching duties for the Red Hawks while talented junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1561902' first='Mason' last='Brone'] (6-2, 12 ppg, 4 rpg) figures to take over the leadership role. Brone is a three-year varsity performer and one of the top point guards in the entire Coulee region. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2623678' first='Brecken' last='Ebersold'] (6-4, 7 ppg, 4 rpg) and Jackson Burns (6-4, 4 ppg, 3 rpg) join Brone as returning regulars from a team that went 20-8. Depth could be a strength for the Red Hawks as the JV1 and JV2 teams went a combined 34-8.<br><br><strong>4. Arcadia</strong> -- Now beginning his 12th season as head coach at Arcadia, Ryan Sonnentag believes rebounding and defense will be the best traits of the Raiders basketball team this winter. Seniors Ted Teske (6-4, 5.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2432859' first='Kaiden' last='Rotering'] (6-1, 8.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg) are returning starters from a club that went 14-13. Senior Nolan Smith (6-2), junior Max Blaschko (6-1, 2.0 ppg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2410620' first='Carter' last='Wegman'] (5-10) also return. Look for freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2614880' first='Deklyn' last='Grzadziewlewski'] (5-9) to potentially also make an impact.<br><br><strong>5. Black River Falls </strong>-- Jack Taylor scored 1,295 points during his high school career at Black River Falls from 2005-09. He also scored an NCAA record 138 points in a single game for Grinnell College in 2012 during a victory over Faith Baptist Bible College. Taylor returns to his alma mater as the Tigers' new head coach and inherits a program with a prolific scorer of its own in sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2423423' first='Braylon' last='Backaus'] (5-11, 17.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg). Backaus tops a list of three returning regulars that also includes seniors Cecil Lopez (5-10, 5.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg) and Nolan Boehm (5-9, 5.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg). <br><br><strong>6. Viroqua </strong>-- There is very good depth in the Coulee for the 2024-25 season and Viroqua hammers that point home as the Blackhawks might be picked for sixth place, but by no means will be a pushover in league play. Coach Matt Mezera has three senior starters back from a 12-win squad in [player_tooltip player_id='2434593' first='Benson' last='McDowell'] (6-1, 16.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2623681' first='Solomon' last='Murdock'] (6-4, 12.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and Matthew Weston (6-2, 6.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg). Establishing some depth is a concern, but Viroqua could get a big lift from sophomore Kolten Peterson (5-10). <br><br><strong>7. Westby</strong> -- Caleb Johnson (6-1, 22.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, now playing at Winona State) was one of the Coulee's top snipers from outside the three-point arc last winter, but he graduated last spring. So did four other starters for the Norsemen. Coach Ken Halvorson will attempt to rebuild behind the return of senior Devin Nedland (6-0, 9.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg) and Ryon Berklund (6-2, 2.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg). <br><br>T<strong>op Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2423423' first='Braylon' last='Backaus'], Black River Falls (17.1 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2434593' first='Benson' last='McDowell'], Viroqua (16.5 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2388785' first='Kyle' last='Hehli'], West Salem (16.3 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2432857' first='Synclair' last='Byus'], Luther (14.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2623674' first='Will' last='Huelskamp'], Luther (12.1 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561902' first='Mason' last='Brone'], Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau (12.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2623681' first='Solomon' last='Murdock'], Viroqua (12.0 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2423423' first='Braylon' last='Backaus'], 5-11, Soph., Black River Falls<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561902' first='Mason' last='Brone'], 6-2, Jr., Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2432857' first='Synclair' last='Byus'], 6-3, Sr., Luther<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2434593' first='Benson' last='McDowell'], 6-1, Sr., Viroqua<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2388785' first='Kyle' last='Hehli'], 6-0, Sr., West Salem<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2432859' first='Kaiden' last='Rotering'], 6-1, Sr., Arcadia<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2623678' first='Brecken' last='Ebersold'], 6-4, Sr. Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2623674' first='Will' last='Huelskamp'], 6-5, Sr., Luther<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500048' first='Nathan' last='Dillaber'], 6-0, Jr., West Salem<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561937' first='Landon' last='Michlig'], 6-4, Jr., West Salem<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Top Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2388785' first='Kyle' last='Hehli'], West Salem<br><strong>Top Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2623674' first='Will' last='Huelskamp'], Luther<br><strong>Top Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2432857' first='Synclair' last='Byus'], Luther<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1561902' first='Mason' last='Brone'], Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau<br><strong>Most Improved Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2432859' first='Kaiden' last='Rotering'], Arcadia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->