Marawood North Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-24 Final Standings</strong><br><br>1. Rib Lake 12-4 (21-6); 2. Prentice 7-9 (13-11); 3. Phillips 6-10 (13-13); 4. Athens 4-12 (10-16); 5. Abbotsford 3-13 (4-21); 5. Chequamegon 3-13 (5-20).<br><br><strong>2024-25 Picks</strong><br><br><strong>1. Prentice </strong>-- Adam Blomberg takes over the head-coaching duties at Prentice at an opportune time as three double-figure scorers return from a 13-11 squad. First-team all-league guard [player_tooltip player_id='2412829' first='Evan' last='Lord'] (6-2, 20.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and second-team all-league center [player_tooltip player_id='2629213' first='Aidan' last='Hause'] (6-3, 13.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg) lead the way for the Buccaneers. Both players fill up the stat sheet and rank among the better players in central Wisconsin. The third returning double-digit scorer is sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2629234' first='Hagan' last='Isaacson'] (6-1, 10.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg), who picked up honorable mention all-league status as a freshman. Senior Jonas Staroba (5-8, 4.1 ppg) and juniors Heston Hueckman (5-10, 4.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg), Ryder Jones (6-0, 2.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg) and Eliah Harding (6-0, 3.4 ppg) also return.<br><br><strong>2. Phillips </strong>-- No team in the Marawood North will have as much experience and talent in its backcourt than Phillips, which returns three guards who started on last year's 13-13 squad. Unanimous first-team all-league point [player_tooltip player_id='2391096' first='JJ' last='Heikkinen'] (5-7, 12.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg). Already a two-year regular for coach Amy Ring, Heikkinen is one of the more skilled players in the league and can run a team with his strong ball handling and passing skills. Honorable mention all-league guards [player_tooltip player_id='2629228' first='Brayden' last='Revak'] (5-9, 9.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2629225' first='Lane' last='Abraham'] (6-0, 11.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg) also return for the Loggers. Seniors Shay Dezine (6-1, 3.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and Colin Kleinschmidt (6-1, 6.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg) were top reserves and figure to contend for starting roles at the forward positions.<br><br><strong>3. Rib Lake</strong> -- Despite losing four starters from a team that went 21-6 and won the Marawood North title, Rib Lake figures to field yet another competitive squad. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2629230' first='Talon' last='Scheithauer'] (5-10, 7.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg) might be the only returning starter, but coach Todd Henderson saw impressive improvement from his reserves of a year ago over the summer. Senior Brady Heiser (5-11) along with juniors Seth Borchardt (5-11, 6.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2629220' first='Jed' last='Henderson'] (6-5, 5.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg) figure to all play prominent roles for the Redmen in 2024-25. <br><br><strong>4. Athens</strong> -- Like most of the teams in the Marawood North, Athens figures to have a squad capable of making things tough on any opponent on its schedule. At the same time, coach Jeramie Penney must replace a couple of key players lost to graduation in Andy Schaer (6-2, 12.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and Ty Johnson (6-1, 8.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg). Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2629212' first='Riley' last='Schultz Becker'] (6-0, 14.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg) picked up first-team all-league recognition as a sophomore and headlines the list of returning players for the Bluejays. Also back are sophomore guard Dax Diethelm (6-0, 8.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg) along with seniors Brayden Frahmann (6-2, 4.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg) and Nick Pittman (6-1, 3.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg). Juniors Jordan Frahm (6-2, 2.8 ppg) and Kam Zarnke (5-9, 2.3 ppg) also figure to contend for playing time. <br><br><strong>5. Abbotsford </strong>-- Abbotsford went 4-21 in Garrett Rau's first year as head coach last winter and now the program is poised to take a step forward as three starters return. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2629235' first='Grayson' last='Totzke'] (6-3, 9.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and AJ Brodhagen (6-3, 7.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg) each earned honorable mention all-Marawood North honors and started a year ago along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2951771' first='Irvin' last='Aguilera']-Lozoya (5-10, 6.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg). That trio forms a strong nucleus for the Falcons, who also return senior Payton Schrieber (6-4, 6.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2951766' first='Koren' last='Decker'] (5-10, 3.2 ppg). <br><br><strong>6. Chequamegon</strong> -- The Screaming Eagles own one of the state's best nicknames, and hope they can live up to the image of its logo in 2024-25 behind the return of junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2522799' first='Cooper' last='Michalski'] (6-1, 15.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg). One of the league's better all-around performers, Michalski can score, rebound and defend, and coach Thomas Tollackson will count on him to do all three this season. Joining Michalski as a returning starter is senior guard Corbyn Phelps (5-7, 5.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg). Other prospects to earn starting spots include senior Isaiah Bourgard (5-10, 2.5 rpg) along with juniors Marcus Purdy (5-7, 4.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg), Antonio Poetzl (5-11) and Jarrett Heckendorf (5-10, 3.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg).<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2412829' first='Evan' last='Lord'], Prentice (20.6 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2522799' first='Cooper' last='Michalski'], Chequamegon (15.2 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629212' first='Riley' last='Schultz Becker'], Athens (14.3 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629213' first='Aidan' last='Hause'], Prentice (13.1 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2391096' first='JJ' last='Heikkinen'], Phillips (12.8 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629225' first='Lane' last='Abraham'], Phillips (11.7 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629234' first='Hagan' last='Isaacson'], Prentice (10.3 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629212' first='Riley' last='Schultz Becker'], 6-0, Jr., Athens<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2522799' first='Cooper' last='Michalski'], 6-1, Jr., Chequamegon<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2391096' first='JJ' last='Heikkinen'], 5-7, Jr., Phillips<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2412829' first='Evan' last='Lord'], 6-2, Jr., Prentice<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629213' first='Aidan' last='Hause'], 6-3, Jr., Prentice<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629235' first='Grayson' last='Totzke'], 6-3, Sr., Abbotsford<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629225' first='Lane' last='Abraham'], 6-0, Sr., Phillips<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629234' first='Hagan' last='Isaacson'], 6-1, Soph., Prentice<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629220' first='Jed' last='Henderson'], 6-5, Jr., Rib Lake<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629230' first='Talon' last='Scheithauer'], 5-10, Jr., Rib Lake<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2412829' first='Evan' last='Lord'], Prentice<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2629213' first='Aidan' last='Hause'], Prentice<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2629213' first='Aidan' last='Hause'], Prentice<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2391096' first='JJ' last='Heikkinen'], Phillips<br><strong>Most Improved Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2629220' first='Jed' last='Henderson'], Rib Lake</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->