Northern Lakes Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-24 Final Standings</strong><br><br>1. Three Lakes 9-1 (20-6); 2. Laona/Wabeno 8-2 (14-12); 3. Crandon 5-5 (8-17); 3. Florence 5-5 (16-10); 5. Goodman/Pembine 2-8 (9-15); 6. Elcho 1-9 (5-20).<br><br><strong>2024-25 Picks</strong><br><br><strong>1. Laona/Wabeno</strong> -- Three double-figure scorers return to give the Rebels the best scoring punch and balance in the Northern Lakes. That trump card could be enough to help Laona/Wabeno win the league title for the first time since 2021-22. Coach Kendric Allen's talented group remains young as junior [player_tooltip player_id='2634237' first='Walker' last='Winkelman'] (6-1, 13.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2634236' first='Canton' last='Chrisman'] (5-11, 15.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2634239' first='Cooper' last='Albrecht'] (6-1, 11.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg) are the top players in the Rebels' program. Finding the right personnel to fill in around that trio will be a challenge for Allen. Seniors Colton Cooper (6-2, 3.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg), Cain Olson (5-10) and Nate Gilpin (5-11) will contend for significant roles as will junior Boone VanOoyen (6-0).<br><br><strong>2. Three Lakes</strong> -- After capturing the league title by one game over runner-up Laona/Wabeno last winter, Three Lakes will rebuild in 2024-25 behind the return of senior forward Peyton Pitik (6-4, 8.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg). Pitik is the lone returning starter from a 20-6 squad, although senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1598444' first='Eli' last='Erickson'] (5-10, 4.6 ppg) was one of the Bluejays' top reserves. Also back are senior Charlie Liebscher (5-8) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2809873' first='Owen' last='Liebscher'] (5-7), among others. <br><br><strong>3. Florence</strong> -- Bryan Bomberg must replace his top two scorers from last year's squad that finished 12-10, but he does have some experience back as the Bobcats look to again challenge for the Northern Lakes title. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2634243' first='Trent' last='McLain'] (5-10, 8.4 ppg, 9.9 rpg) and Logan Koski (6-0, 5.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg) are returning regulars as is junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2381616' first='Truth' last='Setner'] (5-10, 8.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg). McLain, Koski and Setner are a solid core for Florence, which will feature strong guard play. <br><br><strong>4. Crandon </strong>-- Crandon looks to improve on its 8-17 mark of a year ago as second-year coach Ryan Siggelkow has four returning starters, including top scorer [player_tooltip player_id='2416246' first='Jaxon' last='Keepers'] (5-10, 14.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and top rebounder [player_tooltip player_id='2634241' first='Matthew' last='Jahnke'] (6-0, 8.2 ppg, 10.1 rpg). Keepers and Jahnke were joined in the opening rotation by senior classmates [player_tooltip player_id='2634242' first='Hayden' last='Gretzinger'] (6-5, 8.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and Taylor Karcz (5-9, 2.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg). The Cardinals' strong senior class also includes Conor Flannery (5-11, 2.4 ppg) and Tucker Krause (6-5)&gt; Juniors Brody Lemaster (5-9, 1.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and sophomores Logan Jaeger (6-0) and Konner Gerow (6-5) also return.<br><br><strong>5. Goodman/Pembine</strong> -- The Patriots have some returning pieces to go to war with in the Northern Lakes as second-year coach Anthony Erno hopes his program can better last year's 10-15 mark. Three seniors are back after starting a year ago. That group includes guards Josh Knutson (5-11, 8.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and Chase Kozelek (5-8, 6.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg) along with forward [player_tooltip player_id='2634245' first='Kyle' last='Braaten'] (6-4, 9.6 ppg, 8.5 rpg). Braaten is one of the better frontcourt players in the league and will need to stay healthy and out of foul trouble in order for Goodman/Pembine to cause teams trouble. Sophomore Vinnie Ipsa (5-8, 4.2 ppg), junior Wailer Severson (5-11) and freshman Auron Garrow (5-10) also figure to contend for playing time. <br><br><strong>6. Elcho </strong>-- The Hornets received a major blow during the football season when returning senior forward Nathan Visser (6-4, 12.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg) went down with a season-ending injury. Already a team without depth, losing its best player for the duration of the campaign before the year even started is a hurdle of major proportions to overcome for fifth-year coach Michelle Kincaid. Elcho is not expected to field a JV1 team due to lack of numbers and will be thin on the varsity level as well. Seniors Owen Edwards (6-0, 7.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Mason Spray (6-3, 4.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and Keigen Keopel (5-7, 0.8 ppg, 1.2 rpg) are returning starters from a club that went 5-20. Also expected to contend for playing time are seophomore Jaxon Schuett (5-6, 5.9 ppg, 0.9 rpg) and freshmen Weston Carlson (5-9) and Brayden Briko (5-9).<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634236' first='Canton' last='Chrisman'], Laona/Wabeno (15.5 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2416246' first='Jaxon' last='Keepers'], Crandon (14.4 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634237' first='Walker' last='Winkelman'], Laona/Wabeno (13.3 ppg)<br>Nathan Visser, Elcho (12.2 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634239' first='Cooper' last='Albrecht'], Laona/Wabeno (11.4 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634245' first='Kyle' last='Braaten'], Goodman/Pembine (9.6 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2416246' first='Jaxon' last='Keepers'], 5-10, Sr., Crandon<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634236' first='Canton' last='Chrisman'], 5-11, Soph., Laona/Wabeno<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634237' first='Walker' last='Winkelman'], 6-1, Jr., Laona/Wabeno<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634243' first='Trent' last='McLain'], 5-10, Sr., Florence<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1598989' first='Peyton' last='Pitlik'], 6-4, Sr., Three Lakes<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634239' first='Cooper' last='Albrecht'], 6-1, Soph., Laona/Wabeno<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634241' first='Matthew' last='Jahnke'], 6-0, Sr., Crandon<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634242' first='Hayden' last='Gretzinger'], 6-5, Sr., Crandon<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2381616' first='Truth' last='Setner'], 5-10, Jr., Florence<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634245' first='Kyle' last='Braaten'], 6-4, Sr., Goodman/Pembine<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Top Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2634236' first='Canton' last='Chrisman'], Laona/Wabeno<br><strong>Top Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2634237' first='Walker' last='Winkelman'], Laona/Wabeno<br><strong>Top Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2634241' first='Matthew' last='Jahnke'], Crandon<strong><br>Best Collegiate Prospect: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2634236' first='Canton' last='Chrisman'], Laona/Wabeno<br><strong>Most Improved Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2634243' first='Trent' last='McLain'], Florence</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->