Prep Hoops/Zaleski Sports Teams of the Week (Dec. 2-7)

Mark Miller December 9, 2024 @ 11:15 AM

DIVISION 1 … STEVENS POINT
Let's give Stevens Point credit for going out and challenging its players with tremendous competition in non-league games. The Panthers opened the season with an overtime loss to Bay Port, but coach Jon Krull's squad bounced back big time last week, posting non-conference triumphs over Kimberly, Chippewa Falls and Waunakee. In the 72-63 win over Kimberly, senior wing Grant Chandonais Grant Chandonais 6'5" | SG/SF Stevens Point | 2025 State WI (6-5) led the way with 20 points while senior shooting guard Jerrin Suehs Jerrin Suehs 6'3" | SG Stevens Point | 2025 State WI (6-3) added 19 points and four three-point baskets. Versatile senior guard Baraka Maklin (6-1) added 16 points in the win over the Papermakers. The Panthers then turned back Chippewa Falls 75-57 behind 15 points each from senior Charlie Belson (6-3), sophomore Ryan Malik (6-5) and Makalin. Getting three-point baskets from Makalin and Suehs in the final 12 seconds, Stevens Point rallied for its improbable win over visiting Waunakee. Makalin drilled his triple with 10 seconds left before Suehs connected with just a couple of seconds remaining following a Waunakee turnover its in backcourt. Stevens Point opens Wisconsin Valley Conference play this week by hosting Wausau West on Friday.

DIVISION 2 ... RACINE PARK
After opening the season with an emotional overtime loss to neighborhood-rival Racine St. Catherine's in a non-league outing, the Panthers rebounded with three wins last week. Coach Casey Robbins squad defeated Waterford 86-71, Racine Horlick 94-28 and Mukwonago 64-56. Senior guard Isaiah Robinson Isaiah Robinson 6'1" | PG Pewaukee | 2025 State WI (6-0) and senior forward Jaxson Moss Jaxson Moss 6'7" | C Racine Park | 2025 State WI (6-7) did most of the heavy lifting for the Panthers. Robinson had 24 points and four assists while Moss added 17 points and 12 rebounds in the win over Mukwonago. Moss added 27 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Racine Horlick and had 21 points and seven rebounds win the win over Waterford. Robinson was effective scoring and passing against Waterford as he had 17 points and nine assists. The Panthers figure to contend for the Southeast Conference title and will count heavily on Robinson, Moss and talented sophomore guard Zare Gwinn Zare Gwinn 6'1" | SG/PG Racine Park | 2027 State WI (6-1).

DIVISION 3 ... CARMEN NORTHWEST
Coach Dupree Fletcher put together a gauntlet of games for his Carmen Northwest basketball team last week. Wednesday, the Eagles played Golda Meir and pulled out a 76-74 victory behind 27 points from Canisius recruit Javante Edwards Javante Edwards 6'1" | SG Carmen Northwest | 2025 State WI (6-1), a cat-quick lead guard who can drill perimeter shots and get to the basket. A night later, Carmen Northwest battled defending WIAA Division 3 state champion Saint Thomas More and came out with a 69-65 win behind 24 points from Edwards. And on Saturday, Carmen Northwest traveled to Racine to take on a very good St. Catherine's team and posted an exciting 81-79 behind 44 points from Edwards and key late baskets from senior Carmelo Fletcher Carmelo Fletcher 5'9" | CG Carmen Northwest | 2025 WI (5-9) and sophomore forward Malik Fitzpatrick Malik Fitzpatrick 6'3" | PF Carmen Northwest Highschool | 2027 WI (6-3). Wins over Golda Meir, Saint Thomas More and St. Catherine's qualifies as a pretty darn good week for the upstart Eagles.

DIVISION 4 ... SOUTHERN DOOR
Southern Door opened its season with a pair of Packerland Conference wins last week, downing Peshtigo 88-59 and Luxemburg-Casco 90-41. UW-Stevens Point recruit Drew Daoust Drew Daoust 6'1" | CG Southern Door | 2025 State WI , a 6-foot-1 senior guard, scored 33 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and had eight assists in the win over a Peshtigo team expected to finish near the top in the Packerland. Daoust then went for 28 points in the win over Luxemburg-Casco. Junior wing Lauden Berg Lauden Berg 6'2" | SF Southern Door | 2026 State WI (6-2) was solid in both outings as well, netting 17 points against Peshtigo and 24 against Luxemburg-Casco. Senior forward Tyler Neinas Tyler Neinas 6'4" | PF Southern Door | 2025 WI (6-4) ad 14 against Peshtigo for the Bulldogs, who play at Sevastopol on Tuesday.

DIVISION 5 ... COCHRANE-FOUNTAIN CITY
The Pirates won two Dairyland Conference confrontations last week, defeating Eleva-Strum 83-37 and Blair-Taylor 80-46. Coach Jesse Cyrus got big performances from senior Cameron Lipinski Cameron Lipinski 6'3" | SF Cochrane-Fountain City | 2025 State WI (6-3) and sophomore Porter Ehrat Porter Ehrat 6'1" | SF Cochrane Fountain City | 2025 WI (5-10) in both contests. Lipinski, who can play multiple positions to utilize his size and skill, had 32 points and made five-of-six attempts from three-point range against Eleva-Strum. He then had a 30-point, 16-rebound showing against Blair-Taylor. Ehrat went for 23 points against Eleva-Strum and 18 points and six assists against Blair-Taylor. Senior Reed Schmidtknecht Reed Schmidtknecht 5'11" | PG Cochrane-Fountain City | 2025 WI (5-9) contributed 11 points and five assists against Eleva-Strum.