Lakeland East Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:</strong><br><br>1. New Auburn 14-2 (19-7); 2. Birchwood 12-4 (14-10); 2. Flambeau 12-4 (18-7); 4. Bruce 9-7 (10-14); 4. Clayton 9-7 (12-12); 6. Prairie Farm 7-9 (7-15); 7. Lake Holcombe 6-10 (10-15); 8. Winter 2-14 (2-23); 9. Cornell 1-15 (1-23).<br><br><em>Note: Prairie Farm and Clayton have formed a new co-op program and moved to the Lakeland West. Northwood joins the Lakeland East for 2025-26.</em><br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/new-auburnscho/">New Auburn</a></strong> -- Sharing the Lakeland East title with Birchwood a year ago was nice. Winning outright in 2025-26 would be even better. That will be the goal of the Trojans this winter as coach Michael Morgan welcomes back three returning starters from a 19-7 squad in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021360' first='Sawyer' last='Jones'] (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='2827465' first='Colten' last='Lotts'] (6-3) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3021354' first='Brett' last='Elmhorst'] (5-11). Lotts is a returning first-team all-league performer while Jones received second-team honors and Elmhorst was accorded honorable mention status. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3021352' first='Beau' last='Palmer'] (5-9) and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021353' first='Mason' last='Church'] (6-8), [player_tooltip player_id='3021355' first='Alton' last='Johnson'] (6-0), [player_tooltip player_id='3021358' first='Austin' last='Ebner'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021359' first='Elliot' last='Harder'] (5-11) also return for the Trojans.<br><br><strong>2<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/flambeau/">. Flambeau</a></strong> -- Expectations are running high at Flambeau, and with good reason. Four starters are back from a squad that won 18 games, giving coach Jeff Podgornik's program one of its most experienced squads of the last decade. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2827556' first='Dominic' last='Kopacz'] (5-11, 18 ppg, 6 rpg) and senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2952205' first='Chanse' last='Ludescher'] (6-4, 12 ppg, 9 rpg) top the list of returning players as each earned all-league laurels last season. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2952211' first='Oliver' last='Taylor'] (6-0, 9 ppg, 6 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2952218' first='Isaac' last='Brown'] (6-2, 10 ppg, 9 rpg) also return to the starting lineup for the Falcons. Depth is a strength with five additional returning varsity performers in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019953' first='Riley' last='Hughes'] (6-2, 4 ppg, 4 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3019958' first='Brandon' last='Derfus'] (6-1, 3 ppg, 6 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3019959' first='Christian' last='Polak'] (6-2, 2 ppg, 2 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020996' first='Ethan' last='Johnson'] (5-9, 4 ppg, 4 rpg), along with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2821348' first='Sully' last='Reich'] (5-8, 6 ppg, 4 rpg).<br><br><strong>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/lake-holcombes/">Lake Holcombe</a></strong> -- David Engel starts his sixth year as head coach at Lake Holcombe looking for the Chieftains to post improvement after going 10-15 last winter. Four starters return for Lake Holcombe, including top scorer [player_tooltip player_id='3020643' first='Emmit' last='Johnson'] (6-2, 20.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg) and top rebounder [player_tooltip player_id='3020646' first='Connor' last='Kane'] (6-3, 8.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg). In addition, senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022559' first='Brody' last='Miller'] (6-3, 5.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3020639' first='Kyle' last='Heidtke'] (5-10, 5.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg) are back. Size, length, rebounding and balanced scoring are assets for Lake Holcombe. <br><br><strong>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/birchwood-school-district/">Birchwood</a></strong> -- Replacing the 38.0 ppg and 22.0 rpg provided by the graduated Lucas Gindt (6-2, 21 ppg, 10 rpg), Matthew Lehnert (6-3, 11 ppg, 10 rpg) and Taven Jones (5-11, 6 ppg, 2 rpg) will be big hurdle to overcome for coach Alex Gilles, but he has some talented juniors and one very talented senior back to carry the load in 2025-26. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019066' first='Chase' last='Ewert'] (6-0, 19 ppg, 4 rpg) is the best returning player for Birchwood and one of the elite players in the Lakeland East. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019065' first='Cole' last='Fee'] (6-4, 4 ppg, 11 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019073' first='Hunter' last='Sirinek'] (5-11, 2 ppg) joined Ewert in the starting lineup while juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019070' first='Gunnar' last='Corry'] (5-11), [player_tooltip player_id='3019067' first='Drake' last='Rademaker'] (6-0), [player_tooltip player_id='3019072' first='Austin' last='Jones'] (5-11) and Landon Ragsdale (6-0) saw action off the bench for the Bobcats.<br><br><strong>5. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/bruce-2/"><strong>Bruce</strong> </a>-- Coach Jason Lehman comes back to Bruce after spending the past several seasons as the head coach at Ladysmith and takes over a program with two returning double-figure scorers in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2809038' first='Ryder' last='Rodewald'] (6-0, 12 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2809005' first='Jace' last='Sahlin'] (6-2, 10 ppg). Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019236' first='Connor' last='Ptacek'] (5-10), [player_tooltip player_id='3019229' first='Cole' last='Butterfield'] (6-0) and Danny Craker (6-5) also return for Bruce. <br><br><strong>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/cornell/">Cornell</a></strong> -- Despite winning just one game last season, the Chiefs could be a tough out in the Lakeland East with solid guard play the primary strength for coach Jon Hetke. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019538' first='Grady' last='Abbott'] (5-11, 6.6 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2866622' first='Carson' last='Stipek'] (5-8, 15.1 ppg), juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019539' first='Bryce' last='DeJongh'] (5-11, 12.3 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='3019543' first='Edward' last='Woodford'] (5-10, 7.4 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019542' first='Wesley' last='Smith'] (5-9, 4.5 ppg) give Cornell a solid base to build around.<br><br><strong>7. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/northwoodschoo/">Northwood</a> </strong>-- The Evergreens move from the Lakeland West to the Lakeland East this winter as coach Jackson Terry welcomes back three regulars from a 7-18 squad. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021510' first='Jaxson' last='Link'] (6-0, 3.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021505' first='Ian' last='Woodhull'] (6-1, 5.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg) are proven performers in the Lakeland as is junior [player_tooltip player_id='3021507' first='Gunnar' last='Golembiewski'] (6-0, 4.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg). Replacing the scoring of the graduated Jared Schultz (6-0, 28.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg) will be a challenge for Terry and the Evergreens.<br><br><strong>8. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/winter/">Winter</a></strong> -- The cupboard isn't entirely empty for second-year coach Shawna White, but it's close as five starters graduated from last year's club that went 2-23. The Warriors' best returning player is junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2140953' first='Logan' last='Hautamaki'] (5-9, 11.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg). Last year's sixth man, Hautamaki will need to provide leadership for the young team at Winter. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2952248' first='Aden' last='Arndt'] (5-9, 1.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg) and sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3022988' first='Isaiah' last='Petit'] (5-11, 0.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg) and Phenix Rider (5-7) will battle for starting spots alongside Hautamaki.<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020643' first='Emmit' last='Johnson'] (Lake Holcombe) 20.6 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019066' first='Chase' last='Ewert'] (Birchwood) 19.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2827556' first='Dominic' last='Kopacz'] (Flambeau) 18.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2866622' first='Carson' last='Stipek'] (Cornell) 15.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019539' first='Bryce' last='DeJongh'] (Cornell) 12.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2809038' first='Ryder' last='Rodewald'] (Bruce) 12.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2952205' first='Chanse' last='Ludescher'] (Flambeau) 12.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140953' first='Logan' last='Hautamaki'] (Winter) 11.2 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2952218' first='Isaac' last='Brown'] (Flambeau) 10.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2809005' first='Jace' last='Sahlin'] (Bruce) 10.0 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2827556' first='Dominic' last='Kopacz'], 5-11, Sr., Flambeau<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2827465' first='Colten' last='Lotts'], 6-3, Sr., New Auburn<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020643' first='Emmit' last='Johnson'], 6-2, Jr., Lake Holcombe<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2809038' first='Ryder' last='Rodewald'], 6-0, Sr., Bruce<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019066' first='Chase' last='Ewert'], 6-0, Sr., Birchwood<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021360' first='Sawyer' last='Jones'], 5-10, Sr., New Auburn<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2952205' first='Chanse' last='Ludescher'], 6-4, Sr., Flambeau<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2866622' first='Carson' last='Stipek'], 5-8, Sr., Cornell<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2952218' first='Isaac' last='Brown'], 6-0, Jr., Flambeau<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019539' first='Bryce' last='DeJongh'], Jr., 5-11, Cornell<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2827556' first='Dominic' last='Kopacz'], Flambeau<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3019065' first='Cole' last='Fee'], Birchwood<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3020643' first='Emmit' last='Johnson'], Lake Holcombe<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3020643' first='Emmit' last='Johnson'], Lake Holcombe<br><strong>Most Improved: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3021354' first='Brett' last='Elmhorst'], New Auburn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->