Mississippi Valley Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024-25 Final Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Aquinas 9-3 (26-3); 1. Holmen 9-3 (19-6); 3. Onalaska 8-4 (19-8); 3. La Crosse Central 8-4 (15-10); 5. Sparta 5-7 (16-10); 6. Tomah 2-10 (9-17); 7. La Crosse Logan 1-11 (7-18).<br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/onalaska/">Onalaska</a> </strong>-- A perennial power in the Mississippi Valley, Onalaska again figures to rank among the elite in the seven-team circuit. Coach Craig Kowal has two of his own sons leading the way with senior [player_tooltip player_id='2117026' first='Ian' last='Kowal'] (6-3, 15.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg), the reigning Player of the Year in the conference, and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2405197' first='Tyler' last='Kowal'] (5-11, 9.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg), a bulldog defender and endless energy backcourt ace, leading the way. Also returning from a 19-8 squad is junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2389934' first='Brendan' last='Chenault'] (6-1, 5.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg), The Kowal brothers and Chenault are returning starters for the Hilltoppers. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2399158' first='Gavin' last='McRoberts'] (6-2), who averaged 12.0 ppg at Melrose-Mindoro as a freshman, has transferred into the program while seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2405019' first='Tristan' last='Molling'] (6-2), [player_tooltip player_id='2392274' first='Rowan' last='McGrath'] (6-7), [player_tooltip player_id='2405092' first='Trent' last='Oyen'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='2849771' first='Tanner' last='Siebert'] (6-1) also return. A talented sophomore class beyond [player_tooltip player_id='2405197' first='Tyler' last='Kowal'] and McRoberts includes [player_tooltip player_id='2411250' first='Bradyn' last='Delong'] (5-9), [player_tooltip player_id='2519158' first='Gabe' last='Whited'] (6-5) and [player_tooltip player_id='2405139' first='Wylder' last='Burch'] (6-2). Size is a an asset along with defense and depth. <br><br><strong>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/aquinas-4/">Aquinas</a></strong> -- Winning a conference, regional, sectional and state championship qualifies as a banner season and Aquinas accomplished all of those lofty milestones a year ago. Coach Brad Reinhardt's unit went 26-3 and defeated Bonduel in the WIAA Division 4 state-title clash. Back from that squad are three of the better players in the Mississippi Valley in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1890447' first='Logan' last='Becker'] (6-2, 15.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2224510' first='Finley' last='Strom'] (6-3, 7.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2140896' first='Calvin' last='Bahr'] (6-4, 13.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg). All three are potential all-league players with extensive experience and a hunger to keep the Blugolds are the top of the league standings. Becker is a four-year varsity performer who enters his senior campaign with 1,113 career points. Also returning are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2399128' first='Talan' last='Reinhart'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3018897' first='Ryan' last='Johnson'] (6-0), juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2641632' first='Henry' last='Berns'] (6-1), [player_tooltip player_id='3018899' first='Cullen' last='Swanson'] (5-10) and Will Horihan (6-3), and sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3018896' first='Will' last='Dickinson'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='2434277' first='Roman' last='Kirchner'] (6-1). <br><br><strong>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/la-crosse-central/">La Crosse Central </a></strong>-- Work ethic and experience at different positions figure to be assets for La Crosse Central, which enters its 22nd season with Todd Fergot calling the shots as the Riverhawks' coach. Returning starters include three talented juniors in [player_tooltip player_id='2226077' first='Gabe' last='Servais'] (6-0, 10 ppg, 5 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2481761' first='Anthony' last='Jones'] (6-0, 9 ppg, 4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2975425' first='Ezra' last='Weise'] (6-1, 4 ppg, 3 rpg). Servais has two years of varsity play under his belt and is a strong, smart and poised backcourt performer who earned second-team all-league recognition a year ago. Jones is an emerging class of 2027 prospect with good athleticism. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2632143' first='Joey' last='Pretasky'] (6-3, 6 ppg, 4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020581' first='Marcello' last='Jones'] (6-4, 2 ppg), along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2842460' first='Will' last='Schilling'] (6-0, 5 ppg, 2 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3020583' first='Gander' last='Conrad'] (6-0), [player_tooltip player_id='3020587' first='Drew' last='Ehler-Blum'] (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020585' first='Elmer' last='McCloud'] (6-0) also figure to play roles for the Riverhawks. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3020582' first='Cullen' last='MacGlashin'] (6-5) could provide some frontline help for a team that lacks size.<br><br><strong>4.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/holmen/"> Holmen</a> </strong>-- Holmen shared the league title with Aquinas and went 19-6 under Ryan Meyer last winter, but four key players from that unit graduated last spring. Despite the significant losses, the Vikings figure to again field a highly competitive squad, led by sharpshooting senior [player_tooltip player_id='1561933' first='Alex' last='Berget'] (5-10, 14.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg) and versatile junior [player_tooltip player_id='2833128' first='Jayden' last='Bartels'] (6-2, 9.0 pgp, 3.1 rpg). Both Berget and Bartels were instrumental in Holmen's success a year ago and rank among the better players in the league. Other returning players who figure to play a big role this time around include senior [player_tooltip player_id='2416723' first='Marshall' last='Mason'] (6-1), juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2842455' first='Jax' last='Meyer'] (6-1, 2 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='2389999' first='Brody' last='Wilber'] (5-11, 2 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2842447' first='Taj' last='Hauser'] (6-1), and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2385538' first='Cohen' last='Kendhammer'] (6-2). Guard play and shooting once again will be strong suits for the Vikings. <br><br><strong>5. Tomah</strong> -- Paced by the stellar perimeter shooting of juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2371688' first='Quinn' last='Gerke'] (6-2, 20.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2508299' first='Owen' last='Laudon'] (6-0, 14.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg) along with the improved inside play of senior [player_tooltip player_id='2821368' first='Michael' last='Zastoupil'] (6-6, 10.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg), Tomah looms as a very dangerous team under coach Jeff Brieske. Gerke can make shots with the best of them and Tomah is excited to get Laudon back on the floor after he missed all but two games last season with an injury. Zastoupil has continued to improve his game and gives the Timberwolves a legitimate inside presence. Other key returning players include seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022568' first='Brennen' last='Worden'] (6-0, 4.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2408389' first='Owen' last='Vandenhoogen'] (6-0, 4.6 ppg) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022566' first='Adam' last='Brieske'] (6-4, 6.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2830599' first='Silas' last='Cram'] (6-5, 2.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3022567' first='Nate' last='Hendricks'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='2391257' first='Max' last='Haldeman'] (6-4). <br><br><strong>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/la-crosse-logan/">La Crosse Logan</a></strong> -- The Rangers of La Crosse Logan could be a sneaky good team in 2025-26 as coach Eric Check has some key returning pieces from a squad that finished 7-18. Experience and athleticism are provided by returning starters [player_tooltip player_id='3020592' first='Bubba' last='Leaver'] (6-5, 10.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3020596' first='Jameson' last='Degenhardt'] (6-0, 5.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2614885' first='Thomas' last='Check'] (5-10, 8.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg). Leaver and Degenhardt are juniors while Check, the son of the head coach, is a sophomore. Also returning for La Crosse Logan are senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020594' first='Adrian' last='Bye'] (5-10, 2.4 ppg) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3020595' first='Harper' last='Kendle'] (6-4, 3.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020589' first='Tait' last='Hatlevig'] (6-1, 2.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg). <br><br><strong>7. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/sparta/">Sparta</a></strong> -- The Spartans might be picked for seventh place, but make no mistake. After winning 16 games a year ago, Sparta again will field a team capable of giving any team in the leauge a difficult time. Three starters did graduate, but first-year coach Nate Pollnow can rely on two returning double-figure scorers in senior [player_tooltip player_id='2632128' first='Kayden' last='Kaat'] (6-1, 10.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2140918' first='Everett' last='Laufenberg'] (6-1, 10.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg). Kaat and Laufenberg will be leaders for a team that also welcomes back senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022271' first='Gus' last='Tripp'] (6-1, 3.5 ppg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022274' first='Jackson' last='Bender'] (6-2, 2.3 rpg), among others. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2371688' first='Quinn' last='Gerke'] (Tomah) 20.6 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2117026' first='Ian' last='Kowal'] (Onalaska) 15.9 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1890447' first='Logan' last='Becker'] (Aquinas) 15.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561933' first='Alex' last='Berget'] (Holmen) 14.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2508299' first='Owen' last='Laudon'] (Tomah) 14.0 ppg (two games, missed bulk of season with injury)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140896' first='Calvin' last='Bahr'] (Aquinas) 13.6 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020592' first='Bubba' last='Leaver'] (La Crosse Logan) 10.6 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2632128' first='Kayden' last='Kaat'] (Sparta) 10.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140918' first='Everett' last='Laufenberg'] (Sparta) 10.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2821368' first='Michael' last='Zastoupil'] (Tomah) 10.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2226077' first='Gabe' last='Servais'] (La Crosse Central) 10.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2405197' first='Tyler' last='Kowal'] (Onalaska) 9.9 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1890447' first='Logan' last='Becker'], 6-2, Sr., Aquinas<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140896' first='Calvin' last='Bahr'], 6-4, Jr., Aquinas<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2117026' first='Ian' last='Kowal'], 6-3, Sr., Onalaska<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2371688' first='Quinn' last='Gerke'], 6-2, Jr., Tomah<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2226077' first='Gabe' last='Servais'], 6-0, Jr., La Crosse Central<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2224510' first='Finley' last='Strom'], 6-3, Sr., Aquinas<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561933' first='Alex' last='Berget'], 5-10, Sr., Holmen<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2405197' first='Tyler' last='Kowal'], 5-11, Soph., Onalaska<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2481761' first='Anthony' last='Jones'], 6-0, Jr., La Crosse Central<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020592' first='Bubba' last='Leaver'], 6-5, Jr., La Crosse Logan<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2371688' first='Quinn' last='Gerke'], Tomah<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2117026' first='Ian' last='Kowal'], Onalaska<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2140896' first='Calvin' last='Bahr'], Aquinas<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2140896' first='Calvin' last='Bahr'], Aquinas<br><strong>Most Improved: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2821368' first='Michael' last='Zastoupil'], Tomah</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->