Northern Lakes Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Crandon 9-1 (13-12); 1. Wabeno/Laona 9-1 (15-12); 3. Three Lakes 6-4 (11-15); 4. Florence 3-7 (6-16); 4. Goodman/Pembine 3-7 (7-19); 6. Elcho 0-10 (0-18).<br><br><em>Note: Neither Elcho nor Phelps will field varsity squads in 2025-26. </em><br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/laona-wabeno/">Wabeno/Laona</a> </strong>-- The Rebels most definitely will have a cause this winter as coach Kendric Allen's squad is the preseason choice to win the Northern Lakes crown. Wabeno/Laona has four starters back from a 15-win squad, including three double-figure scorers in [player_tooltip player_id='2634236' first='Canton' last='Chrisman'] (5-11, 18.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2634239' first='Cooper' last='Albrecht'] (6-1, 15.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2634237' first='Walker' last='Winkelman'] (6-1, 12.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg). That trio can put points on the scoreboard in a hurry and figures to get a boost from senior [player_tooltip player_id='2984702' first='Boone' last='VanOoyen'] (6-0, 6.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg). Guard play and quickness are strengths in addition to experience. Allen looks for senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022701' first='Marshal' last='Smith'] (5-11, 2.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022696' first='Ryder' last='Cronauer'] (5-11) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2984707' first='Carson' last='Lemerade'] (6-1, 3.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg) to play important roles along with the returning starters. <br><br><strong>2.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/three-lakes/"> Three Lakes</a></strong> -- The Bluejays need to replace two starters from last year's 11-15 squad, but coach George Lurvey doesn't have to look far to find his best player. [player_tooltip player_id='2559413' first='Easton' last='Lurvey'], the son of the head coach, is a physical 6-foot-1 sophomore guard who averaged 16.8 points and 5.6 rebounds as a freshman. He only got better over the spring/summer playing in varsious showcases and club events. Joining Lurvey as returning starters are senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022546' first='Levi' last='Lurvey'] (5-10, 4.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2809873' first='Owen' last='Liebscher'] (5-7, 5.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg). Among those contending for starting spots are senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022554' first='Grayson' last='Polcaster'] (5-11, 4.0 ppg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022550' first='Zach' last='Weavers'] (6-2, 3.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg). <br><br><strong>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/crandon/">Crandon</a></strong> -- The Cardinals have the biggest enrollment in the Northern Lakes and are the lone Division 4 school in the loop. That often leads to a bit more depth then their league opponents. Coach Ryan Sigglekow hopes Crandon can rely on its depth to improve on a 13-12 finish. Leading the way for Crandon is junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2984737' first='Deegan' last='Kircher'] (6-3, 13.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg), one of the premier inside players in the conference. Kircher and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2984738' first='Logan' last='Jaeger'] (5-9, 5.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg) are returning starters for Crandon while junior [player_tooltip player_id='2984739' first='Konner' last='Gerow'] (6-5, 4.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg) figures to move into the starting lineup after being a key reserve last season. <br><br><strong>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/florence-4/">Florence</a></strong> -- Bryan Bomberg is the dean of coaches in the Northern Lakes as he begins his 11th season at Florence looking for the Bobcats to improve on a 6-16 finish. Five starters are back to form a strong nucleus, led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2381616' first='Truth' last='Setner'] (5-9, 19.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg). Setner is a returning first-team all-league performer and was joined in the backcourt a year ago by sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3019966' first='Carson' last='Chrisman'] (5-8, 9.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019970' first='Bradly' last='Steber'] (5-7, 8.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg). Florence also welcomes the return of forwards [player_tooltip player_id='3019965' first='Mason' last='Koski'] (6-3, 8.3 ppg, 10.8 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019963' first='Caleb' last='Baker'] (6-5, 8.0 ppg, 8.4 rpg). Depth is provided by senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019962' first='Jack' last='Kester'] (5-9, 3.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019968' first='Carter' last='Reed'] (5-9, 2.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg), and sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3019961' first='Ely' last='Marefke'] (5-7) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019967' first='Ashton' last='Haberkorn'] (5-7). <br><br><strong>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/goodman-pembine/">Goodman/Pembine</a> </strong>-- On the plus side of things, most of the players in the Goodman/Pembine program are entering their third season in coach Anthony Erno's system. On the negative side of things, the co-op program has next to no size. The Patriots will rely on their speed and quickness in the backcourt to help offset the lack of height with senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020097' first='Wailer' last='Severson'] (6-0, 9.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3020094' first='Vinnie' last='Ipsa'] (5-9, 6.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.5 apg) leading the way. Severson and Ipsa are returning starters from a squad that went 7-19 and form a solid core along with returning senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020090' first='Joey' last='Stec'] (5-11, 2.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3020095' first='Kalvin' last='Jonas'] (5-11, 7.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg). Newcomers who figure to contribute include juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3020098' first='Brayden' last='Lewis'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020091' first='Aiden' last='Ager'] (5-11) along with sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3020093' first='Auron' last='Garrow'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020089' first='Matt' last='Kaiser'] (5-11). <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2381616' first='Truth' last='Setner'] (Florence) 19.6 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634236' first='Canton' last='Chrisman'] (Wabeno/Laona) 18.9 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2559413' first='Easton' last='Lurvey'] (Three Lakes) 16.8 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634239' first='Cooper' last='Albrecht'] (Wabeno/Laona) 15.4 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019560' first='Deegan' last='Kircher'] (Crandon) 13.2 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634237' first='Walker' last='Winkelman'] (Wabeno/Laona) 12.8 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019966' first='Carson' last='Chrisman'] (Florence) 9.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020097' first='Wailer' last='Severson'] (Goodman/Pembine) 9.1 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team<br></strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634236' first='Canton' last='Chrisman'], 5-11, Jr., Wabeno/Laona<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634239' first='Cooper' last='Albrecht'], 6-1, Jr., Wabeno/Laona<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019560' first='Deegan' last='Kircher'], 6-3, Jr., Crandon<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2381616' first='Truth' last='Setner'], 5-9, Sr., Florence<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2559413' first='Easton' last='Lurvey'], 6-1, Soph., Three Lakes<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2634237' first='Walker' last='Winkelman'], 6-1, Sr., Wabeno/Laona<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019965' first='Mason' last='Koski'], 6-3, Jr., Florence<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020097' first='Wailer' last='Severson'], 6-0, Sr., Goodman/Pembine<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2809873' first='Owen' last='Liebscher'], 5-7, Jr., Three Lakes<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019559' first='Konner' last='Gerow'], 6-5, Jr., Crandon<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2634236' first='Canton' last='Chrisman'], Wabeno/Laona<br><strong>Best Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2634239' first='Cooper' last='Albrecht'], Wabeno/Laona<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3019965' first='Mason' last='Koski'], Florence<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2559413' first='Easton' last='Lurvey'], Three Lakes<br><strong>Most Improved: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3019559' first='Konner' last='Gerow'], Crandon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->