Wisconsin Valley Conference Preview
Looking ahead to the 2018-19 season, Prep Hoops Wisconsin breaks down the race in the Wisconsin Valley Conference…
PROJECTED STANDINGS
1. D.C. Everest
2. Merrill
3. Marshfield
4. Wisconsin Rapids
5. Wausau East
6. Stevens Point
7. Wausau West
FAVORITE
The Wisconsin Valley really feels up for grabs. Stevens Point, who has won the conference in each of the last five years, is finally going to have to rebuild.
The last team to win the conference, D.C. Everest seems to have the best shot on paper. The Evergreens were a modest 7-5 in conference play, have the best 1-2 punch in the conference in Zion Turner and Bryan Halambeck.
Merrill, who won 16 games last season, also a viable contender. The Blue Jays have to replace Zach Mootz, but were a little young last season and probably have more depth.
DARK HORSE
Losing Reed Miller and Seth Anderson is probably too big to overcome for Marshfield, but the Tigers have enough talent to stay in the top half of the conference.
That leaves Wisconsin Rapids to potentially make a push. The Red Raiders had a couple of young players last season in Dylan Lisitka and Austin Pelot who played vital roles and should be ready to make a jump in their play.
SURPRISE TEAM
Wausau East finished tied for last in the Wisconsin Valley last season, winning just one conference game. However, the Lumberjacks return their top three double figure scorers and have just about everything back from 2017-18.
PRESEASON FIRST-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
G Quinn Steckbauer – Merrill
G Zion Turner – D.C. Everest
G Bryan Halambeck – D.C. Everest
G Brant Bohman – Marshfield
G Dylan Lisitka – Wisconsin Rapids
SECOND TEAM
G Evan Vollendorf – Stevens Point
G Ryan LaCerte – Wausau East
F Chase Bonnell – Merrill
F Gabe Krueger – Wausau East
F Austin Pelot – Wisconsin Rapids
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Zion Turner is lone the returning first-team All-Conference player from last season. Turner was second in the league in scoring last season at nearly 25 ppg. Turner also connected on 106 triples in 2017-18.
SURPRISE PLAYER
Stevens Point loses its top five scorers from last season. That leaves Evan Vollendorf to begin the rebuilding process. As a sophomore, Vollendorf averaged just shy of 5 ppg, but was a key reserve for a team that won 20 games.
BREAKOUT PLAYER
Dylan Lisitka had a strong freshman season for Wisconsin Rapids. Behind a pair of quality seniors, Lisitka 9.1 ppg and seemed to hit another level down the stretch of the season, scoring in double figures in three of his final four outings.