Boys Basketball Bracket Breakdown - Division 5 - Sections 1-2
With boys basketball playoffs starting on Tuesday, let’s take a look at the teams competing with the dream of bringing the Gold Ball back home at the end of the tournament. We’ll take a look at every team in the tournament, their ranking according to us at Zaleski Sports, and a key player to watch for each team.
*Stats Courtesy of Wissports*
*Team Records Courtesy of the WIAA*
*Zaleski Sports Rankings are from the complete regular season, including week after Bracket Release*
Section 1 (Final at TBD)
Sectional A: (Semi at TBD)
(1) Solon Springs Eagles (22-2) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 5 – Northern Lights Champion
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Prairie Farm
Player to Watch: #50 Isaiah Kastern, Sr (30.6 PPG, 10.2 Rebounds, 2.1 Steals – 1,242 Career Points)
(2) Birchwood Bobcats (18-5) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 13 – T-2nd in Lakeland-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Lac Courte Oreilles
Player to Watch: #23 Ethan Meyer, Sr (14.3 PPG)
(3) Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran Lancers (16-5) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 30 – T-2nd in Dairyland-Small
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Frederic
Player to Watch: #12 Carter Rutz, Sr (15.3 PPG, 1.7 Steals)
(4) Turtle Lake Lakers (16-8) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 28 – 2nd in Lakeland-West
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Luck
Player to Watch: #30 Brandon Wagner, So (15.1 PPG, 7.5 Rebounds, 1.5 Blocks)
(5) New Auburn Trojans (16-6) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 33 – T-2nd in Lakeland-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs South Shore
Player to Watch: #42 Justin Melland, Jr (16.9 PPG)
(6) Clayton Bears (11-12) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 59 – 5th in Lakeland-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Northwood
Player to Watch: #20 Dayne Mumm, So
(7) Siren Dragons (10-14) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 58 – T-6th in Lakeland-West
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Glenwood City
Player to Watch: #0 Fletcher Christianson, Sr
(8) Clear Lake Warriors (11-13) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 55 – T-6th in Lakeland-West
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Bruce
Player to Watch: #24 Caleb Arcand, Fr (13.5 PPG, 4.3 Rebounds)
(9) Bruce Red Raiders (11-13) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 60 – 6th in Lakeland-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Clear Lake
Player to Watch: #22 Ryan Popowich, Sr (23.4 PPG, 9.4 Rebounds, 3.6 Steals – 1,816 Career Points)
(10) Glenwood City Hilltoppers (10-12) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 69 – 6th in Dunn-St. Croix
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Siren
Player to Watch: #5 Brody Olson, So (15.8 PPG, 5.8 Rebounds, 3.8 Assists)
(11) Northwood Evergreens (9-15) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 73 – 8th in Lakeland-West
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Clayton
Player to Watch: #11 Jared Schultz, Jr (25.7 PPG, 7.7 Rebounds, 2.6 Steals – 1,228 Career Points)
(12) South Shore Cardinals (8-15) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 83 – 7th in Northern Lights
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at New Auburn
Player to Watch: #13 Peyton Jardine, Sr (8.4 PPG, 5.2 Rebounds)
(13) Luck Cardinals (6-18) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 71 – 9th in Lakeland-West
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Turtle Lake
Player to Watch: #12 Ty Roehm, Jr (21.5 PPG, 14 Rebounds, 1.8 Blocks – 1,105 Career Points)
(14) Frederic Vikings (3-21) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 91 – 10th in Lakeland-West
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran
Player to Watch: #4 Roman Lahti, Sr (7.6 PPG, 2.8 Assists)
(15) Lac Courte Oreilles Eagles (4-20) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 108 – 8th in Northern Lights
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Birchwood
Player to Watch: #35 Bishop Thayer, Jr
(16) Prairie Farm Panthers (1-18) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 114 – T-8th in Lakeland-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Solon Springs
Player to Watch: #21 Jayce Nelson, Jr
Sectional B: (Semi at Medford)
(1) Rib Lake Redmen (19-5) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 18 – Marawood-North Champion
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Butternut
Player to Watch: #2 Jackson Blomberg, Sr (15.2 PPG, 5.7 Rebounds)
(2) Drummond Lumberjacks (17-7) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 29 – T-3rd in Northern Lights
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Cornell
Player to Watch: #12 Sage Williams, Sr
(3) Winter Warriors (17-7) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 31 – Lakeland-East Champion
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Gilman
Player to Watch: #20 Gunnar Greuel, Sr (21.3 PPG, 21 Rebounds, 5.4 Assists, 3.7 Steals, 2.4 Blocks – 1,070 Career Points)
(4) Owen-Withee Blackhawks (15-9) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 43 – T-3rd in Cloverbelt-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Mercer
Player to Watch: #12 Quinn Hatlestad, Sr (10.5 PPG, 6.1 Rebounds, 3.1 Assissts)
(5) Flambeau Falcons (13-10) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 53 – 4th in Lakeland-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Lake Holcombe
Player to Watch: #3 Giles Groothousen, Sr (21.8 PPG, 7.5 Rebounds, 3.6 Assists – 1,092 Career Points)
(6) Hurley NorthStars (14-9) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 46 – T-3rd in Northern Lights
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Mellen
Player to Watch: #30 Brett Van Epern, Sr
(7) Prentice Buccaneers (13-10) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 45 – 2nd in Marawood-North
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Athens
Player to Watch: #3 Evan Lord, So (21.2 PPG, 6.9 Rebounds)
(8) Thorp Cardinals (11-12) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 54 – 7th in Cloverbelt-West
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Bayfield
Player to Watch: #12 Brady Stewart, Sr (22.2 PPG)
(9) Bayfield Trollers (9-10) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 61 – 5th in Northern Lights
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Thorp
Player to Watch: #2 Quintin Bresette, Jr
(10) Athens Fighting Bluejays (9-15) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 62 – 4th in Marawood-North
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Prentice
Player to Watch: #3 Riley Schultz-Becker, So (14.4 PPG, 6.5 Rebounds, 5.3 Assists)
(11) Mellen Granite Diggers (10-13) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 68 – 6th in Northern Lights
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Hurley
Player to Watch: #20 Xander Beeksma, So
(12) Lake Holcombe Chieftains (10-13) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 87 – 7th in Lakeland-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Flambeau
Player to Watch: #0 Brian Strzok, Jr (17.2 PPG, 10 Rebounds, 2.2 Steals)
(13) Mercer Tigers (3-17) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 115 – 9th in Northern Lights
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Owen-Withee
Player to Watch: #12 Dylan Eith, So
(14) Gilman Pirates (3-19) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 113 – 7th in Cloverbelt-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Winter
Player to Watch: #11 Logan Halida, Fr (6.4 PPG)
(15) Cornell Chiefs (2-21) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 117 – T-8th in Lakeland-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Drummond
Player to Watch: #4 Bentley Spanger, Sr (8 PPG)
(16) Butternut Midgets (0-23) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 124 – 10th in Northern Lights
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Rib Lake
Player to Watch: #2 Owen Dennis, Sr
Section 2 (Final at Hortonville)
Sectional A: (Semi at D.C. Everest)
(1) Almond-Bancroft Eagles (23-1) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 4 – CWC-South Champion
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Northland Lutheran/Wild Rose
Player to Watch: #15 Ayden Phillips, Jr (25.5 PPG, 11.4 Rebounds, 3.1 Blocks – 1,638 Career Points)
(2) Three Lakes Bluejays (17-5) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 17 – Northern Lakes Champion
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Bowler
Player to Watch: #12 Jared Kaufman, Sr (16 PPG, 8.3 Rebounds, 2.6 Steals – 1,191 Career Points)
(3) Pacelli Cardinals (17-7) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 19 – 2nd in CWC-South
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Gresham
Player to Watch: #13 Camden Schurk, Jr (19.7 PPG, 6 Rebounds – 1,118 Career Points)
(4) Tigerton Tigers (20-4) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 36 – CWC-North Champion
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Tri-County
Player to Watch: #50 James Brady, Fr (12.8 PPG, 7.2 Rebounds)
(5) Wabeno/Laona Rebels (13-11) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 47 – 2nd in Northern Lakes
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Rosholt
Player to Watch: #23 Walker Winkelman, So (13.8 PPG, 6 Rebounds, 2.1 Steals)
(6) White Lake Lakers (13-9) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 66 – T-2nd in CWC-North
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Newman Catholic
Player to Watch: #3 Aaron Wickersham, So (20.9 PPG, 6.8 Rebounds, 3 Steals)
(7) Marion Mustangs (15-9) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 64 – T-2nd in CWC-North
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Elcho
Player to Watch: #30 Parker Miller, Sr (15.3 PPG, 11 Rebounds, 3 Assists – 976 Career Points)
(8) Wild Rose Wildcats (6-18) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 95 – 5th in CWC-South
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Northland Lutheran
Player to Watch: #10 Evan Tratz, Sr (14.9 PPG, 4.6 Rebounds, 2.6 Steals)
(9) Northland Lutheran Wildcats (7-14) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 79 – 4th in CWC-North
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Wild Rose
Player to Watch: #23 Joe Oblender, Jr (12.6 PPG, 6.5 Rebounds)
(10) Elcho Hornets (5-19) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 102 – 6th in Northern Lakes
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Marion
Player to Watch: #12 Eugene Reinke, Sr (21.8 PPG, 6.7 Rebounds – 962 Career Points)
(11) Newman Catholic Fighting Cardinals (4-20) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 90 – 6th in Marawood-South
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at White Lake
Player to Watch: #1 Quincy Pfender, So (16.6 PPG, 4 Rebounds)
(12) Rosholt Hornets (5-19) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 99 – 6th in CWC-South
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Wabeno/Laona
Player to Watch: #12 Marcus Kohl, Fr (11 PPG)
(13) Tri-County Penguins (5-19) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 107 – 7th in CWC-South
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Tigerton
Player to Watch: #30 Gage Beggs, Fr (8 PPG, 10.1 Rebounds, 4.6 Steals)
(14) Gresham Wildcats (1-22) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 121 – T-5th in CWC-North
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Pacelli
Player to Watch: #11 Kevin Miller, So (7.6 PPG, 7.6 Rebounds)
(15) Bowler Panthers (1-22) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 122 – T-5th in CWC-North
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Three Lakes
Player to Watch: #20 Derek Schreiber, Jr
Sectional B: (Semi at Pulaski)
(1) Reedsville Panthers (15-9) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 27 – T-2nd in Big East-North
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Valley Christian
Player to Watch: #4 Ben Prochnow, So (17.4 PPG, 4 Rebounds, 6.7 Assists)
(2) Lourdes Academy Knights (17-7) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 16 – Trailways-East Co-Champion
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Suring
Player to Watch: #55 JJ McKellips, Sr (17 PPG, 5 Rebounds – 1,172 Career Points)
(3) Gillett Tigers (17-7) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 21 – 2nd in Marinette & Oconto
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Sevastopol
Player to Watch: #33 Jesse DeBauch, Jr (22.3 PPG, 8.7 Rebounds, 3 Steals – 1,141 Career Points)
(4) Niagara Badgers (16-8) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 24 – 3rd in Marinette & Oconto
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Lena
Player to Watch: #11 Tommy Martin, Jr (18 PPG, 8.8 Rebounds, 4.6 Assists – 1,149 Career Points)
(5) Florence Bobcats (14-9) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 37 – T-3rd in Northern Lakes
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Gibraltar
Player to Watch: #3 William Kelley, Sr (24.7 PPG, 7.7 Rebounds, 2.3 Steals – 1,425 Career Points)
(6) Oneida Nation Thunderhawks (15-9) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 35 – 4th in Marinette & Oconto
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Wausaukee
Player to Watch: #2 Ethan Danforth, Sr (17.8 PPG, 3.7 Assists, 3.1 Steals – 1,126 Career Points)
(7) Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran Blazers (12-12) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 48 – T-6th in Packerland
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Hilbert
Player to Watch: #3 Sam Hillmann, Sr (14.2 PPG, 9.1 Rebounds, 1.8 Blocks)
(8) Saint Thomas Aquinas Cavaliers (9-13) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 88 – 7th in Marinette & Oconto
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Goodman/Pembine
Player to Watch: #0 Teagan Anderson, Jr (14.2 PPG, 7.8 Rebounds, 3.1 Steals)
(9) Goodman/Pembine Falcons (9-14) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 74 – 5th in Northern Lakes
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Saint Thomas Aquinas
Player to Watch: #2 Ryan Ehlert, Sr (23.5 PPG, 7.4 Rebounds, 5.6 Assists, 3.8 Steals – 1,371 Career Points)
(10) Hilbert Wolves (8-16) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 72 – 6th in Big East-North
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran
Player to Watch: #21 Kaelin VandenWyngaard, Sr (14 PPG, 5.4 Rebounds)
(11) Wausaukee Rangers (10-14) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 86 – 6th in Marinette & Oconto
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Oneida Nation
Player to Watch: #12 Seth Kraemer, Sr (15.5 PPG, 4.3 Rebounds, 4.2 Assists)
(12) Gibraltar Vikings (6-18) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 81 – 8th in Packerland
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Florence
Player to Watch: #0 Braden Sitte, Sr (19.5 PPG, 3.2 Assists, 2 Steals)
(13) Lena Wildcats (5-19) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 96 – T-8th in Marinette & Oconto
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Niagara
Player to Watch: #10 Mason Spice, Jr (12.7 PPG, 4.4 Rebounds)
(14) Sevastopol Pioneers (3-21) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 101 – 9th in Packerland
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Gillett
Player to Watch: #23 Lucas Delsart, Jr (8.7 PPG, 3.4 Rebounds)
(15) Suring Eagles (4-19) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 100 – T-8th in Marinette & Oconto
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Lourdes Academy
Player to Watch: #5 Trent VanDelElzen, Sr (8.6 PPG)
(16) Valley Christian Warriors (2-22) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 105 – 8th in Trailways-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Reedsville
Player to Watch: #2 Joshua Johnson, Jr (7.4 PPG, 5.2 Rebounds, 1.7 Steals)