Boys Basketball Bracket Breakdown - Division 4 - 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 Eau Claire North)
Sectional A: (Semi at Hudson)
(1) Unity Hawks (23-1) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 6 – Lakeland-West Champion
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Grantsburg/Cumberland
Player to Watch: #12 Jaxon Tilton, Sr (20.7 PPG, 4.2 Assists, 3.9 Steals – 1,209 Career Points)
(2) Cameron Comets (22-2) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 12 – Heart O’North Champion
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Shell Lake/Colfax
Player to Watch: #5 Tyson Lucas, Sr (19.7 PPG, 3.5 Assists – 1,487 Career Points)
(3) Spring Valley Cardinals (18-6) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 16 – 3rd in Dunn-St. Croix
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of McDonell Central/Boyceville
Player to Watch: #2 Cade Stasiek, Jr (16 PPG, 8.1 Rebounds, 5.4 Assists, 3.2 Steals – 1,062 Career Points)
(4) Ladysmith Lumberjacks (18-6) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 30 – 3rd in Heart O’North
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Cadott
Player to Watch: #23 Logan Alberson, Sr (19 PPG, 2.1 Steals – 1,002 Career Points)
(5) Webster Tigers (15-9) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 33 – T-3rd in Lakeland-West
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Chetek-Weyerhaeuser
Player to Watch: #11 Ian McFaggen, Sr (20.9 PPG, 2.3 Steals)
(6) McDonell Central Catholic Macks (15-9) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 29 – 4th in Cloverbelt-West
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Boyceville
Player to Watch: #3 Cooper Mittermeyer, Jr (12.9 PPG, 3.1 Assists)
(7) Shell Lake Lakers (14-10) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 38 – T-3rd in Lakeland-West
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Colfax
Player to Watch: #40 Conner Schrankel, Jr (13 PPG, 9.7 Rebounds, 2.3 Steals)
(8) Cumberland Beavers (13-11) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 48 – 4th in Heart O’North
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Grantsburg
Player to Watch: #31 Gavin Gores, Jr (29.2 PPG, 12.9 Rebounds – 1,399 Career Points)
(9) Grantsburg Pirates (12-11) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 54 – 5th in Lakeland-West
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Cumberland
Player to Watch: #5 Zach Rombach, Sr (16.9 PPG, 11.9 Rebounds, 3.1 Blocks)
(10) Colfax Vikings (9-15) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 65 – T-5th in Dunn-St. Croix
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Shell Lake
Player to Watch: #10 Elijah Entzminger, Sr (16.9 PPG, 1.9 Steals – 1,090 Career Points)
(11) Boyceville Bulldogs (12-12) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 67 – T-5th in Dunn-St. Croix
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at McDonell Central
Player to Watch: #22 Devin Halama, Sr (12.9 PPG, 9.6 Rebounds)
(12) Chetek-Weyerhaeuser Bulldogs (10-13) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 69 – 5th in Heart O’North
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Webster
Player to Watch: #2 Bryce Killoren, So (12.9 PPG, 8.3 Rebounds)
(13) Cadott Hornets (6-18) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 93 – 8th in Cloverbelt-West
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Ladysmith
Player to Watch: #0 Braden Schneider, Jr (17.5 PPG, 5.2 Rebounds, 4 Assists)
Sectional B: (Semi at Osseo-Fairchild)
(1) Durand-Arkansaw Panthers (20-4) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 11 – Dunn-St. Croix Champion
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Bangor/Whitehall
Player to Watch: #24 Ethan Hurlburt, Sr (15.2 PPG, 7.2 Rebounds, 4.8 Assists – 1,095 Career Points)
(2) Luther Knights (18-6) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 18 – 2nd in Coulee
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Neillsville/Melrose-Mindoro
Player to Watch: #35 Logan Bahr, Sr (24 PPG, 10.9 PPG – 1,479 Career Points)
(3) Aquinas Blugolds (19-5) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 22 – 4th in Mississippi Valley
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Regis/Augusta
Player to Watch: #3 Walter Berns, Sr (16.5 PPG, 7 Rebounds – 998 Career Points)
(4) Fall Creek Crickets (15-9) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 27 – T-2nd in Cloverbelt-West
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Osseo-Fairchild/Mondovi
Player to Watch: #24 Bo Vollrath, Sr (18.9 PPG, 8.5 Rebounds, 4.8 Assists – 1,670 Career Points)
(5) Osseo-Fairchild Thunder (14-10) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 44 – T-5th in Cloverbelt-West
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Mondovi
Player to Watch: #5 Drake Swett, Jr (12.4 PPG, 6.3 Rebounds, 4 Assists)
(6) Regis Ramblers (9-15) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 56 – T-5th in Cloverbelt-West
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Augusta
Player to Watch: #3 Owen Weisenberger, Jr (16.8 PPG, 3.2 Assists)
(7) Neillsville Warriors (13-11) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 59 – 2nd in Cloverbelt-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Melrose-Mindoro
Player to Watch: #11 Andrew Hoeser, So (12 PPG, 5.2 Rebounds)
(8) Bangor Cardinals (13-10) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 46 – 3rd in Scenic Bluffs
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Whitehall
Player to Watch: #5 Chase Horstman, Sr (13.8 PPG, 11.3 Rebounds, 2.8 Steals)
(9) Whitehall Norse (12-12) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 70 – 2nd in Dairyland-Large
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Bangor
Player to Watch: #2 Brayden Lisowski, Sr (16 PPG, 5.1 Rebounds, 3.5 Assists)
(10) Melrose-Mindoro Mustangs (10-14) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 74 – Dairyland-Large Champion
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Neillsville
Player to Watch: #23 Presley Byom, Sr (17.3 PPG, 12.1 Rebounds, 2.1 Blocks)
(11) Augusta Beavers (3-21) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 97 – 5th in Dairyland-Large
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Regis
Player to Watch: #5 Noah Schroeder, Jr
(12) Mondovi Buffaloes (2-22) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 96 – 8th in Dunn-St. Croix
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Osseo-Fairchild
Player to Watch: #15 Austin Remington, Sr (12.4 PPG, 7.6 Rebounds)
Section 2 (Final at D.C. Everest)
Sectional A: (Semi at Merrill)
(1) Marathon Red Raiders (23-1) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 1 – Marawood-South Champion
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Colby/Crandon
Player to Watch: #33 Grant Warren, Sr (22.6 PPG, 12.2 Rebounds, 2.8 Blocks – 1,590 Career Points)
(2) Auburndale Eagles (20-4) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 8 – 2nd in Marawood-South
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Phillips/Spencer
Player to Watch: #10 Kaden Anderson, Sr (15.7 PPG, 7 Rebounds, 2.8 Assists)
(3) Edgar Wildcats (18-6) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 17 – 4th in Marawood-South
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Iola-Scandinavia/Chequamegon
Player to Watch: #5 Brett Baumgartner, Sr (13.7 PPG, 6 Rebounds)
(4) Stratford Tigers (19-5) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 14 – 3rd in Marawood-South
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Washburn/Abbotsford
Player to Watch: #5 Drew Brusewitz, Jr (10.7 PPG, 3.6 Assists)
(5) Washburn Castle Guards (21-3) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 19 – 2nd in Northern Lights
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Abbotsford
Player to Watch: #4 Alec Croteau, Sr
(6) Iola-Scandinavia Thunderbirds (12-12) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 42 – 6th in CWC-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Chequamegon
Player to Watch: #21 Korz Loken, Fr (13.7 PPG, 10.1 Rebounds)
(7) Phillips Loggers (12-12) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 58 – 3rd in Marawood-North
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Spencer
Player to Watch: #42 Drew Hauschild, Sr (13.3 PPG, 6.8 Rebounds)
(8) Colby Hornets (11-12) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 64 – T-3rd in Cloverbelt-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Crandon
Player to Watch: #24 Joseph Streveler, Sr (18.5 PPG, 6.9 Rebounds, 5.1 Assists)
(9) Crandon Cardinals (8-16) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 75 – T-3rd in Northern Lakes
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Colby
Player to Watch: #4 Jaxon Keepers, Jr (14.4 PPG, 5.8 Rebounds, 4.7 Assists)
(10) Spencer Rockets (7-17) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 87 – 6th in Cloverbelt-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Phillips
Player to Watch: #22 Sam Bezlyk, So (18.2 PPG, 12.3 Rebounds, 2.4 Blocks)
(11) Chequamegon Screaming Eagles (5-19) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 78 – T-5th in Marawood-North
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Iola-Scandinavia
Player to Watch: #15 AJ Morgan, Sr (18.5 PPG, 6 Rebounds – 989 Career Points)
(12) Abbotsford Falcons (4-20) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 95 – T-5th in Marawood-North
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Washburn
Player to Watch: #23 Grayson Totzke, Jr (9.6 PPG, 5.5 Rebounds)
Sectional B: (Semi at Green Bay Southwest)
(1) Bonduel Bears (23-1) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 2 – CWC-East Champion
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Valders/Manawa
Player to Watch: #5 Ryan Westrich, So (15.2 PPG, 8.3 Rebounds, 2.6 Blocks)
(2) Saint Mary Catholic Zephyrs (17-7) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 15 – 2nd in Big East-North
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Weyauwega-Fremont/Algoma
Player to Watch: #2 Braeden Brenn, Sr (21 PPG, 10.2 Rebounds)
(3) Kewaunee Storm (17-7) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 23 – 2nd in Packerland
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Oconto/Coleman
Player to Watch: #3 Thomas Stangel, Sr (23.8 PPG, 5.2 Rebounds, 3.2 Assists – 1,113 Career Points)
(4) Crivitz Wolverines (18-6) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 25 – Marinette & Oconto Champion
Opening matchup: Friday 3/1 vs winner of Shiocton/Mishicot
Player to Watch: #22 Tegan Werner, Sr (20.4 PPG, 4 Assists, 3.1 Steals – 1,528 Career Points)
(5) Shiocton Chiefs (12-12) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 35 – 4th in CWC-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Mishicot
Player to Watch: #23 Bennett Schmidt, Sr (12.1 PPG, 8.6 Rebounds, 3.2 Assists)
(6) Oconto Blue Devils (15-9) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 36 – T-3rd in Packerland
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Coleman
Player to Watch: #35 Carter Koch, Jr (23 PPG, 7.6 Rebounds, 3.8 Assists – 1,186 Career Points)
(7) Weyauwega-Fremont Warhawks (12-12) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 41 – T-2nd in CWC-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Algoma
Player to Watch: #14 Brayden Arndt, Sr (17.2 PPG, 4.3 Rebounds, 3.7 Assists – 1,078 Career Points)
(8) Valders Vikings (12-12) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 43 – 3rd in Eastern Wisconsin
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 vs Manawa
Player to Watch: #14 Will Sieracki, Jr (18 PPG, 3.2 Assists)
(9) Manawa Wolves (13-11) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 47 – 5th in CWC-East
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Valders
Player to Watch: #22 Nathan Gorman, Sr (22.8 PPG, 13.1 Rebounds, 2.2 Blocks – 1,550 Career Points)
(10) Algoma Wolves (11-11) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 55 – 5th in Packerland
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Weyauwega-Fremont
Player to Watch: #5 Parker Lischka, So (20.2 PPG, 6.2 Rebounds, 2.3 Steals)
(11) Coleman Cougars (9-15) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 68 – 5th in Marinette & Oconto
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Oconto
Player to Watch: #22 Logan Kurth, Sr (18.1 PPG, 7 Rebounds)
(12) Mishicot Indians (5-18) – Zaleski Sports Rank: 90 – 7th in Big East-North
Opening matchup: Tuesday 2/27 at Shiocton
Player to Watch: #15 Nolan Sand, Jr (11.9 PPG, 4.7 Rebounds, 3 Assists)