prep preview: boys’ basketball

Elcho Hornets

The Elcho boys’ basketball team finished 17-5 last season, falling in the second round of the playoffs. However, the Hornets graduated Kurt Kincaid, the state’s leading regular season scorer. Finding a way to fill Kincaid’s void will be challenging, but first-year coach Jack Johnson is optimistic. “Obviously, losing Kurt will challenge (our) veteran players to fill-in on the offensive end,” Johnson said. “However, I am also pleased with how our returning players have stepped-up their intensity and invested countless hours in the gym over the off-season shooting, dribbling and improving fundamentals.”

Players to Watch: Johnson doesn’t have his starting lineup set, but knows he has a dependable mix of juniors and seniors to fill it. Elcho should also have a tenacious defense. “I believe this group will exhibit tough-nosed defensive skills and well-balanced offensive scoring attack,” Johnson said. The Hornets return seven seniors, who should provide leadership, along with one junior and a few underclassmen. Johnson said Elcho’s biggest challenge will be finding a replacement for Kincaid.

Tomahawk Hatchets

After stumbling through last season with a 1-20 record, the Tomahawk boys’ basketball team is hoping for success this season in the new Great Northern Conference. The Hatchets should do somewhat better as they welcome back five letterwinners. However, Tomahawk lost seven seniors, including Brock Roberts, who was named to the All-Lumberjack Conference second team. “Roberts averaged 23.4 points per game in seven contests last year,” Tomahawk head coach Tim Albert said. Also lost to graduation is Keegan Kahn, who scored 7.4 points per game for the Hatchets.

Players to Watch: Tomahawk should be led by juniors Jacob Jarvensivu and Mike Anderson, who both received honorable mention honors from the Lumberjack Conference. Jarvensivu averaged 8.3 points and 2.9 assists per game. Anderson chipped in seven points and 4.1 rebounds per contests. “Jarvensivu and Anderson will be joined by fellow returning letterwinners seniors Jerry Kaminski and Jesse Calhoun, and junior Tyler Leiskau,” Albert said. “Calhoun played in all 21 games a year ago, while Kaminski played in 17 games, and Leiskau played in eight.”

Season Outlook: The Hatchets know the GNC will be difficult, but with experienced players, they should be more competitive this winter. Albert expects Merrill and Antigo, both former Wisconsin Valley Conference teams to finish near the top of the GNC. “Lakeland has an outstanding program and always competes for conference championships,” Albert said. “Medford should not be overlooked as they return three starters from a year ago.”

Quotable: “(Our) strengths for the upcoming season will be athleticism, post play and willingness to get better each night on the floor. (We) should have good size, with the hopes of controlling the defensive boards,” Albert said. “(We) will need to improve defensively to compete in the GNC, and will have to limit (our) turnovers on the offensive end of the floor.”

Tomahawk Hatchets

As a member of the competitive Wisconsin Valley Conference, the Tomahawk boys’ swimming team had a productive season a year ago. Head coach Marion Kohl is very optimistic about this season. “Though it’s always tough for Tomahawk as part of the Valley –– our size town vs. the others,” Kohl said.

Swimmers to Watch: The Hatchets return a large group of seniors, led by team captains Peter Schmit and Klay Ahles. Other seniors include Joe Tritz, Matthew Loretz and Zach Anderson. Top prospects are junior Dylan Ellison, sophomore Joe Nettesheim and freshman John Lazarz. Tomahawk’s depth and versatility are its best attributes. “(We have) a good group –– very cohesive already as a team,” Kohl said. “(We also have) very strong leadership from our senior core (and a) promising group of underclassmen.”

Season Outlook: Despite losing key seniors, Kohl points to Stevens Point and Wausau East as this season’s top Valley schools. The Hatchets will have a challenging schedule, but Kohl has hard-working swimmers ready to perform. “(The) seniors are motivated to do their very best to perform –– especially with regards to team points and school records.”

Quotable: “We took seventh in the conference last year,” Kohl said. “We hope to improve and hopefully grab a higher spot from Rhinelander, Marshfield, WIsconsin Rapids or Lakeland, depending upon how their teams are shaping up.”

Lakeland T-Birds

With a small number of athletes on the team, the Lakeland boys’ swimming team will for everyone on the roster to contribute. The T-Birds have 11 members on varsity, five of whom are upperclassmen. However, new coach Paul Mueller said his returning swimmers are all dedicated to the sport. After a fifth-place finish in the Wisconsin Valley Conference (WVC) a season ago, Lakeland will have to replace six members from that team who graduated –– co-captains Donald Busalacchi and Ahern Jensch and Eric Immler, Jesse Matthew, Cale Tassi, Caleb Yeung and Abbott Veldhuizen.

Swimmers to Watch: Andrew Nielsen (2008 WVC meet: second in the 100-yard backstroke and fourth in the 200 individual medley); senior captain David Lonsdorf (seventh in the 50 freestyle and eighth in the 100 freestyle); junior captain David Wenzlick (sixth in the 500 freestyle and seventh in the 200 freestyle); and junior captain David Yeung (eighth in the 50 freestyle).

Season Outlook: Coach Mueller’s expectations this season are held in check because of the small number of swimmers out for the team. However, he thinks his boys can do well just on shear determination and work ethic. “My personal focus will be on each swimmer’s improvement over the course of the season,” said the first-year coach. “I don’t think our success this year will be measured in wins and losses alone, but rather through individual goals being met or exceeded which will result in overall team success.”

Quotable: “The enthusiasm and excitement the guys are expressing is great,” Mueller said. “I am really looking forward to working with them and helping them realize their dreams.”

Lakeland T-Birds

After a slow start, Lakeland rebounded to finish 15-8 last season. The T-Birds fell to Medford in a WIAA regional final. Lakeland lost leading scorer and rebounder Danny Fossen (13 ppg, 6.3 rpg) to graduation, but coach Ted Voigt always seems to find ways to forge ahead.

Players to Watch: Along with Fossen, Lakeland also lost 6-2 Lucas Kuepper who averaged more than six rebounds a game. Voigt will look for bulky 6-2 junior Austin Zett to snag rebounds. A year ago, Zett scored 8.5 points and grabbed 3.1 boards per game. Rebounding is one of Voigt’s main concerns along with experience, scoring and defense. Senior point guard Billy Kuchler (12.3 ppg) will control the tempo of the offense. The athletic Kuchler, who’s only 5-10, snagged 5.3 rebounds per contest last season. Depth will be Lakeland’s biggest strength. The T-Birds welcome back seniors Joey Lyons (3.8 ppg, 1.2 rpg) and Zach Jones. Other returnees include sophomore Danny Kuepper and senior Richaed Isham.

Season Outlook: Voigt lists Antigo, Merrill and Medford as the top teams in the newly-formed Great Northern Conference. However, the T-Birds should finish above .500 in the GNC.

Three Lakes Bluejays

The Three Lakes boys’ basketball team is coming off a successful season (17-4), but enter this winter under the direction of new head coach Brad Volkmann. “(With) a new coach and new system this year, (it) may take awhile to get everything in place,” Volkmann said.

Players to Watch: Volkmann lists senior post Josh Ingram at the top of the list. Ingram is a big, aggressive player who can operate well within 15 feet of the basket. Junior Garret Thorn, listed at 6-7, also has nifty post moves and should provided depth at center. Besides size, Three Lakes also has speed. Senior guard Nick Jolin is strong, quick and an excellent defensive player. Senior guard Robert Radaj is a long-range shooter with solid offensive skills.

Season Outlook: Since Volkmann is new, he doesn’t know a lot about the Northern Lakes Conference, but he feels confident about his team. “We will be a tough match-up for most of our opponents,” Volkmann said. The Bluejays didn’t lose many players from last season’s squad, so Volkmann’s prediction should be a reality. Three Lakes fell to Crivitz in its opening playoff game, so the players may use that as motivation for a deep postseason run.

Quotable: “We should do well in the conference as well as the postseason,” Volkmann said.

Crandon Cardinals

Last winter, the Crandon boys’ basketball team reached the WIAA regional championships for the first time in a decade. The Cardinals rolled to a 19-4 mark and finished tied with Elcho (13-3) for second in the Northern Lakes Conference. However, this season the Cardinals have to replace a few key players. Crandon lost Northern Lakes first team All-conference guard Keegan Kincaid and second team all-conference center Steven Sekel. Also lost to graduation is forward Trevor Dehart, who received a honorable mention nod.

Players to Watch: Crandon coach Richard Gretzinger has two seniors, guard Derek Gretzinger and 6-3 forward Ryan Siggelkow, in his starting lineup. Also starting for the Cardinals, are guards Brian Thunder and Jake Phalen, with 6-3 Ricky Ginter playing center. While the Cardinals lost a lot, coach Gretzinger believes they have improved in certain areas. “We will be quicker than last season and once we are at full strength should be deep,” Richard Gretzinger said.

Season Outlook: Crandon is young and inexperienced, but coach Gretzinger hopes his team can steadily improve to make a late-season push. “We must gel quickly if we are going to make a run for the conference championship,” Gretzinger said. “We are putting together a team from players that have little or no varsity experience and a few that have not played ball since they were freshman.”

Quotable: “We are excited about the challenge that awaits and it will be a fun year to watch these players mature and taste success,” Gretzinger said.