Badger-Small Conference Preview - Boys Basketball

Below is a boys basketball conference preview. Included in each preview is the previous year standings, review, returning all-conference players, projected standings with writeup, a sleeper team, top players to watch, conference break out candidates.

A trio of teams shared the conference title a season ago where the final games of the regular season helped determine that. McFarland, Mount Horeb, and Sauk Prairie all went 11-3 in the league to share that title. Mount Horeb and McFarland met for the third time in the playoffs where the Spartans prevailed and ended up making the Division 2 State tournament, falling in the semifinals. Josh Manchester left his mark last year at Mount Horeb, finishing as a top ten all-time scorer in state history.

Head Coach: Jeff Meinholdt - 21st year (296 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Ben Bosold
Returners: Eli Krueger, 6-10, sr; Garrett Crull, 6-5, sr; Braydon Fischer, 5-11, jr; Joe Fortune, 6-1, jr; Kam Meinholdt, 5-8, sr; Parker Roh, 6-5, sr
Newcomers/New Contributors: Charlie Lewis, 5-11, sr; Owen Christensen, 6-4, sr; Brody Robbins, 6-8, sr
Breakout Candidate: Joe Fortune

Outlook: McFarland made the state tournament last season and return all but one starter from that squad, making the Spartans a favorite not just to repeat as champions in the Badger-Small, but as a pre-season favorite in all of Division 2. Eli Krueger is one of the better players in the entire state and is one of the elite scorers and rebounders. Garrett Crull is a rangy wing that commands the offense and Kam Meinholdt can knock down shots from well beyond the three-point line. There is plenty of size on this squad that will make them formidable defensively, and give them the advantage in the paint. Coach Meinholdt will hit 300 career wins this upcoming year and has a team that is primed for a return trip to Madison.

Head Coach: Mike Hintz - 18th year (210 career wins)
Lost Contributors:
Returners: Graeson Geiger, 6-1 sr; Oliver Evans, 6-9 sr; Carter Klopcic, 6-3, jr; Nolan Quamme, 6-4, sr; Ryley Kloster, 6-5, sr; Donte Samuels, 5-9, soph
Newcomers/New Contributors: Elijah Baldry, 6-1, jr; Henry Belzer, 6-3, jr; Cole Huber, 6-0 jr; Carson Keller, 6-1, jr; Chase Enger, 5-10, jr; Rufus Lively, 6-2, soph; Bentley Leetzow, 5-10, soph; Tyson Geiger, 6-1, soph
Breakout Candidate: Oliver Evans

Outlook: Fort returns everyone from a team that won 13 games a season ago. Head coach Mike Hintz has a full cupboard with a talented senior group and depth from the other classes. Graeson Geiger is one of the top guards in the conference and leads the Blackhawks balanced roster. Nolan Quamme, Ryley Kloster, Carter Klopcic and Oliver Evans all stand 6-3 or taller and provide a plethora of size to a team that will be very versatile on the defensive side of the ball. That size, paired with Geiger at point guard is a really good balance and mix to have that will lead to success for Coach Hintz’ group in 2026-27.

Head Coach: Sean McGann - 9th year (100 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Boden Breunig, Otis Andres, Jake Buckles
Returners: Lincoln Ganser, 5-10, sr; Braun Meyer, 6-6, jr; Brendan Marquardt, 6-5, sr; Jameson Paukner, 6-3, jr; Sam Patterson, 6-1, jr
Newcomers/New Contributors: Chris Von Haden, 5-11, soph; Meyer Hartwig, 6-3, soph
Breakout Candidate: Braun Meyer

Outlook: Sauk shared the conference title a season ago but do have three starters to replace from that squad. This year’s squad has a good mix of returning players that have experience and a few underclassmen that could step into bigger roles. Sean McGann’s squad does a good job of defending and sharing the ball offensively and with the returners, likely continue that trend. Lincoln Ganser and Brendan Marquardt are poised seniors with plenty of experience on the court. Braun Meyer is an emerging junior prospect that can really shoot the ball from deep and Jameson Paukner and Sam Patterson are two other juniors that gained crucial experience as sophomores a season ago. Sauk plays physical and with the balance in the roster, it’ll be no surprise they are challenging come seasons end.

Head Coach: Todd Nesheim - 19th year (284 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Josh Manchester, Hayden Anderson, Cal Odgers, Kam Nesheim
Returners: Alex Chapman, 6-4, sr; Evan Leibfried, 6-8, sr; Mason Williams, 6-1, sr; Kyle Freitag, 6-2, jr
Newcomers/New Contributors: Zane Crowe, soph; Nolan Niemetscheck, soph; Sam Grundahl, jr; Connor McCue, sr; Owen Schultz, 6-2 sr; Aiden Aeschlimann, 6-2, sr
Breakout Candidate: Zane Crowe

Outlook: Mount Horeb has the unenviable task of replacing one of the best scorers in state history in Josh Manchester, as well as seven other graduated players from a season ago. Todd Nesheim has been at this coaching thing a long time and has built a strong program that can retool. Alex Chapman is a good starting point as he’s one of the best players in the conference. Evan Leibfried is a dominant big man on the interior and Kyle Freitag and Zane Crowe are both players to watch as breakout performers in the conference.

Head Coach: Nolan Weber - 11th year (142 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Jacob Hibner, Andy Perkins, Quinn Poole, Logan Hedstrom, Parker Sellnow; Payton Danforth
Returners: Holden Ackerman, 6-1, jr; Jaren Vale, 6-1, sr; Devin Rogers, 6-2, sr; Jackson Keis, 6-1, sr; Derrick Sutton, 5-8, sr; Liam Borroughs, 6-3, jr
Newcomers/New Contributors: Tate Schneider, jr; Brooks Richter, jr; Nick Maerz, jr; Manny Vivas, 6-0, jr; Darren Opitz, jr; Brady Sickles, 6-2, soph; Rocco Randall, 5-10, soph
Breakout Candidate: Liam Borroughs

Outlook: Stoughton will have to replace graduate Jacob Hibner this upcoming season, but have a plethora or returnees that with a year of development mitigate that loss. Holden Ackerman and Jaren Vale are a very good guard duo while Devin Rogers and Liam Borroughs both are likely to step into bigger roles in terms of production. Coach Weber enters Year 11 at the helm and attributes balance and athleticism as two strengths going into the 2026-27 season.

Head Coach: Jackson Riley - 2nd year (9 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Gannon Bagastad, Evan Breidel
Returners: Henry Clark, 6-3, sr; Drew Christensen, 6-2, sr; Kaleb Oeth, 6-5, jr; Tristan Mitchell, 6-2, sr; Ben Morey, 6-0, sr; Owen Rist, 6-4, sr; Ollie Milesko, 6-1, jr
Newcomers/New Contributors: Alex Golden, 6-2, soph
Breakout Candidate: Alex Golden

Outlook: Edgewood did not graduate much from last year’s squad that went 9-17. Head coach Jackson Riley has a good stable of players back, headlined by first team all-conference selection Drew Christensen. Ben Morey and Tristan Mitchell are solid guards while Kaleb Oeth and Henry Clark provide size and strength, though both are versatile forwards. Alex Golden could be a breakout sophomore this year with the Crusaders as the season progresses and he becomes more comfortable. Edgewood benefits from the drop down effect where they’ll play Division 1 and 2 schools for the most part this year and then drop down to D3 come playoff time.

Head Coach: Justin Kuhnau - 2nd year (8 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Jonah Williams, Will Mikonowicz, Avery Olson
Returners: Lincoln Benish, 6-2, jr; Nehamiah Guy, 6-0, sr; Lucius Wells, 6-0, jr; Symon Pelton, 5-9, soph;
Newcomers/New Contributors: Brock Wilson, 6-2, soph; Bodey Thompson, soph; Weston Kast, soph, Ames Moeller, frosh
Breakout Candidate: Lincoln Benish

Outlook: Reedsburg will have some leadership to replace with the group that just graduated but there was a lot of underclassmen that garnered plenty of varsity experience this past season which will only bode well for them in this upcoming year. Lincoln Benish averaged 14 points per game as a sophomore and though he broke out, is primed his game up once again. Neamiah Guy, Lucius Wells, and Symon Pelton all started games a season ago for the Beavers and provide that experience on the court. Justin Kuhnau will also have newcomers such as Brock Wilson, Bodey Thompson and West Kast who will be in the mix for consistent minutes in their first years on varsity.

Head Coach: Daniel Harkins - 1st year
Lost Contributors: Cameron Scheehle, Alex Hartwig, Michael Nachreiner, Brody Kayartz, Donovan Navone, Wesley Krueger
Returners: Liam Gordon, 5-10, jr; Kenniel Aquino-Cruz, 5-10, sr; Bryce Cawley, 6-0, sr; Ross Rhode, 6-1, sr; Rhiland Weiss, 5-11, sr; Bryce Mohr, 6-0, sr

Outlook: A former standout at Portage, Daniel Harkins takes over for the Warriors in his first year as head coach in 2026-27. He’ll do so with an inexperienced roster after the graduation of most of the production from last year’s two-win team. The Warriors are a bit of an unknown as they look to rebuild under one of their better former alumni.

Stoughton could surprise some teams in the Badger-Small this season despite the fact they graduated the top scorer from last year’s club. Jaren Vale and Holden Ackerman are two talented guards and with good guard play, anything can happen on any given night.

Lincoln Benish, jr, Reedsburg
Benish was the top scorer for the Beavers as just a sophomore a season ago, averaging over 14 points per game while also adding 3.7 assists. He’s growing into a multi-faceted offensive player that can attack the game in a handful of different ways.

Alex Chapman, sr, Mount Horeb
Chapman is one of the top players back in a conference that has a lot of talent back. He’s committed to NCAA Division 2 Hillsdale. Last season he averaged 13.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game was a second-team all-Badger Small. Chapman can score it from all three levels and his overall game has improved over the pat four seasons.

Drew Christensen, sr, Edgewood
The top scorer and leader for the Crusaders is back leading the squad in 2026-27. He averaged over 14 points per game as a junior and was a first team all-league selection a season ago. Christensen can knock down shots at a high rate from deep and does a good job of working off ball to create those openings for himself.

Garrett Crull, sr, McFarland
Crull is the leader on the court and takes a lot of skills he has as quarterback and uses those on the hardwood. At 6-5 he has great size from his point guard position and utilizes it well. He was an all-state honorable mention honoree as a junior after he averaged 19 points and 6 rebounds per game. Crull has garnered interest from Division 2 and 3 schools and holds an offer from MSU-Moorhead.

Oliver Evans, sr, Fort Atkinson
Evans is the 6-9 big man that controls the paint in almost every game he plays in. He’s talented on the gridiron as well, which he’s taken those physical traits from football and transferred them to his game on the court. As a junior he averaged 9.5 points per game and was a honorable mention all-league selection.

Braydon Fischer, jr, McFarland
Fischer started as a sophomore last year for the state-bound Spartans and averaged ten points and three rebounds per game. He was an honorable mention all-league selection. Fischer does a great job playing off Crull and Krueger and is a year more mature physically and in his skill development.

Lincoln Ganser, sr, Sauk Prairie
Ganser will serve as an elder statesmen with this year’s group as he’s just one of two seniors back in 2026-27. As a junior he averaged 11.4 points and 3.1 rebounds and was an honorable mention all-league selection.

Graeson Geiger, sr, Fort Atkinson
Geiger is the steady floor general for a Fort team that boasts a lot of size across the board. As a junior he averaged nearly 20 points per game and was a first team all-league selection. He’s the definition of a playmaker and creator with the ball in his hands, with his scoring and passing abilities.

Carter Klopcic, jr, Fort Atkinson
Klopcic averaged 13.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game as a sophomore with the Blackhawks and was an honorable mention all-conference honoree. The 6-3 wing is versatile, defends multiple positions, and can score from outside and in.

Eli Krueger, sr, McFarland
Krueger was an all-state selection a season ago after he averaged 21 points and 11 rebounds per game. At 6-10, he’s one of the top post players in the state and has done a good job of improving his game overall where he’s more than just a pick-and-roll or back to the basket big. Krueger is committed to play at Division 1 Colorado State.

Evan Leibfried, sr, Mount Horeb
Leibfried is a force on the interior for the Mount Horeb as the 6-8 big man is a standout on the gridiron as well. Leibfried averaged just 5.2 points per game, but he matches with the other talented big men in the conference on a nightly basis. Leibfried is committed to Division 1 Northern Illinois for football following his senior year.

Brendan Marquardt, sr, Sauk Prairie
Marquardt does a lot of things coaches relish in a student-athlete. He hustles, buys into his role, and leads. After averaging 5.4 points and 3.5 rebounds and a good club season, he has committed to play at the next level at Edgewood.

Braun Meyer, jr, Sauk Prairie
Meyer is poised for a big season with Sauk Prairie after he averaged 5.8 points off the bench for the Eagles. A big club season, the 6-6 wing can shoot it from deep and has done the work of developing his overall game.

Kaleb Oeth, jr, Edgewood
Oeth is a talented multi-sport athlete as he excels both on the hardwood and on the baseball diamond. A 6-5 forward, he is extremely versatile in where he can play on the court and how effective he can be in a handful of different ways.