Six Rivers-East 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.

Barneveld nearly went perfect in the conference last season with the only loss coming in a cross-conference matchup with Potosi/Cassville. The Golden Eagles fell one game short of the state tournament, falling to Sheboygan Lutheran by seven points in the sectional semifinals. No other team from the east side of the Six Rivers advanced past the opening round of the playoffs, as the other six teams went 0-6, losing five of those games to Trailways opponents.

NOTE: Monticello and Albany enter into its first year as a co-op with the conference.

Head Coach: Scott Noll - 3rd year (88 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Cohlman Schlimigen
Returners: Griffin Noll, 6-4, sr; Luke Leonard, 6-3, sr; Brock Erickson, 5-11, sr; Martin Anderson, 5-10, sr; Bo Stateler, 6-1, sr; Alex Domine, 6-1, sr
Newcomers/New Contributors: Cooper Schaepfer, 6-1, jr; Kale Hendrickson, 5-9, jr
Breakout Candidate: Luke Leonard

Outlook: The Vikings have the best player in the conference, Griffin Noll, and paired with nearly an entire roster back from a group that finished second, are the favorite going into the year. Noll can light up the box score as evident by his 25 points per game average a season ago. Both Luke Leonard and Martin Anderson earned all-league honors and are part of a very strong senior group that has plenty of experience. Pecatonica will play Abundant Life, Poynette, Pardeeville, and Southwestern in non-conference play to prepare come playoff time.

Head Coach: Tyler Sullivan - 10th year (139 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Hunter Larson, Konnor Jasinski, Judson Poad, Coooper Shipman, Ty Thousand
Returners: Mason Durst, 6-7, jr; Brigham Schauff, 5-11, sr; Kaydn Schlimgen, 5-11, sr
Newcomers/New Contributors: Henry DeRosier, 6-3, sr; Landon Beicher, 5-11, sr; Liam Genrich, 6-0, sr; Jaxon Burrow, sr; Caden Brunker, sr. Cyrus Clark, sr. Mason Esch, soph, Noah Poad, soph, Aidan Bomkamp, soph
Breakout Candidate: Mason Durst

Outlook: Tyler Sullivan has an ace in his pocket in the Six Rivers conference that is 6-7 junior Mason Durst. That height in Division 5 can cause all sorts of issues for opponents and is a trump card in many games in the paint. Despite losing a lot of production from last season, Barneveld’s program has done a good job of re-tooling under Sullivan. I’d expect this year to be no different with seniors Brigham Schauff and Kaydn Schlimgen leading the way in terms of returning contributors outside of Durst.

Head Coach: Mark Olson - 18th year (194 career wins)
Lost Contributors:
Returners: Hunter Grossen, 6-1, sr; Tanner Hilliard, 5-10, sr; Milo Smith, 6-4, sr; Tyler Constantini, sr; Ty Durtschi, 6-5, sr; Casey Cole, 5-11, sr, Broden Bakken, 5-8, jr; Kamden Broughton, 5-3, jr
Newcomers/New Contributors:
Breakout Candidate: Milo Smith

Outlook: This will be the first year of this newly formed co-op on the boys side. Two schools come together under the guide of long term Monticello coach Mark Olson. He has two of the better players in the conference on his team in Hunter Grossen and Ty Durtschi. Despite winning just seven combined games a season ago, there is a lot of production back between these two squads and an uptick in overall numbers in a singular program should drive competition and development.

Head Coach: Jesse Halvorsen - 7th year (63 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Jeremiah Collins, Deacon Kubly
Returners: Joe Soper, 6-6, jr; Mike Helfvogt, 6-4,

Outlook: The loss of Collins and company will be felt this season for an Argyle group that may lack experience. Joe Soper is a force in the middle and with the other returner Mike Helfvogt, there is size for head coach Jesse Halvorsen.

Head Coach: Brandon Behlke - 1st year (5 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Jacob Woodruff, Cooper Baumgartner, Jackson Berget
Returners: Cole Dunlavey, 6-3, sr; Grant Quinn, 6-1, jr; Kayden Stauffacher, 6-2, soph; Brody Argall, 5-11, sr; Cade Pickett, sr;
Newcomers/New Contributors: Cooper Paquin, frosh
Breakout Candidate: Kayden Stauffacher

Outlook: Black Hawk will be under a new regime as Brandon Behlke steps into the lead role with the Warriors. He inherits a roster with just a few upperclassmen but one where a number of players got experience as freshman and sophomores a season ago. Cole Donlavey and Grant Quinn were both all-league selections a season ago and will lead this group into taking strides forward each and every game in 2026-27.

Head Coach: Dylan Wittman - 1st year
Lost Contributors: Jayden Brown, Easton Hess, Brayden Steinmann, Treston Gobeli
Returners:
Newcomers/New Contributors: Mason Rackow; Keagan Schirmer, 5-10, sr

Outlook: Juda graduated a majority of its production from a season ago, including 20+ point per game scorer Jayden Brown. Dylan Wittman will step into his first season as the coach of the Panthers and will have some growing pains to adjust to with regards to the roster that he returns.

Calling Monticello/Albany a sleeper is a bit of a stretch as they are picked to finish in the top half of the division on our projected standings. However, if both groups come together, mesh, and can move forward together quickly, this team has all the ability to challenge for a Six Rivers-East conference title.

Cole Dunlavey, sr, Black Hawk
Dunlavey was an honorable mention all-conference selection a season ago after averaging 8.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He’s aggressive on the boards and creates extra opportunities with the hustle plays.

Mason Durst, jr, Barneveld
Don’t be surprised if the 6-7 junior takes the biggest step forward of anyone in the conference this upcoming year. He sets the tone in the paint as an enforcer on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Durst was a second team all-league performer a season ago after averaging eleven points and eight rebounds per game off the bench.

Ty Durtschi, Monticello/Albany
One of two returning first team all-league performers, Durtschi has already surpassed 1,000 career points in his prep career. Now leading a newly formed co-op, the depth around him may lead to him having even more opportunities to put the ball in the hoop.

Hunter Grossen, Monticello/Albany
Grossen was a second team all-Six Rivers-East selection a season ago and now paired with Durtschi, forms one of, if not the best duo in the conference. With the co-op formed, driving lanes, open shots, and passing windows may all become just a touch wider in his senior season.

Luke Leonard, sr, Pecatonica
Leonard and Noll form the best duo in the conference. Griffin handles a majority of the scoring load, but Leonard averaged over eleven points and five rebounds per game and was a second team all-conference selection.

Griffin Noll, sr, Pecatonica
Noll is the reigning co-Player of the Year in the conference and a two-time All-State selection. He comes into his senior year with over 1,000 career points and is one of the top players in Division 5 as a whole.

Joe Soper, jr, Argyle
Soper is up to 6-6 and continues to develop his game. He dominates near the rim with his soft touch, rebounding, and shot blocking abilities. He’s coming off a second-team all-conference season and primed for more.