Looking ahead to the 2024-25 WIAA boys basketball season, NY2LA Sports breaks down the race in the Capitol North Conference…
PROJECTED STANDINGS
1. Lake Mills
2. Lakeside Lutheran
3. Lodi
4. Columbus
5. Poynette
THE FAVORITE – Lake Mills
The L-Cats should be a trendy pick to not only repeat as conference champs, but reach the Division 3 state tournament, if not take the gold ball. Lake Mills gets its top four scorers back, all of which averaged in double figures, led by A.J. Bender (22.0 ppg).
TOP CHALLENGER – Lakeside Lutheran
The Spartans went 27-3 last season and got all the way to the Division 3 state championship game. They’ll have to move forward without Kooper Mllsna, but junior Wes Rahn (16.5 ppg) and senior Kaycee Guzman (14.8 ppg) return to give Lakeside Lutheran a formidable 1-2 punch.
DARK HORSE – Lodi
Led by a freshman last season, Lodi gets a little older and more seasoned. Kale Schneider (8.2 ppg) looks to improve upon a promising first season. Sophomore Theo Traeder (8.6) is also back, but the Blue Devils might be a year or two away yet.
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE
FIRST TEAM
G A.J. Bender – Sr. – Lake Mills
G Peyton Powers – Jr. – Columbus
G Kale Schneider – So. – Lodi
F Tyler Wollin – So. – Lake Mills
F Wes Rahn – Jr. – Lakeside Lutheran
PLAYER OF THE YEAR – A.J. Bender
Bender should repeat as POY in the Capitol North. The 6-foot-3 senior averaged 22.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Bender is on track to be a first-team All-League pick for a crazy four consecutive seasons.
BREAKOUT PLAYER – Tyler Wollin
Wollin was pretty good as a freshman, averaging 11.4 points per game, but he’s on track to get a whole lot better in year two. Posting 7.4 boards per game, Wollin was also second in the league in rebounding in 2023-24.