Looking ahead to the 2024-25 season, NY2LA Sports takes a closer look at the Badger Small Conference…
PROJECTED STANDINGS
1. Mount Horeb
2. Stoughton
3. McFarland
4. Sauk Prairie
5. Baraboo
6. Edgewood
7. Reedsburg
8. Portage
THE FAVORITE – Mount Horeb
The Vikings went 21-6 last season, but lost three heartbreakers to eventual conference champion Stoughton. Josh Manchester (24.1 ppg) returns for his junior season after leading the league in scoring as a sophomore.
DARK HORSE – Stoughton
There’s a very good case for Stoughton sliding up into the favorite slot. The Vikings might have the deepest team in the league, despite losing a pair of key seniors in Ty Fernholz and Sawyer Schipper. This will be Jacob Hibner‘s team in 2024-25. The junior had a monster summer and is coming off a sophomore season in which he averaged 11 points per game.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE – McFarland
The Spartans were 7-7 in league play last season. Leading scorer Andrew Kelley is gone, but McFarland has arguably the toughest player to match up with in sophomore center Eli Krueger (9.4 ppg).
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE
FIRST TEAM
G Josh Manchester – Jr. – Mount Horeb
G Jacob Hibner – Jr. – Stoughton
G Nicholas Keyser – Sr. – Sauk Prairie
G Zach MaGuire – Sr. – Mount Horeb
F Eli Krueger – So. – McFarland
SECOND TEAM
G Timmy West – So. – Edgewood
G Alex Hannagan – Sr. – Baraboo
G Alex Chapman – So. – Mount Horeb
F Danny Pickell – Sr. – Reedsburg
F Carter Sullivan – Sr. – Stoughton
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Josh Manchester
Manchester led the Badger Small in scoring last season at 24.1 ppg. Willing to carry a team on his back, both as a scorer and playmaker, few players in the state hold more on their shoulders than Manchester. A deadly shooter from all areas of the floor, Manchester commands so much attention from opposing defenses.
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Jacob Hibner
Hibner broke out during the travel season and landed a few Division 2 offers. A strong and sweet-shooting guard, Hibner is more than capable of filling the void left behind by Fernholz (Michigan Tech). Averaging just shy of 11 points per game as a sophomore, wouldn’t be surprised to see Hibner double that output this winter.
SLEEPER TO WATCH: Alex Chapman
Chapman averaged 3.4 points per game as a freshman. The Vikings lose a couple key seniors, which should give way to this well-rounded prospect. Really like Chapman’s all-around game. He’ll also fit right in with Mount Horeb, who has thrived with an array of 3-point shooters around Manchester.