Vanguards picked to finish 4th

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following preview of the Capitol South Conference boys basketball season was compiled by the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook. To purchase the Yearbook, visit https://wbby.sportngin.com/register/form/584418781. Currently, Capitol Conference schools aren’t sure if they’ll have a season due to Dane County guidelines surrounding COVID-19. If there is a season, though, here’s how the WBY predicts it will go.   CAPITOL SOUTH    PREDICTIONS 1. NEW GLARUS — Gunning for their fifth straight Capitol South Conference title, the Glarner Knights will rely on two veterans who have played key roles in recent seasons in seniors Mason Martinson and Nathan Streiff. 2. MARSHALL — Scoring punch, the transition game and skill are all assets for the Cardinals, who welcome back four starters from a club that went 16-8. 3. BELLEVILLE — A couple of players who earned spots on the all-league team return for the Wildcats in second-team selection Carson Syse and honorable mention choice Sawyer Fahey. 4. WISCONSIN HEIGHTS — The Vanguards have posted some impressive results in recent seasons under coach Zack Colby and that trend figures to continue in 2020-21 behind return of De’Shawn Barsness and Devin Brabender. 5. WATERLOO — Trevor Deppe begins his second season in charge of the Waterloo program looking for improvement from last year’s 7-16 record. A difficult schedule and the loss of two double-figure scorers might make that difficult. 6. CAMBRIDGE — Senior guard Jack Nikolay is one of the better scorers in the league and could help the Bluejays move above a few teams projected to finish ahead of them in the league standings. However, defense remains a big concern for coach Mike Jeffery.   1. NEW GLARUS Head Coach: Travis Sysko, 19th year  Record at School: 235-174  Overall Varsity Record: 276-222  2019-20 Varsity Record: 15-9  2019-20 JV1 Record: 14-8  2019-20 JV2 Record: 11-9  Assistants: Ron Roesslein, Gary Beutler, Brian Siegenthaler, Jerry Tordoff  Twitter: @NGhoops  Affiliation: WIAA Division 4  Enrollment: 312  Starters Lost (2): Connor Siegenthaler (6-0, 9.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg), Garrett James (6-3, 8.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg).  Starters Returning (3): Mason Martinson (6-4, Sr., 15.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg), Nathan Streiff (6-2, Sr., 11.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg), Darris Schuett (5-11, Sr., 8.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg).  Other Returning Players (5): Devon Vasquez (6-7, Sr., 4.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg), Carter Siegenthaler (5-10, Jr.), Will Meland (5-10, Sr.), Breckin Faber (6-2, Sr.), Dominic Tollakson (6-1, Sr.).  Newcomers (6): Dain Walter (6-7, Jr.), AC Strok (6-0, Soph.), Jack Parman (6-2, Jr.), Bryce Stampfli (6-0, Jr.), Zach Arnett (5-11, Jr.), Beckett Malaise (5-10, Jr.).  Strengths: Size, interior defense, experience, defense.  Questions: Perimeter shooting.   2. MARSHALL Head Coach: Dan Denniston, 6th year  Record at School: 83-35  Overall Varsity Record: 83-35  2019-20 Varsity Record: 16-8  2019-20 JV1 Record: 14-8  2019-20 JV2 Record: 13-9  Assistants: Robyn Usgaard, Matt Browne, Brock Riege, Tony Miggins  Twitter: @marshallball  Affiliation: WIAA Division 3  Enrollment: 314  Starters Lost (1): Tyler Chadwick (6-5, 14.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg).  Starters Returning (4): Craig Ward (6-1, Jr., 17.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg), Reid Truschinski (6-5, Jr., 11.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg), Cole Denniston (5-10, Jr., 9.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg), Bryce Frank (5-9, Jr., 2.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg).  Newcomers (5): Mike Lutz (6-5, Jr.), Luis Bello (6-1, Jr.), Mason Collins (5-10, Jr.), Canon Seidschlag (6-1, Jr.), Kelby Petersen (6-2, Sr.).  Strengths: Experienced junior class, chemistry, scoring punch, unselfishness.  Questions: Rebounding, physicality.   3. BELLEVILLE Head Coach: Scott Noll, 4th year  Record at School: 37-35  Overall Varsity Record: 54-66  2019-20 Varsity Record: 16-8  2019-20 JV1 Record: 12-10  2019-20 JV2 Record: 17-3  Assistants: Chris Parker, TJ Zweifel  Twitter: @BellevilleBball  Affiliation: WIAA Division 4  Enrollment: 284  Starters Lost (2): Kody Fahey (6-4, 12 ppg, 6 rpg), Brody Duerst (6-5, 4 ppg, 5 rpg).  Starters Returning (3): Sawyer Fahey (5-10, Sr., 10 ppg, 4 rpg), Carson Syse (6-1, Jr., 12 ppg, 3 rpg), Trevor Syse (6-1, Jr., 12 ppg, 4 rpg).  Other Returning Players (1): Gavin Boyum (5- 9, Jr., 4 ppg, 2 rpg). Newcomers (4): Josh Peterson (6-0, Jr.), Kaden Desmet (5-8, Jr.), Anthony Nolden (6-0, Jr.), Andrew Ace (6-1, Jr.).  Strengths: Shooting, tempo, zone defense, depth.  Questions: Rebounding.   4. WISCONSIN      HEIGHTS Head Coach: Zack Colby, 5th year  Record at School: 56-38  Overall Varsity Record: 56-38  2019-20 Varsity Record: 11-13  Assistants: Scott Duhr, Tyler Ballweg, Kyle Ballweg  Affiliation: WIAA Division 4  Enrollment: 223  Starters Returning (5): De’Shawn Barsness (6-2, Sr., 15.8 ppg), Devin Brabender (6-5, Jr., 9.8 ppg), Lathan Parman (5-7, Jr., 6.7 ppg), Cole Cribbs (6-3, Sr., 9.7 ppg), Carson Hosking (6-2, Jr., 6.4 ppg).  Other Returning Players (4): Everett Buol (5-9, Sr., 5.6 ppg), Derek Adler (6-0, Soph., 5.7 ppg), Preston Herrling (6-3, Sr., 3.5 ppg), Jacob Brabender (5-11, Soph., 5.4 ppg).  Newcomers (3): Hunter Walz (5-9, Sr.), Jonathon Holcomb (6-0, Sr.), Trevor Dimpfl (6-0, Sr.).  Strengths: Experience, balanced scoring, depth.  Questions: Challenging schedule.   5. WATERLOO Head Coach: Trevor Deppe, 2nd year  Record at School: 7-16  Overall Varsity Record: 7-16  2019-20 Varsity Record: 7-16  2019-20 JV1 Record: 6-15  2019-20 JV2 Record: 4-14  Assistants: Rick Ring, Brian Krieg, Josh Deppe  Affiliation: WIAA Division 4  Enrollment: 243  Starters Lost (2): Chase Bostwick (6-0, 12.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg), EJ Jiles (6-1, 12 ppg, 5 rpg).  Starters Returning (3): Blake Huebner (6-2, Sr., 7.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Brody Tschanz (6-3, Sr., 3.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg), Eugene Wolff (5-11, Jr., 8.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg).  Other Returning Players (2): Caleb Hager (6- 2, Sr., 5.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg), Antonio Unzueta (5-10, Jr.).  Newcomers (5): Jackson Christenson (6-0, Sr.), Addison Hensler (6-4, Sr.), Andrew Battenberg (5-11, Sr.), Landin Wollin (6-0, Jr.), Ian Ritter (6-3, Jr.).  Strengths: Team defense, perimeter shooting.  Questions: Rebounding.   6. CAMBRIDGE Head Coach: Mike Jeffery, 3rd year  Record at School: 16-33  Overall Varsity Record: 211-213  2019-20 Varsity Record: 10-14  2019-20 JV1 Record: 8-13  2019-20 JV2 Record: 9-6  Assistants: Mark O’Brien, Mike Kravik, Micah Holzhueter  Affiliation: WIAA Division 4  Enrollment: 276  Starters Lost (4): Drew Jeffery (6-2, 9.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg), Fritz Kaiser (5-8, 4.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.2 apg), Andrew Downing (6-2, 7.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg), Jordan Marty (6-3, 3.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg).  Starters Returning (2): Jack Nikolay (5-10, Sr., 16.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Tret Colts (5-9, Jr., 6.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg).  Other Returning Players (7): Aidan Schroeder (6-2, Jr., 2.9 ppg), Jace Horton (6-0, Jr., 2.1 ppg), Oliver Kozler (6-4, Sr., 2.0 ppg), Max Heth (6-3, Jr.), Ezra Stein (6-1, Sr.), Cody Harrison (6-0, Sr.), Noah Frey (6-2, Sr.). Newcomers (6): Carter Brown (6-1, Jr.), Eli Stein (6-2, Jr.), Maurice Kurt (5-9, Sr.), Spencer Davis (6-1, Sr.), Nick Buckman (6-0, Soph.), Jonathan Yerges (6-5, Soph.).  Strengths: Team depth, athleticism.  Questions: Rebounding, turnovers.