Capitol South Conference Boys Basketball Preview

Editors Note: This preview of the Capitol South Conference boys basketball season was compiled by Wissports.net.    2023-24 Standings T-1. Belleville 8-2 (13-13 overall) T-1. New Glarus 8-2 (16-9 overall) T-3. Cambridge 5-5 (10-15 overall) T-3. Marshall 5-5 (16-12 overall) Regional Champ 5. Waterloo 4-6 (9-17 overall) 6. Wisconsin Heights 0-10 (8-17 overall)   Returning All-Conference Players       First Team Matthew Buckman, sr, Cambridge (POY) Kenyon Miggins, sr, Marshall     Second Team Jackson Scholey, jr, Belleville Drew Holzhueter, sr, Cambridge Daniel Nickel, sr, Marshall Honorable Mention Teseo Ruelas, sr, Marshall   2024 Top Players Matt Buckman, Cambridge (2025) — Buckman is the reigning Player of the Year in the conference after he averaged 25.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. A do-it-all 6-4 wing, Buckman can score from anywhere in the half court and does an exceptional job of getting into the lane and to the foul line. He’s attempted more than 120 free throws the past two seasons, making 78% of them. Buckman comes into the year with 1,517 career points and has committed to play basketball at NCAA Division II Hillsdale. Michael Fancsali, Wisconsin Heights (2025) — Fancsali is the top returning scorer for the Vanguards after he averaged 10.1 points last season, while also adding 5.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Drew Holzhueter, Cambridge (2025) — Holzhueter is one of four starters returning for Cambridge and a second-team all-conference selection. The 6-0 guard averaged 13.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. He’s a stout athlete that uses his frame and effort to position him with the best scoring opportunities. Jaylen Miggins, Marshall (2027) — Miggins averaged 9.4 points off the bench as a freshman last season and provides another scoring threat to a loaded Cardinals back court. Miggins mid-range game and footwork set him apart from his counterparts. He has the ability to turn it on and take over games and will only get better as the next three seasons progress. Kenyon Miggins, Marshall (2025) — Miggins is exactly what you want in a lead guard. He’s poised, a good decision maker, and can take over his matchup when needed. He averaged 18.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game last season en route to first team all-Capitol South honors. The 5-10 guard is tenacious defensively and is a good leader for a very good Marshall team. Daniel Nickel, Marshall (2025) — Nickel was a second-team all-league honoree last season after averaging 11.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. He hunts his shot well and scores in the lane in a handful of ways. At 6-3, he’s one of the taller players on the roster and will be able to take advantage of his skillset when larger defenders are matched up on him. Teseo Ruelas, Marshall (2025) — Ruelas is another standout guard in the Marshall starting lineup, earning honorable mention all-conference honors last season. He averaged 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game as a junior.  Jackson Scholey, Belleville (2026) — Scholey is undersized at 5-6, but utilizes his quickness and lethal shooting to effect the game in many ways. He averaged more than 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal per game last season as he was a second team all-Capitol South selection. Scholey will be relied upon to handle a bigger workload with the graduation of Jack Erickson and his brother Carter. Breckyn Thompson, New Glarus (2025) — Thompson is the top leading scorer for the Glarner Knights, having averaged over nine points per game last season. With a large contingent of contributors graduated, the 6-2 guard will take on a much larger role for head coach Travis Sysko in his senior year.     Predicted Order  of Finish 1. Marshall 2. Cambridge 3. Belleville 4. New Glarus 5. Wisconsin Heights 6. Waterloo   1. Marshall Head Coach: TJ Zweifel (1st year at Marshall, 4th year overall) Overall Record: 54-26 2023-24 Varsity Record: 16-12 2023-24 JV Record: 13-9  2023-24 Freshman Record: 8-10 Assistant Coaches: Tony Miggins, Matt Browne, Tom Reichelt Key Contributors Lost: Matthew Motl (4.1 ppg) Returning Players: Kenyon Miggins, 2025 (18.4 ppg); Daniel Nickel, 2025 (11.7 ppg); Teseo Ruelas, 2025 (11.0 ppg); Jaylen Miggins, 2027 (9.4 ppg); Brady Kleinheinz, 2026 (7.4 ppg); Carson Connelly, 2025 (6.0 ppg); Max Timpel, 2025 (1.9 ppg); Jose Ayala Santacruz, 2025; Grant Peters, 2025 (2.6 ppg) Newcomers: Drew Chadwick, Jackson Reichelt Outlook: Marshall will have a new head coach this season as TJ Zweifel comes over after winning three straight conference titles at Belleville. He inherits a loaded roster with four starters returning and a deep, productive bench. Brothers Kenyon and Jaylen Miggins are both skilled guards that can put up numbers in bunches. Teseo Ruelas, Brady Kleinheinz, and Daniel Nickel are all returning starters for Marshall that can flat out get after it on both ends of the court.  This Cardinals team is poised to climb to the top of the conference and make noise in the Division 4 playoffs with their elite guard play and in your face defense.   2. Cambridge Head Coach: Alex Ranney (1st year) 2023-24 Varsity Record: 10-15 2023-24 JV Record: 11-11 Assistant Coaches: Tanner Hudziak, Brady Wagner, Quinn Killerlain Key Contributors Lost: Cade Nottestad (4.5 ppg) Returning Players: Matt Buckman, 2025 (25.7 ppg); Drew Holzhueter, 2025 (13.0 ppg); Jett Horton, 2026(7.1 ppg); Kiefer Parish, 2025 (6.0 ppg); Cal Nottestad, 2026 (4.5 ppg) Newcomers: J’Kari Crawford, 2027; Evan Harbort, Oscar Brown, Ian Nelles, Jack Baker Outlook: Cambridge is another program at the top of our projections with a new head coach, as former Lake Mills standout Alex Ranney takes over for the Blue Jays. He’ll have three starters returning including Player of the Year and NCAA Division II commit Matt Bushman.  Drew Holzhueter, Keifer Parish, and Jett Horton are all 6-feet, or shorter, but are great athletes and use that well on the court.  Coach Ranney is implementing a new system and the learning curve may take a few weeks to really grasp, but this team is primed to compete in the Capitol-South.   3. Belleville Head Coach: Drew Shrader (1st year) 2023-24 Varsity Record: 13-13 2023-24 JV Record: 5-17 Assistant Coaches: Chris Parker, Dan Meier, Kevin Pachucki Key Contributors Lost: Jack Erickson (19.9 ppg), Carter Scholey (7.4 ppg), Brady Mousseau, Gabe Nass (5.2 ppg) Returning Players: Jackson Scholey, 2026 (12.5 ppg); Evan Thomas, 2025 (9.4 ppg); Brendan Pawlowski, 2025 (4.4 ppg); Bryce Babler, 2025 (7.1 ppg); Samuel Arndt, 2025 (2.3 ppg); Gavan Jerome, 2025 (1.4 ppg); Adam Cann, 2025 (4.6 ppg) Newcomers: Isaac Patrow, 2026; Cooper Nemec, 2026; Hazeon Edmond, 2026 Outlook: Belleville is the third straight team to have a new head coach in Drew Shrader, who served as the JV coach with the Wildcats last season. He welcomes a roster with three returning starters in Jackson Scholey, Evan Thomas, and Brendan Pawlowski.  This group’s strengths going into this season are the aggressiveness and experience they’ve gained over the past few years. Finishing in the upper half of the conference will hinge on Shrader finding enough depth on his roster to complement his starting rotation.   4. New Glarus Head Coach: Travis Sysko (23 years at New Glarus; 25th overall) Overall Record: 342-269 2023-24 Varsity Record: 16-9 2023-24 JV Record: 18-4 2023-24 Freshman Record: 9-11 Assistant Coaches: Jerry Tordoff, Gary Beutler, Charlie Anderson Key Contributors Lost: Max Marty (10.6 ppg), Jake Roth, (9.4 ppg); Brett Warrell (12.4 ppg); Cade Thayer (6.7 ppg) Returning Players: Breckyn Thompson, 2025 (9.0 ppg); Charlie Sarbacker, 2025 (6.1 ppg); Nolan Julseth, 2027 (3.3 ppg); Clayton Streiff, 2025 (3.1 ppg); Andrew Sarbacker, 2025; Dylan Baker, 2025 Newcomers: Matt Roth, 2026; Luke Burton, 2026; Tatem Stampfli, 2026; Grady Johnson, 2026; Will Pinnow, 2026 Outlook: New Glarus will need to replace four starters from last year’s 16-win team, but has the right head coach to do so in Travis Sysko.  The elder statesman in the conference, Sysko has built a great program and one that has the depth to replenish his roster, including newcomers from an 18-4 JV squad.  Breckyn Thompson does return as the leading scorer as he and Charlie Sarbacker will need to shoulder a much bigger role in the scoring department.   5. Wisconsin Heights Head Coach: Nolan Krentz (2nd year at Heights; 4th overall) Overall Record: 26-50 (8-17 overall) 2023-24 Varsity Record: 8-17 2023-24 JV Record: 4-19 Assistant Coaches: Scott Duhr, Zach Watkins, John Loos Key Contributors Lost: Jon Vosburg (14.0 ppg), Nathan Pietrzykowski (5.0 ppg) Returning Players: Mike Fanscall, 2025 (10.1 ppg); Reed Adler, 2025 (9.8 ppg); Ethan Myers, 2025 (4.0 ppg), Logan Duhr, 2025 (4.7 ppg); Lukas Lemke, 2025; Manyon Parman, 2025; Zach Sander, 2026 (2.2 ppg); Austin Stephenson, 2026; Trey Theobald, 2025; Brayden Van Riper, 2025 Newcomers: Graham Crowe, 2028 Outlook: Heights has struggled in the conference in recent years, but does return all but two players from last year’s squad for head coach Nolan Krentz. Leading the way are seniors Mike Fancsall and Reed Adler, both who averaged around 10 points per game last year. Cleaning up the turnovers and defense will determine how big of a step forward the Vanguards can take in 2024-25.   6. Waterloo Head Coach: Brian Lutz 2023-24 Varsity Record: 9-17 Key Contributors Lost: Theo Schofield (20 ppg), Benny Marshall (19.8 ppg), Cameron Tschanz (8.4 ppg), Jon Sampo (6.9 ppg) Returning Players: Jackson Beyer, 2025 (5.4 ppg); Ryder Jaehnke, 2026 (4.4 ppg); Bryce Aubart, 2025 (4.1 ppg); Caleb Bullock, 2025 (2.2 ppg) Outlook: Waterloo is the fourth out of six teams to come into 2024-25 with a new coach. Brian Lutz takes over for the Pirates and must replace his top four scorers. It’s a tall task to be sure.  Jackson Beyer, Ryder Jaehnke, and Bryce Aubart all averaged five points per game and are the top players returning for Waterloo.  No player on the roster is listed over 6-foot-1, which poses an issue, despite the Capitol-South being a guard/wing dominated league overall.