CHRISTIAN
Last year: 2-11, 6-16 overall
Lowdown
- The two Eagles who made all-Big East Conference last year graduated.
- Christian got off to an 0-10 start last season.
- The team managed to win four of its final six games, however.
Glad to be back
Michael Modahl: The sophomore averaged a team-best 12 points per game last year and was third in rebounding with 5.0 per contest
Levi Ahles: The junior was fourth in scoring (6.1) and sixth in rebounding (2.7).
Tough to replace
Trevor Wisse: He earned a spot on the all-conference honorable mention team as a senior.
Joe Lemmenes: He’s another honorable mention all-league pick who graduated. Lemmenes and Wisse tied for second in scoring (11.7 ppg).
LUTHERAN
Last year: 12-1, 27-2 overall
Lowdown
- The team won the Division 5 state title last year for the first time since 2012.
- Lutheran has been to state three of the last eight tourneys.
- No team has won back-to-back state titles in Division 5.
Glad to be back
Jacob Ognacevic: The Valparaiso recruit averaged 30 points and 16 rebounds per game to earn second-team all-state by the AP. He was also the Big East’s co-player of the year.
Casey Verhagen: The sophomore also made the AP all-state team (honorable mention) and all-conference second team.
Tough to replace
Delvin Barnstable: He got second-team all-Big East and was second in scoring (18 ppg).
Graden Grabowski: He was third in scoring (11 ppg) and made all-conference honorable mention.
NORTH
Last year: 15-3, 18-6 overall
Lowdown
- Ten seniors, including the top-five scorers from a year ago, have to be replaced.
- Two Red Raiders made all-conference last year but graduated.
- North improved from a fifth-place showing in 2018.
Glad to be back
Chase Renzelmann: The senior is the squad’s top returning scorer and his 57 assists ranked No. 1.
Turner Kraus: This senior was ninth on the team in scoring last year.
Tough to replace
Brent Widder: He was the Fox River Classic player of the year last year thanks to a team-high averages of 24 points and seven rebounds per game.
Sawyer Pothast: He also made all-conference (second team) and was second among North players in scoring (15.4).
SOUTH
Last year: 5-13, 8-16
Lowdown
- One Redwing made all-FRCC last year and he returns (Josh Govek).
- The top scorer and rebounder are also back.
- South won five more games last year than it did in 2017-’18.
Glad to be back
Josh Govek: The senior already broke the school scoring record that stood since 1977 and averaged 25 points per game last year.
Marcell Drone: The junior averaged a team-best 7.4 rebounds a year ago and was second in scoring (7.2 ppg).
Jake Marver: This senior was fourth in scoring (5.2) and fifth in rebounding (2.5).
Tough to replace
Nick Larson: His 49 three-pointers were tops on the squad last year and he was third in scoring (6.9).
