Norse look to contend for DC title

After suffering through growing pains last year, the Whitehall boys basketball team hopes to be battle at the top of the Dairyland Conference Large Division this year. 

“With several returning players who played a lot of minutes last year, Whitehall should compete for a conference championship once again this year,” Coach Tyler Petersen said. 

Competing at the top of the Dairyland would be nothing new for the Norse. The team has gone 121-96 overall and finished either first or second in the conference six times in Petersen’s nine years leading the program. While Whitehall graduated its leading scorer from last year’s 11-14 team, Petersen returns three players who started as sophomores and he expects them to take another big step up this year.

Point guard Will Youngbauer played off the bench as a freshman, then stepped into the starting role last year, averaging 11.2 points and four assists per game. He’ll be joined in the backcourt by classmate Bo Killian, who scored 9.5 points per game last year. The two bring athleticism and outside shooting, combining for 95 three-pointers last season. 

“We have some high-quality guards this year that will be able to create and score,” Petersen said. “The athleticism we have this year should make for an exciting team to watch go up and down the floor.”

The other returning starter is post player Riley Herman, who scored 4.8 points and hauled in 5.6 rebounds per game as a sophomore last year.

The Norse will count on those three to step into leadership roles to replace last year’s leading scorer, Caydan Johnston, and rebounder, Mason Pientok. Petersen said he also expects more from seniors Deacon Steig and Connor Stevens. 

With so many inexperienced players, the Norse struggled for consistency last year. The team began the season 2-5, won four straight games, then lost six of eight. That experience should benefit the team this year as Petersen noted juniors Aiden Evans, Cayden Platteter and Mason Przybylla as players who he’s looking to take another big step. Evans and Przybylla should both be able to help the team in the post and Platteter as another guard. 

Petersen knows the competition in the conference will be tough. Cochrane-Fountain City is the defending Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division Five State Champion after an undefeated Dairyland Conference season, winning the DC-Small Division. Osseo-Fairchild was nearly as dominant in the DC-Large, going 17-3, only losing to C-FC twice and Alma Center Lincoln. Petersen also highlighted Melrose-Mindoro as a team to watch, while the Mustangs went 5-15 in DC play last season, the squad will now be coached by Dave Cowley.

Whitehall’s season began with a home game against Eleva-Strum on Tuesday of this week. The team heads to Fall Creek next Tuesday before welcoming Alma/Pepin next Thursday.