• GAZLO
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

One final 'cheese'

Photo

Photo by Matthew Wisniewski

Janesville Craig graduate Lucas Burns has fun playing with other top recent graduates from the state during practice.

MADISON — The big smile on the face of Lucas Burns said it all.

Burns isn’t crazy about having his picture taken, but this was a special occasion.

The 2008 Janesville Craig High School graduate is a member of the Division 1 South all-star team that is practicing this week in preparation for Saturday’s 31st annual Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association game at the UW Field House.

And Thursday was picture day.

“This is really exciting,” Burns said of the weeklong experience that concludes with the North/South game at 10:45 a.m. Saturday “It’s been so much fun at practice playing with these guys because you hear so much about how good they are, but you really don’t appreciate it until you get on the floor with them.

“The toughest part is trying not to get hit in the face at practice because the passes are so much harder and are always right on a dime. It’s amazing the talent we have on this team.”

Burns, a NCAA Division II Concordia-St. Paul recruit and an All-Big Eight selection is in with some pretty good company on the South team. DeMarcus Phillips of Milwaukee Washington was the WBCA’s Mr. Basketball, and Chris McHenry out of Milwaukee Bradley Tech is headed for Division I Howard University.

After Craig High came up short in its bid for a WIAA state tournament berth—losing 65-62 to Lake Geneva Badger in the sectional semifinals—Burns relishes the opportunity to finish a stellar career at the Field House in Madison.

“I was honestly surprised when coach (Bob) Suter told me I had been selected to play in the all-star game,” Burns said. “It was always a dream of mine to go to state as a team and to play in the all-star game, so I at least got one of those.

“Now, I just want to come out and enjoy my last high school game, and hopefully we can put on a good show for the fans.”

The coaching staff at Concordia-St. Paul put Burns on a strict summer training regimen that includes plenty of shooting drills. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound standout hopes to play his freshman year and is looking to go into pre-law.

The best advice Burns has for youngsters looking to follow in his footsteps is pretty straightforward.

“Stay in the gym,” Burns said. “That’s the one thing I would tell them. A lot of kids want to be good, but don’t realize it takes work.

“It takes a lot of hours of shooting, lifting and running. It sounds boring, but I always found find time to shoot 400 or 500 shots a day.”

Monroe’s Murphy leads Division 2 South squad

Monroe High School basketball coach Pat Murphy had his hands full trying to find a way to stop the East Troy tandem of Kyle Jones and Alex Bondar in their Division 2 sectional championship battle that the Cheesemakers won, 54-53, in the closing seconds.

This week, Murphy gets a chance to coach Jones and Bondar.

The 6-4 sharp-shooting Jones and the brawny 6-8 Bondar are members of Murphy’s WBCA Division 2 South team that will play the North at 9 a.m. Saturday at the UW Field House in Madison.

Jones and Bondar have been as good as advertised, according to Murphy.

“We knew that Jones could shoot. All you have to do is watch him on film,” Murphy said. “But his range has been really impressive. He can knock it down from anywhere.”

Jones, who will play at Division III Carroll College, said friendships have been formed this week that will last a lifetime.

“That’s the neatest thing about this week,” Jones said of getting to meet and play with some of the top basketball talent in the state. “You get phone numbers and get to know guys that you can stay in contact with the rest of your life.

“And I think we’re going to have a pretty good team, too. I’m looking forward to Saturday because there are so many good players on this team.”

Murphy also thinks Bondar, a UW-Platteville recruit, will have a major impact on the Pioneer program the next four years. Bondar is built like a truck, which will allow him to bang underneath in what has become a physical Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and he also can hit the mid-range jumper.

“With Alex’s jump hook and what he can do inside, I think Platteville got a really good one,” said Murphy, who played for Bo Ryan at Platteville. “Both Kyle and Alex are very coachable, and I’m sure that isn’t always the case at these types of things.”

Bondar is looking forward to Saturday’s game, despite the early start.

“I don’t know the last time I played a game that early in the morning,” Bondar said. “But I think we’ll be ready.

“It’s going to be weird because it’s basically five men in and five out. I’m used to being on the floor all the time, so I’m going have to make the most of it when I’m on the court.”

JUST THE FACTS

What: North vs. South in Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association all-star games for graduated high school seniors.

When: Saturday—Boys: Division 2, 9 a.m.; Division 1, 10:45 a.m.; Division 4, 12:30 p.m.; Division 3, 2:15 p.m. Girls: Divison 1, 9 a.m.; Division 2, 10:45 am.; Division 3, 12:30 p.m.; Division 4, 2:15 p.m.

Where: Boys—UW Field House, Madison; Girls—Madison Area Technical College.

Tickets: $10 (available at the door, good for all games). Proceeds go to the MAAC Fund (Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer).

WBCA ALL-STAR ROSTERS

Boys

DIVISION 1

South

Roster: Lucas Burns, Janesville Craig, 6-6; Demarcus Philips, Milwaukee Washington, 6-3; Andy Smith, South Miwaukee, 6-9; Stephen Jaskulske Jr., Racine Case, 6-7; Chris McHenry, Milwaukee Tech, 5-11; Cory Degner, Brookfield Central, 6-1; Mike Harper, Milwaukee Custer, 6-4; Jake Barnett, Wauwatosa East, 6-5; Rick Bowers, Germantown, 6-0; Jordan Brezinski, Muskego, 6-7.

Alternates: Patrick Davis, Milwaukee Washington; Marvin Fitzgerald, Milwaukee Vincent; Malcolm Calbert, Stoughton.

Head coach: Marc Mitchell, Milwaukee Custer.

Assistants: Ray Curry, Homestead; Ty Moseler, Milwaukee South.

North

Roster: T.J. Kellner, Sheboygan North, 6-4; Matt Coenen, Appleton East, 5-8; Eddie Gilgenbach, Fond du Lac, 6-4; Corvonn Gaines, Madison West, 6-5; Cole Meyer, Bay Port, 6-5; John Benkoske, Oshkosh West, 6-8; Alex Welhouse, Kaukauna, 6-6; Jacob Koch, Ashwaubenon, 6-8; Jake Gollon, Stevens Point, 6-7; Dylan Pedretti, La Crosse Logan, 6-4.

Alternates: Jeremy Paprocki, Ashwaubenon; Reed Becker, Neenah; Brock McMullen, Wausau East; Zach Lauersdorf, Watertown.

Head coach: John Mielke, Appleton East.

Assistants: Dean Wirth, Appleton East; Chas Pronschinske, Neenah.

DIVISION 2

South

Roster: Alex Bondar, East Troy, 6-8; Kyle Jones, East Troy, 6-4; Tony Cates, Monroe, 6-7; Mike Hojnacki, New Berlin Eisenhower, 6-6; Tristan Toban, New Berlin Eisenhower, 6-1; Ben Wisniewski, New Berlin West, 6-2; Tom Neary, Waukesha Memorial, 6-7; Kevin Wild, Brown Deer, 6-1; Austin Kearns, Slinger, 6-0; Dayton Young, Waukesha Memorial, 6-5.

Alternates: Ryan Wenkman, Wisconsin Dells; Marc Manske, River Valley; Jared Matthies, Lakeside Lutheran.

Head coach: Pat Murphy, Monroe.

Assistants: Brian Bassett, Monroe; Ken Gratz, Monroe.

North

Roster: Brett Anderson, New Richmond, 6-6; Phil Binversie, Valders, 5-9; Logan Dellger, Plymouth, 6-0; Taylor Garceau, Marinette, 6-3; Brad Hallberg, Barron, 5-11; Logan Krueger, Denmark, 6-4; Andrew Lochman, Rice Lake, 6-5; Ryan Rasmussen, Waupun, 6-2; Dan Stovall, New Richmond, 6-8; Aris Wurtz, Waupun, 6-4.

Alternate: Clay Comerford, Plymouth.

Head coach: Scott Benoy, Baldwin-Woodville.

Assistants: Bruce Ashlin, Baldwin-Woodville; Chris Anderson, Spooner.

DIVISION 3

South

Roster: Quentin Tranberg, Iowa-Grant, 6-4; Jordan Rumpel, Arcadia, 6-5; Ben Pickel, Cuba City, 6-2; Luke Standiford, Pardeeville, 6-4; Jared Bauer, Auburndale, 6-3; Justin Wilterdink, Oostburg, 6-0; Jake Wiederholt, Fennimore, 6-5; Matt Paluchniak, Oostburg, 6-1; Mitchell Erickson, Darlington, 6-3; Jacob Day, Spencer, 5-11.

Alternate: Craig Szopinski, Dodgeland.

Head coach: Jim Komp, Wild Rose.

Assistants: Travis Sysko, New Glarus; Chris Lindert, Pardeeville.

North

Roster: Mitch Webster, 6-3; Spring Valley; Keegan Kincaid, 6-5, Crandon; Mark Schrimpf, Manitowoc Roncalli, 6-2; Cody Lassila, Manirtowoc Roncalli, 6-1; Mike Schaaf, Chetek, 6-3; Cody Loughrin, Weyauwega-Fremont, 6-0; Zach Alix, Weyauwega-Fremont, 6-1; Kieran Weed, Laconia, 6-6; Mitchell Schneider, Fond du Lac Springs, 6-3; Mike Nezorski, Eau Claire Regis, 6-6.

Alternates: Jeff Fern, St. Croix Central; Jake Fern, St. Croix Central; Jordan Mortenson, Iola-Scandinavia.

Head coach: Curt Schmidt, Stratford.

Assistants: Russ Wieler, Owen-Withee; Sam Bertsch, Iola-Scandinavia.

DIVISION 4

South

Roster: Andrew Martin, Williams Bay, 6-7; Christian Wolf, Kohler, 6-10; Bill Oppriecht, Seneca, 6-1; Jordan Petersen, Eleva-Strum, 6-2; Joe Hartwig, Black Hawk, 6-4; Bryan Johnson, Randolph, 6-2; Jeremy Reierson, Rio, 6-6; Trent Sullivan, Barneveld, 6-2; Lance Rongstad, Eleva-Strum, 6-3; Micah Fulton, Wonewoc-Center, 5-10.

Alternates: Kurtis Mansfield, Juda; Ryan Reidt, Alma; Michael Tranel, Southwestern; Andy Dedrick, Hillsboro.

Head coach: Jeff Wolf, Kohler.

Assistants: Brett Filpse, Sheboygan Christian; Chad Hayes, Princeton.

North

Roster: Scott Horn, Thorp, 6-2; Eric Strzok, Thorp, 6-4; Kurt Kincaid, Elcho, 6-6; Zach Burch, Birchwood, 6-0; Kris Betow, Marion, 6-0; Josh Regal, Suring, 5-9; Scott Popelka, White Lake, 6-1; Joseph Lamoureux, Lake Holcombe, 5-8; Derrick Nillessen, Bowler, 6-0; Tyler Petersen, Luck, 6-7.

Alternates: Shawn Zinn, White Lake; Cody Richter, Luck.

Head coach: Kent Kindschy, Lake Holcombe.

Assistants: Randy Ptacek, Lake Holcombe; Jason Sargent, Clear Lake.