Elmwood-Spring Valley, round 2

Here’s a quick breakdown on Saturday’s Dunn-St. Croix showdown between Elmwood and Spring Valley which will tip at 2:30 p.m. in Spring Valley:

* Probable starters for Elmwood (10-1, 8-1 DSC): Cody Maves, sr., 6-0, G; Steven Pax, jr., 5-10, G; Isaac Hartung, sr., 6-1, F; Michael Brunner, sr., 6-4, F; Ryan Bechel, jr., 6-0, F.

* Pax and Brunner are returning starters, while Maves saw heavy action off the bench last season.

* Pax is second in the Dunn-St. Croix in scoring at 13.5 points per game. Brunner is sixth at 12.5.

* The Raiders’ depth was put to the test this season after losing a ton of talent – Lucas Wolf, Ryan Mountain, Cody Rose, Tyler Bechel – to graduation.

“We’re a different team,” Elmwood coach Jon Hinzman said. “That was the biggest thing, trying to find out who we were. We lost some really good ballplayers. We’ve definitely been tested. Sometimes, we’re still trying to find out who we are.”

* Probable starters for Spring Valley (9-2, 8-1): Tyler Bosshart, jr., 5-9, G; Dylan Webster, fr., 6-0, G; Mitch Webster, sr., 6-3, F; Rick Ingli, sr., 6-5, F; Corey Blaedorn, jr., 6-3, F.

* Bosshart, Mitch Webster and Ingli are returning starters.

* Mitch Webster leads the team in scoring at 12.6 points per game – fifth in the conference.

* Hinzman on the game: “It’s going to take us being focused, getting rebounds and knocking down free throws. That will be a big part of the game – rebounds and free throws. We have to play good defense. Tyler Bosshart’s a good ballplayer and they’ve got some size inside, so we have to make sure we come ready to play.”

* Elmwood loves to push the tempo and get up and down the floor. Spring Valley isn’t opposed to running but the Cardinals also play their share of half-court games. If both teams want to play transition basketball, this one could get very entertaining.

“I think the kids are comfortable pushing the ball,” Spring Valley coach Rob Bosshart said. “Depending on the lineup we have out there at a specific time, that’s what we want to do. If they want to run, it could be an exciting game. But if you want to run, you have to rebound and play defense.”

* Defense and rebounding were among the first words out of both coaches’ mouths Wednesday when I asked them about the upcoming game. Another thing they were in complete agreement on was how interesting the Dunn-St. Croix has been this season without one dominant team.

Bosshart: “It does make it tougher. You don’t have any night where you feel like you can relax in your preparation. On the other side, it’s exciting because you have to play well, which is what you want to do anyway. It’s exciting to go home and check the scoreboard and see who beat who. It’s been a fun league to follow.”

Hinzman: “It’s been exciting. There’s no true standout team, which makes it fun and exciting. At the same time, it makes you better because you’re challenged every night.”

That's all for now. See you Saturday in Spring Valley.

- Joe Ziemer