Prescott's talent gives it a shot at league title

• Team picture

Members of the 2012-13 Prescott High School boys basketball team are in the first row (from left to right): Clay Seifert, Marty Harris, Mike Brookshaw, Myles Garvey, Monty Stenroos. In the second row are Jordan Koski, Mike Hovel, Alex Helmer, Garrett Ryan, Justin Leonard. In the third row are Zach Sobolewski, Nick Jacobsen, Joe Haas, Charlie Tayson and Tate Nahorniak. -- Photo by Sean Scallon

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PRESCOTT – Both Clay Seifert and Nick Johnson are hoping to avoid any sophomore jinxes.

Both made big splashes in their first varsity seasons with the Prescott High School boys’ basketball team.

Seifert, as a freshman, was one of team’s leading scorers and helped the Cardinal win a regional title for first-year head coach Johnson.

As sophomores both believe the team has a chance of winning a Middle Border Conference title despite the fact PHS lost quite a bit from last season’s 18-6 squad which finished 10-4 in the Middle Border Conference.

All-MBC players Billy Brookshaw and Mike Lytle both have graduated from PHS along with Logan Johnson, Aric Sandvig and Brian Early.

Prescott is hoping returning players like Seifert, All-MBC honorable mention receiver senior Nick Jacobsen and fellow lettermen senior Mike Hovel, Nick Sobolewski and sophomore Mike Brookshaw can be the core of an MBC title contender.

“The talent is certainly there if they work hard, continue to learn and improve in the game they’ll certainly have that opportunity to compete for the conference championship.” Johnson said. “I think we can have fantastic backcourt play and also be strong in the post too. Depth will be an asset in our favor as I think we can have a 10-person rotation.”

Both Seifert and Jacobsen are returning starters and Johnson lauded the improvement shown by Sobolewski and Hovel coming into this season. Brookshaw looks to inherit the point guard position but the Cards’ will also have juniors Marty Harris and Alex Helmer in the backcourt as well. Prescott is also deep in the front court too with 6-6 sophomore Joe Haas and 6-4 sophomore Charlie Tayson.

“If Nick needs a break or gets in foul trouble and have players in Joe and Charlie who can come off of the bench for him,” Johnson said. “Joe is big kid but he’s very athletic and has a nice touch and Charlie has great potential as well.”

Johnson said the team needs to get more perimeter scoring besides what Seifert can deliver (especially to make up for the loss of Billy Brookshaw and Lytle) and they also need to be able to win away from Prescott High School. All four of PHS’s losses in conference play last season were on the road and on top that they were bad losses and they still have problems in this area losing their season and league opener at Baldwin-Woodville 62-50.

“We’ve got to be able to win on the road, especially against what will be our competition for the championship, teams like Durand, New Richmond and Somerset,” Johnson said. “We will be able to do if we improve in the areas we need to like consistent outside shooting, making free-throws and cutting down on turnovers.”

Tags: sports, basketball, prep, wisconsin