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Appleton East - The Patriots are making a strong follow-up to last year's state tournament appearance with a 10-0 start, including a 7-0 record in the month of December. With a win Tuesday night against Oshkosh North, they are 7-0 in the rough and tumble Fox Valley Association. The preseason favorite in the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook, Appleton East has now beaten the teams picked to finish in spots 2 through 7, giving them a firm grip on the conference race in the first portion of the season. Perhaps their most impressive win was a 55-52 comeback victory at Neenah, where the Patriots trailed by six entering the fourth quarter. A non-conference win against Seymour at the Shawano Classic over the holiday break further cemented their status as one of the state's top teams, something echoed in the polls where East is ranked #2 in Division 1 in the WSN/WBCA Coaches Poll.

New Richmond - The defending Middle Border champions were tabbed the preseason favorites again this year, and have picked up some big early wins to put themselves in the driver's seat once again. In addition to wins over three Big Rivers teams earlier in the season, the Tigers scored a 60-57 win over MBC contender Baldwin-Woodville on December 17th. Riley Kannel led the way with 17 while Cody Taubmann and Darren O'Flanagan were also in double-figures. Just four days later, New Richmond took on yet another Big Rivers team in previously undefeated Rice Lake. The trio of Kannel, Taubmann, and O'Flanagan once again led the way to a 57-48 victory.

Oostburg - The Flying Dutchmen have jumped out to an 8-0 start (6-0 in the Central Lakeshore), including a 6-0 mark in December. They have league wins at Ozaukee and at Howards Grove, the two teams picked behind them in the CLC preseason standings. Perhaps their most eye-opening wins came at the Raider Shootout at Sheboygan North High School over the holiday break. First they knocked off Division 2 Oconomowoc 50-41 before dispatching host Sheboygan North 55-52. Senior forward Mike Keller led the way with 22 points as the Dutchmen beat the then ninth-ranked Division 1 Raiders.

Racine St. Catherine's - Playing one of the most difficult schedules in Division 3 (or any division for that matter), St. Cat's has come through unscathed, sporting a 9-0 record so far, including a 7-0 mark in the month of December. Included in that stretch are three wins over Division 1 programs:  Racine Case, Kenosha Tremper, and West Allis Central as well as last year's Division 2 state champion Catholic Memorial. In the middle of that stretch was a hard-fought 61-56 win over crosstown rival and Division 4's second-ranked team Racine Lutheran. While the loss of All-State performer Steve McWhorter to graduation hurt, the Angels have come together and are the favorite once again in Division 3.

Two Rivers - Picked to finish sixth in the Eastern Wiscosnin Conference in the pre-season, The Purple Raiders have burst out of the gates with an 8-0 record, including a 6-0 mark in the EWC. A 55-42 win at defending league champion Waupun in the third game of the season opened people's eyes and Two Rivers hasn't looked back since. As has been the case all year, balanced scoring was the key in the Waupun game, with eight players getting in the scoring column and seven tallying between 5 and 12 points. They followed that up with a 66-60 victory over Kiel, a state tournament team in Division 2 last year.

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