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WBCA D2 Boys All-State

03/16/2012, 4:00pm CDT
By WSN

Wally Ellenson of Rice Lake, Matt Thomas of Onalaska and Joe Tagarelli of Waunakee are unanimous selections on the Wisconisn Basketball Coaches Association Division 2 All-State team.

Ellenson an extremely athletic 6-foot-5 senior wing guard who has signed with Minnesota, averaged 21.3 points per game while leading Rice Lake to a 23-2 record and the championship of the Big Rivers Conference. A smooth athlete who loves to attack the basket in transition, Ellenson often finishes above the rim with thunderous one-handed dunks.

Thomas (6-4) joins Ellenson as a repeat first-team all-state pick from a year ago. Known for his unmatched ability to stroke perimeter jump shots, Thomas is averaging 21.3 ppg and led Onalaska to the title in the Mississippi Valley Conference and a spot in the WIAA State Tournament. One of the state’s top class of 2013 prospects, Thomas has scholarship offers from Iowa State, Minnesota, Virginia and Wisconsin, among others.

Tagarelli (6-6) had a breakout season for Waunakee after being the sixth man for the Warriors a year ago. He averaged 19.9 ppg and led the school to yet another title in the Northern Division of the Badger Conference. Tagarelli will join the Milwaukee basketball program as a preferred walkon in the fall.

The rest of the first team includes Onalaska senior Nick Arenz, Milwaukee Pius XI senior Carrington Love, Milwaukee Washington junior Jamaar McKay, Madison Edgewood senior Austin Arians, DeForest senior Brandon Staffeil, Pulaski junior Cody Wichmann and Kaukauna senior Jason Miller.

Arenz (6-8), who has signed with Green Bay, came back from a torn anterior crcuciate ligament injury his junior year to have a solid season for Onalaska. He averaged 11.2 ppg and led the team in rebounding at 5.0 rpg.

Love (6-1), who accepted a scholarship offer from Green Bay coach Brian Wardle in early March, shot 61 percent from the field while averaging a team-best 18.5 ppg. He handed out a team-best 134 assists while leading the Popes to the title in the Classic Eight Conference.

McKay (6-3) earned first-team all-league honors in the Milwaukee City Conference and led the Purgolders in scoring at 17.1 ppg. He scored a career-high 35 points in a loss to league champion Milwaukee Rufus King.

Arians (6-5), who has signed with Milwaukee, is a dynamic long-distance shooter who has improved his overall athleticism and defense. A three-year varsity performer for the Crusaders, Arians averaged 17.2 ppg to lead the team.

Staffeil (6-5), who will play college basketball at NCAA Division III power Massachusetts Institute of Technology, shot 58 percent from the field and led DeForest in both scoring (19.2 ppg) and rebounding (9.3 rpg).

Wichmann (6-5) is an outstanding shooter with excellent size and solid athleticism. He has scholarship offers from both Green Bay and Milwaukee, among others, and led the Red Raiders in scoring at 15.3 ppg.

Miller (6-5) was chosen as the Player of the Year in the Fox Valley Association after helping the Ghosts capture the league championship by three games over runner-up Kimberly. He led the balanced scoring attack for Kaukauna at 15.7 ppg.

WBCA D2 All-State
Nick Arenz, Sr., Onalaska
Austin Arians, Sr., Madison Edgewood
Wally Ellenson, Sr., Rice Lake *
Carrington Love, Sr., Milwaukee Pius XI
Jamaar McKay, Jr., Milwaukee Washington
Jason Miller, Sr., Kaukauna
Brandon Staffeil, Sr., DeForest
Joe Tagarelli, Sr., Wauankee *
Matt Thomas, Jr., Onalaska *
Cody Wichmann, Jr., Pulaski

Honorable Mention
Jake Heuer, Sr., Beaver Dam
Larry Fitzgerald, Sr., Milwaukee Pius XI
Chris Golden, Sr., Wisconsin Lutheran
Stephen Pelkofer, Sr., Whitnall
Dan Sidesky, Sr., New Berlin West
Charles Wardell, Sr., Milwaukee Northwest

* Denotes unanimous selection

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