First Team

Blake Schueller, Sr.,

F, Cedar Mountain

Schueller was the Tomahawk Division Player of the Year this season, averaging 27.3 points, 13.5 rebounds and two blocks per game. He also broke the record for career rebounds at Cedar Mountain with 905 and finished second all-time in points for the Cougar boys with 1,743 points. Schueller was more than just a post player, shooting 37% from 3-point range and 57% overall.

Landon Wendinger, Sr., F, Sleepy Eye

The 6-8 Wendinger finished his career all over the Sleepy Eye record books, holding the school records for rebounds (487), blocks (169) and field goals made (249) in a season, as well as rebounds in a game with 29. Wendinger averaged 21.5 points, 17 rebounds. 5.9 blocks and 1.3 assists per game, collecting a triple-double twice, one with a 37-points, 26-rebound and 10-block game against Mankato Loyola, which is the fifth-highest scoring game in school history. Wendinger sits seventh in MSHSL history in rebounds in a season, seventh in MSHSL history and first in Sleepy Eye history in career blocks (444). He also finished fourth in school history in career points with 1,291 and first in career rebounds with 1,126.

Brayden Sturm, Sr.,

G, Springfield

Sturm earned his third All-Conference selection this season as Springfield’s Team MVP. A do-everything player for the Tigers, Sturm averaged 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists and almost three steals per game. Sturm helped lead Springfield to winning the first-ever Tomahawk-Valley Conference championship and also the section semifinals. He finishes his career with 1,626 points, 725 rebounds, 539 assists and 305 steals.

Kaydon Firchau, Fr.,

G, Madelia

Firchau broke out this season to lead Madelia, averaging 22 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, two steals and a block per game. He had a career-high 44 points in a game against Edgerton while also hauling in 10 rebounds in the contest and had a point differential of +17.4 for a Madelia team that won a school-best 23 wins this season after a 10-win season a year ago. Firchau shot 36.4% from 3 and 57.1% inside the arc. Firchau is the first freshman to make the All-Journal Boys Basketball First Team since Springfield’s Isaac Fink did it after the 2015-2016 season.

Blake Steffl, Sr.,

G, Cedar Mountain

An All-Conference player this year, Steffl averaged 17.3 points and a conference-high 10.5 assists per game. He also was a defensive threat with 3 steals per game. The Cougars’ all-time assists leader with 596, Steffl also finished with 1,400 career points and helped take Cedar Mountain to a section semifinals appearance.

Second Team

Cole Jacobson, Jr.,

G, GFW

Jacobson broke out for his junior season with 24.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2 assists per game to guide the Thunderbirds offense, breaking the school record for points in a season (675) and free throws made in a season (126). An All-Conference player for the second consecutive season, Jacobson reached 1,000 career points and sits at 1,346 for his career, fourth in school history. His 418 rebounds and 170 career steals are also in the top 10 in school history.

Hayden Jones, Sr.,

F, Madelia

Jones passed 1,000 career points this season, averaging 18.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game. A big-time 3-point shooter, Jones shot 36.3% from behind the arc after coming back from a major injury last season, developing into a three-level scorer during an All-Conference season. Jones finishes his career with 1,164 points, ninth-most in Madelia boys basketball history.

Bryan Buerkle, Jr.,

F, Springfield

Buerkle led the 27-win Tigers in scoring this season with 15 points per game. Buerkle also added nearly eight rebounds, almost three assists and 1.1 steals per game. A force in the paint on both offense and defense, Buerkle finished an All-Conference year just 57 points away from 1,000 for his career.

Brayden Guetter, Jr.,

F, Wabasso

Guetter was Wabasso’s Offensive Player of the Year, leading the team in scoring with 17.4 points per game. The 6-6 Guetter also led the team in blocks with 1.4 per game and added 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 1.5 steals per contest. Guetter helped lead the Rabbits to a 15-12 season where they reached the 100-point threshold in two games.

Mitchell Hopp, So.,

G, New Ulm

Hopp led the Eagles this year in scoring with 15.6 points per game. Hopp added 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists with 1.3 steals per game. Hopp was relied upon to take big shots for New Ulm this year, drawing the other team’s top defender on most nights. He was also named an All-Big South Conference Honorable Mention this season.

Third Team

Quintin DeVlaeminck, Sr.,

G, Sibley East

DeVlaeminck was the top scorer for the Wolverines this season, averaging 17.7 points with 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 1.6 assists. He showed a knack for knowing when to shoot and when to drive and also often guarded the opposing team’s quickest player. He was named an All-South Central Conference Second Team player this season.

Carson Kettner, So.,

F, Nicollet

Kettner improved from just a 3-point scorer to being able to score all around the court this year, leading Nicollet with 18 points per game while adding 6 rebounds. Kettner also improved defensively and helped Nicollet improve 14 wins from last season.

George Schwint, Sr.,

F, St. Mary’s

Schwint made the All-Conference team this year after averaging 15 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Schwint also shot 37% from 3-point range and 45% overall with 72% free-throw shooting.

Brayden Heiderscheidt, So., G, Sleepy Eye

A first-time All-Conference player and the lone sophomore to make it for the Tomahawk Division, Heiderscheidt averaged 14.7 points per game, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.1 blocks as well as leading the team with 5 assists per contest. Heidersheidt surpassed 1,000 career points this year with 1,006 and stands fourth all-time for career 3-pointers made at Sleepy Eye with 143, fifth all time in career assists at 281 and second all-time in steals with 187.

Pierson Brau, Fr.,

F, MVL

An All-South Central Conference Second Team player this year, Brau led the Chargers in scoring as a freshman with 11.4 points per game. He also averaged 6 rebounds per game, second most on the team.

Honorable Mention

Adam Steffensmeier, So., G, St. Mary’s (15.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4 apg, 2 spg)

Jake Finstad, Sr., G, Cathedral (14 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.4 spg, 2.2 apg)

Josiah DeMaris, Sr., F, Madelia (10.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.1 apg)

Levi Hopp, So., G, New Ulm (13.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg)

Caden Frericks, So., F, Wabasso (12.8 ppg, 12 rpg)

EDITOR’S NOTE: Only players nominated by area coaches were eligible for All-Journal recognition. There were 34 players nominated this season.

* (U) denotes unanimous selection.