Baraga Vikings (2024-25 season: 15-7 overall, 8-3 conference, t-4th)
Daniel Connor gives the Vikings some of the only real interior presence in the conference. The 6'5" forward was an Elite Team selection in the conference as a junior, and All-UP 2nd team. Joseph Fish and Landon Smith both return after being named to All-UP Honorable Mention (Smith made Honorable Mention All-Conference as well). Fish and Smith are both listed at 6'2", giving more size to go with the 6'5" post (Daniel Connor). If they can replace Nolan Hendrickson's production, they could push for a top three position in conference.
Bessemer Speedboys (2024-25 season: 16-10 overall, 7-4 conference, 6th)
The Speedboys got hot to end the season and won six straight games before falling to Crystal Falls Forest Park, who made it to the State Semi-Finals. They beat all three teams who tied for the conference title in that stretch (Dollar Bay, Ewen-Trout Creek, and Wakefield-Marenisco). 6'3" Leland Hollenbeck was a 2nd-Team All-Conference selection as a junior. Jayden Verrett and Cayden Harju were both Honorable Mention All-Conference as sophomores. If they can carry momentum over from the end of the season, they could be a dark horse to win the league.
Chassell Panthers (2024-25 season: 4-19 overall, 1-10 conference, t-10th)
After a tough season, the Panthers do have two All-Conference selections returning from last season, Brayden Larson and Grady Olson. They did graduate one other All-Conference selection, Thomas Loukus. Loukus also happened to be their lone senior on the roster. They had a total of five players on the roster who were freshman or eighth graders.
Dollar Bay Blue Bolts (2024-25 season: 20-5 overall, 9-2 conference, t-1st)
Their best players last season were juniors and sophomores, that gives them a ton of experience coming back. The Blue Bolts had a tremendous turn around, improving their win total by 10 from 2023-2024 to 2024-2025. Liam Tourtillott and Calen Kentala were 1st-Team All-Conference selections, with Baron Colbert being named to the 2nd-Team. Bessemer beat them in overtime to end their season early, but I assume they will be ready to defend the title.
Ewen-Trout Creek Panthers (2024-25 season: 17-6 overall, 9-2 conference, t-1st)
Graduating two 1st-Team All-Conference selections is tough for anyone (Austin Gordon - Conference MVP & Caden Besonen - Conference DMVP). Brody Majurin is the lone All-Conference selection remaining on the team. The sophomore guard is going to have to become a leader quickly to replace the previous names. E-TC is known for their basketball, so I'm sure they have some other young players ready to step in and contribute. It might be tough in a year where other teams have a ton of experience coming back, but expect them keep themselves in the mix.
Jeffers Jets (2024-25 season: 7-16 overall, 5-6 conference, 7th)
Graduated their only All-Conference selection in Landon Larson from last season. Jeffers has been consistent at the top of the conference in recent years, so it's tough to imagine a world where they aren't in the top half of the conference. With that being said, most of those years they have had a known player on the roster returning. Could this be the year they are in a bit of a rebuild?
Ironwood Red Devils (2024-25 season: 14-7 overall, 8-3 conference, t-4th)
Two All-UP selections graduated from last season, Axton Ruotsala and Nick Miskovich. Along with them, All-Conference selection Landon Buerger graduated. Brendan McCullough is their returning All-Conference selection, and stands at 6'2".
L'Anse Purple Hornets (2024-25 season: 10-14 overall, 4-7 conference, t-8th)
Started last season out with a four game winning streak, even got to a 5-1 record. Unfortunately, they ended the season losing 11 out of their last 13 games. Now sophomore, L'Anse was a young team last season, with two freshman being some of their biggest contributors. Now sophomore, Sam Lee was an All-UP 2nd-Team selection. Returning Keegan Davidson (senior) and Talan Larson (sophomore) were All-UP Honorable Mention last season. I'm not sure they are ready to compete for a conference title, but they should move up slightly.
Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes (2024-25 season: 2-21 overall, 1-10 conference, t-10th)
Josh Daavettila was a 1st-Team All-Conference selection, even with the Lakes struggles last season. He was the only All-Conference selection for the team. Even with Daavettila back as a junior, it seems that size and depth are going to be major concerns for Lake Linden-Hubbell. It will be a younger group with more than likely only three upperclassmen.
Ontonagon Gladiators (2024-25 season: 7-16 overall, 4-7 conference, t-8th)
Jack Nelson was an All-Conference selection last season and returns for the Gladiators. Unfortunately they two other selections in Jerry Majurin and Carson Uotila.
Wakefield-Marenisco Cardinals (2024-25 season: 14-10 overall, 9-2 conference, t-1st)
All-Conference selection Chase Lane comes back for his junior season. He was also an All-UP Special Mention selection last season. They do return one other All-Conference selection in Brock Pangrazzi, a 6'4" sophomore forward. Pat Perron was their other All-Conference selection, but he graduated. A scorer and some height makes for a good combination in the conference.
Watersmeet Nimrods (2024-25 season: 4-17 overall, 1-10 conference, t-10th)
It wasn't a great season for Watersmeet, and now you add in that they lost their only All-Conference selection in Blake Shively.
Projections:
1. Dollar Bay
2. Wakefield-Marenisco
3. Baraga
4. Bessemer
5. L'Anse
6. Ewen-Trout Creek
7. Ironwood
8. Jeffers
9. Chassell
10. Lake Linden-Hubbell
11. Ontonagon
12. Watersmeet
Conference Overview:
Dollar Bay has the momentum from last season, if it can carry over they should be a tough out with this senior class. Wakefield-Marenisco, Baraga, Bessemer, and L'Anse all have talented players returning that should all be impactful enough for their teams to compete at the top. In that order is mostly based on how much proven talent they have returning. The next wave is teams that lost a lot of talent. Ewen-Trout Creek should be able to manage to stay in the top half of the conference. Ironwood always seems to find players that keep them competitive. Jeffers just doesn't have that returning dominating person that they usually have. The last wave of teams is kind of the unproven group. Chassell and Lake Linden-Hubbell have returning players, but their teams struggled last season. Ontonagon and Watersmeet both struggled, but both lost talent from last year.
Conference MVP: Liam Tourtillott (Senior) - Dollar Bay
Other Players to Watch:
Daniel Connor (Senior) - Baraga
Leland Hollenbeck (Senior) - Bessemer
Caleb Kentala (Senior) - Dollar Bay
Chase Lane (Junior) - Wakefield-Marenisco
Sam Lee (Junior) - L'Anse
Games to Watch:
Ironwood @ Hurley (12/4/25)
Munising @ Bessemer (12/5/25)
Powers North Central vs. Baraga @ Michigan Tech (12/30/25)
Houghton @ Dollar Bay (1/9/26)
Calumet @ L'Anse (2/2/26)
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