The Prescott boys basketball team will open this Wednesday’s Hastings Tournament against St. Louis Park at 3:30 p.m. The Cardinals will then play either Irondale or Hastings on Thursday. Also on Wednesday in Hastings, the Prescott girls basketball team will play Maranatha Christian Academy (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) at 1:45 p.m. and will then play either Hastings or Irondale on Thursday.

Head boys basketball coach Nick Johnson has referred to the always physical matchups with the two larger Minnesota schools in the Hastings Tournament as a good “measuring stick” for the team.

Prescott wrestlers will compete in the Northern Badger Invitational at River Falls High School this Thursday and Friday, featuring competitors from approximately 50 schools around the state of Wisconsin. Speaking of wrestling, Cardinal senior Benny Olson is now ranked #2 at 106 pounds.

I am not sure if basketball fans have noticed but it appears the Fab 5 long shorts fashion trend has ended. Uniform shorts at all levels are no longer ballooned like MC Hammer pants and hang just above the ankle. The longer shorts era began with NBA icon Michael Jordan and became both longer and baggier with 1990’s college teams at Michigan and Arkansas. Are we moving toward the short shorts era of the 1970’s and 1980’s? Who knows. It all depends on what the professional and college players decide will be the new look. Whatever it is, rest assured Prescott High School basketball players will do the same.

Of course, it’s far too early in the basketball season to do some scoreboard watching. However, my money tells me the Prescott Cardinal boys basketball faithful are doing just that. Undefeated West Salem, the #1 ranked team in Division 3, defeated the #2 ranked team in Division 2 La Crosse Central by a score of 65-56. Another regular season opponent for the Cardinals early next year, #7 ranked Racine St. Catherine’s, is also undefeated at 6-0 and the undefeated Northwestern Tigers have cracked the top 10 and enter the holiday break at #9. There are no Division 3 girls basketball teams from the Amery Sectional ranked in the top 10.

WIAA member schools will be voting this spring on the soon to be released competitive balance proposal by the WIAA Executive Board. Designed to deal with the private school dominance in the lower divisions during tournament play, the proposal includes penalties for schools, both public and private, that have experienced consistent success over the last few years. Understanding the detailed, complex, and head spinning proposal along with its impacts requires the presence of several attorneys, a couple accounting firms, and a member of the WIAA Board of Control.

Some early stats from the basketball season. For the boys, Brandon Stuart is shooting 60.3% from the field, Dallas Wallin 59.6%, and off the bench Mason Schommer is shooting 81.2% from the floor. From the free throw line. Wallin is shooting an impressive 94% and teammate Jordan Malmlov is shooting 90%. Wallin is also averaging 14.8 rebounds per game which is eighth best in the state of Wisconsin. For the girls, Izzy Matzek is shooting 47% from the floor to lead the Cardinals. Lila Posthuma is shooting 83% and Katrina Budworth 77% from the charity stripe. Posthuma is also averaging 9.5 rebounds a game to lead the Cardinals.

Speaking of basketball, Prescott senior guard Jordan Malmlov is closing in on 1,500 career points. Junior Dallas Wallin is on the verge of eclipsing 800 points this week. Head Coach Nick Johnson heads into this week with an overall coaching record of 231-51, an incredible winning percentage of 82%.

Prescott Hall of Fame Nominations are now being accepted for the fall 2023 induction. Nominations forms can be found at https://www.prescott.k12.wi.us/community/ hall-of-fame.cfm. Those deserving of Hall of Fame consideration are to be nominated in one of the categories: Service, Extra Curricular, and Achievement. Hall of Fame Category explanations are described in detail on the nomination form. Nominations are due by June 1, 2023.

Headshaker of the week. Amateur vs. Professional Sports. Let’s look at the transfer portal. Yes, I understand the reasons for providing players with the option of leaving a school, gaining admission to another, and not having to sit out a season. Today, when the portal opens it is a feeding frenzy for both coaches, players, and fans. Whenever a school gets a new commit from the transfer portal, social media explodes with statements like “it is a huge signing,” or “the biggest ‘get’ of the year,” and “University lands top talent,” and so on and so on. It is the college athletics version of free agency. With each passing year the line between professional and college sports becomes fainter and fainter. With NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) it is only a matter of time before sports at all levels will have personal uniforms adorned with advertising for fast food restaurants, construction companies, and convenience stores. The line between amateur and professional sports is becoming blurrier and blurrier each season. It shows no signs of changing. It’s a headshaker.