By Jennifer Eisenbart
Sports editor
When the Burlington High School boys basketball team made it to the WIAA Division 1 sectional tournament in 2010, Eric Gerber was a wide-eyed sophomore, moved up to varsity midway through the season.
When the Demons made it back this season, Gerber was a steely-eyed senior – and the experience seemed to help.
Gerber leaves the BHS program with two regional titles, and a new honor – that of 2012 All-Area Player of the Year.
Burlington High School coach Steve Berezowitz, whose team finished the season 17-8 overall and won the Southern Lakes Conference title with a 12-2 record, had high praise for the senior.
“Eric had a superb career on the varsity level,” said Berezowitz. “His athleticism allowed us to do many thing both offensively and defensively.
“We will miss Eric’s production, but more importantly we will miss his leadership and willingness to sacrifice for the good of the team.”
After looking up to the juniors and seniors that led the team in Gerber’s sophomore – and junior – season, he found himself having to step up and be a leader this season.
“You obviously have to be smart,” he said. However, he downplayed his own accomplishments by adding, “it wasn’t so much me as the team coming together.”
A first-team SLC pick and also the league’s Player of the Year, Gerber averaged 14.5 points per game in spite of battling an injury in the second half of the season.
He also had 6.2 rebounds per game, 2.1 assists per game and 1.5 steals per game.
While the Demons picked up the regional title with a win over Franklin, a slow start against Mukwonago cost the squad any real chance at a victory in the sectional semifinals.
Typical of a leader, though, all Gerber would say was, “they hit their shots, and ours didn’t fall.”
He was also pleased with the improvement he saw in his teammates throughout the year.
“Just from where we were at the beginning of the season … we got there and we won,” Gerber said.
First Team
Chris Benavides, jr., Waterford Union High School: Waterford coach Mickey Mala said Benavides blossomed into “one heck of a basketball player” throughout the season.
“Easily our most versatile player both offensively and defensively,” Mala said. “Chris’s best asset is his rebounding – more specifically, his offensive rebounding.
“He averaged nearly four offensive rebounds a game and led the conference in that category, too,” Mala added. “He is such a quick jumper and has a natural nose for the ball.”
Benavides averaged eight points and seven rebounds a game, and was a second-team All-SLC selection.
Carson Biedrzycki, jr., Burlington High School: The only non-senior starter for the Demons, Biedrzycki did just about everything for the Demons.
“Carson had an outstanding junior season,” said Berezowitz. “Carson has worked very hard to become the level of player he has become. His ability both offensively and defensively to play a variety of positions gave us some nice alternatives on both sides of the ball.”
A second-team All-SLC pick, Biedrzycki averaged 11.9 points per game and 4.1 rebounds per game.
He also finished the season with 40 3-point baskets – averaging 1.6 from long range per game.
Dustin Schindler, sr., Waterford Union High School: Mala called Schindler the “heart and soul of our team.”
“He was our unquestioned go-to guy down low and also had the moxie to stick some very big perimeter jump shots for us,” Mala said. “Dustin always rose to the challenge and often had his best games against the highest quality opponents.”
Schindler averaged 11.5 points and five rebounds per game, earning All-SLC first-team honors. But perhaps more important than the statistics were the leadership qualities he showed, as he played through a hand injury from the football season.
“Not once did he ever use his hand as an issue,” Mala said.
Brett Van Vreede, sr., Union Grove Union High School: Just 6-1, Van Vreede showed throughout the year he had the talent to hang with the best.
“Brett had a great season,” said Union Grove coach Dave Pettit. “He was our leader in scoring and a huge part of our transition game.
“Brett is one of the best we’ve coached at getting to the rim in transition,” Pettit added. “His athleticism allowed him to get to the basket quite easily and his body control allowed him to finish at the rim.”
Van Vreede was a first-team All-SLC pick, averaging 14.4 points per game and four rebounds per game – leading the Broncos in both categories. He also averaged 1.5 assists per game and a steal each contest as well.
Second Team
Tim Peterson, sr., Burlington High School: Peterson proved to be an all-around player for the Demons, filling not only an offensive hole, but improving on defense as well.
“Tim’s improvements on the defensive end allowed us to put him on the opponent’s most versatile perimeter player,” Berezowitz said. “In addition, his ability to creat on offense created numerous issues for our opponents.”
Peterson averaged 10.1 points per game for the Demons – mainly coming from beyond the arc – but also had 4.0 rebounds per game, 2.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He was a second-team All-SLC pick.
Nick Reda, sr., Burlington High School: Reda missed half the season recovering from a torn ACL suffered during the off-season, but when he returned, he immediately stepped in as the team’s point guard.
“The past two season, Nick has given us the very important aspect of stability at the point guard position,” said Berezowitz. “His leadership and solid play solidified our offensive and defensive philosophy.”
Reda averaged 7.2 points per game and 2.8 rebounds, but an all-important 4.4 assists per game.
Jake Steffens, sr., Waterford Union High School: At point guard for the second consecutive season for the Wolverines, Steffens still averaged nine points per game for Waterford.
“(He) had the firmest command on what we wanted to do and was very good at keeping ‘on point,’” said Mala. “When he was off the floor, you could definitely tell we were a different, more ragged team.
“I am very proud of the work Jake has put into his game and to see him have as much success as he did this year and in his career is a tribute to his off-season work and undying love for the game.”
Steffens was an honorable mention pick for the All-SLC squad.
Abel Wagner, sr., Catholic Central High School: While the Hilltoppers struggled to a 9-15 record this season, Wagner was one of the reasons why the Hilltoppers won those nine games.
“Abel was Mr. Everything for Catholic Central this year,” said coach Eric Henderson. “We are certainly to miss Abel’s passion and love for the game of basketball.”
Wagner finished the season averaging 11.9 points per game for the Hilltoppers – the team’s best mark. He also averaged 6.1 rebounds per game, plus 1.5 steals and 1.1 assists per game.
“When we needed some help in the post, he played there,” Henderson said. “When we struggled bringing the ball up the floor against pressure, he played point guard.”
Matt Wolff, sr., Union Grove Union High School: The Broncos’ starting point guard for the last two seasons, Pettit called Wolff the “spark plug” of his team’s offense.
“He started the transition game, and was one of the leaders in our half-court game,” Pettit said. “Matt controlled the tempo of the game and could break down almost any defender off the dribble.
“He was our leader on and off the floor and led our team in minutes played.”
Wolff, a second-team All-SLC pick, averaged nine points per game, 3.1 rebounds per game and 3.6 assists per game. He also averaged 1.6 steals per game.
Honorable mention
Zach Fisher, sr., Waterford Union High School; Ty Dennis, jr., Burlington High School; Grayson Catania, sr., Union Grove Union High School; Colin Foote, sr., Catholic Central High School.
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