Garlock, Guerrero and Kann named all-Big 8

Middleton landed three players on the all-Big Eight Conference boys basketball team.

Senior center Will Garlock was named first-team all-conference, while junior guard Jackson Guerrero was named second-team all-league. Guerrero also shared co-Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year honors with Verona’s Cam Williams.

Middleton senior wing Riley Kann was also named honorable mention all-conference.

The 7-foot Garlock, a University of Wisconsin recruit, missed the first seven games of the season while recovering from offseason ankle surgery. Middleton went 2-5 without Garlock and is 12-5 since his return.

Garlock is averaging 13.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and leads the Cardinals with 3.1 assists per game. Garlock, who set the school record in field goal percentage each of the last two years, is shooting 77.3% this season, which would be another new school record.

“He had the injury and missed seven games, then he had seven more with limited minutes,” Middleton coach Kevin Bavery said. “So it’s taken him a while to get where he needs to be.

“But he changes the game as much as anybody out there. He’s a generational player.”

Guerrero has already set a school record with 99 steals this season, breaking the previous mark held by Tyree Eady (76). No one else in the conference had more than 50 steals, meaning Guerrero nearly doubled the runner-up in that category.

“His anticipation is just incredible,” Bavery said of Guerrero. “On and off the ball, he’s the best (defender) we’ve ever had.”

Guerrero’s greatest improvements, though, have come on the offensive end. He leads Middleton in scoring at 13.4 points per game, is shooting 48.8% from the floor and is averaging 2.8 assists per game.

“I thought he should have been first-team all-conference,” Bavery said of Guerrero. “The biggest difference in his game has been on the offensive end.

“He’s gotten a lot stronger, which has helped him with his shooting. And another thing you love as a coach is his demeanor never changes.”

Kann is averaging 13.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. He’s shooting 52.3% from the floor and 75.9% from the free throw line.

“One thing we said at the banquet is how much his body control has changed,” Bavery said of Kann. “The way he can change directions, pivot, and keep possessions alive are all really impressive.

“There’s also a lot of kids that say they want to win, but Riley really wants to win and he’ll pay the price to win. He really is a hate-to-lose kid. He internalizes a lot and takes it personally when we lose.”

Sun Prairie East senior guard Chris Davis, who averages 36.8 points per game and led the Cardinals to the conference title, was the league’s Player of Year. The rest of the first team included Sun Prairie East senior forward Max Raimer, Verona senior wing Drew Murphy, Sun Prairie West senior guard Tyler Haney, Janesville Craig senior post Judson Henkel, Madison West junior guard Michael Wilson, Madison Memorial junior forward Ezra Liggon and Garlock.Steve 

Sun Prairie East's Steve Maselter was named the league's Coach of the Year.

ALL-BIG EIGHT FIRST TEAM

Chris Davis, Sun Prairie East, 6-5, sr.

Max Raimer, Sun Prairie East, 6-4, sr.

Drew Murphy, Verona, 6-5, sr.

Will Garlock, Middleton, 7-0, sr.

Tyler Haney, Sun Prairie West, 6-1, sr.

Judson Henkel, Janesville Craig, 6-8, sr.

Michael Wilson,  Madison West, 6-3, jr.

Ezra Liggon, Madison Memorial, 6-5, jr.

SECOND TEAM

Kamaar Bridges-Miller, Verona, 6-4, sr.

Tavian Crawford, Sun Prairie West, 6-2, sr.

Jackson Guerrero, Middleton, 6-0, jr.

Jamar Jenkins, Janesville Craig, 6-1, jr.

Maurice Jordan, Madison La Follette, 6-1, soph.

Caleb Liggon, Madison Memorial, 6-5, jr.

Cameron Williams, Verona, 6-3, sr.

Ian Wischoff, Madison Memorial, 5-10, sr.

HONORABLE MENTION

Jjaquari Douglas, Janesville Parker, 6-2, sr.

Nolan Duffy, Janesville Craig, 6-6, jr.

Trystan Fry, Sun Prairie East, 6-2, sr.

Max Glusick, Sun Prairie East, 5-8, sr.

Javonte Johnson, Janesville Parker, 6-3, soph.

Donnell Nash, Madison East, 6-3, soph.

Origin Prewitt, Madison La Follette, 5-9, soph.

Riley Kann, Middleton, 6-4, sr.

Aiden Wiley, Madison West, 6-2, sr.

Deb Lumpkin, Madison La Follette, 5-8, sr.

Jawuan Chester, Madison East, soph.