Tis the season! It's hoops time

Today (Nov. 18) marked the release of the Lake Country Publications basketball preview, released in the Mukwonago Chief and Sussex Sun (with issues of the Kettle Moraine Index, Lake Country Reporter, Oconomowoc Focus and WaukeshaNOW to receive copies tomorrow). This marks the beginning of my favorite season -- the weather is crummy, but nothing beats the winter when it comes to high school sports.

For me, an annual rite is perusing through the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbooks, which are on sale at select bookstores and Sentry grocery stores around the state. The hoops gurus take a stab at ranking the top players in the state and also the best teams, and several area teams were given mention.

We reprint some of that material in our section. Here's a look at how the Yearbook sees local teams in their respective conferences, using surveys submitted by coaches and their own estimates:

BOYS

Arrowhead -- 1st in Classic 8 (Defending league champions return five starters, led by 7-foot-1 senior center Ben Mills and senior guards Russell Finco and Andy Fox.)

St. John's Military Academy -- 1st in Midwest Classic Central (The Lancers return three starters from a club that won 20 games a year ago, including top-ranked junior Kevin Mays and promising sophomore Isaiah Gray. Add Muskego transfer D.J. Mlachnik to the mix, and the Lancers are poised for more success.)

Oconomowoc -- 2nd in Wisconsin Little Ten behind Wisconsin Lutheran (Two all-Little Ten Conference performers return for coach Kurt Melton in seniors Paul Williams and Tanner Wensman). PICTURED: Wensman last season. Photo, Russ Pulvermacher

Pewaukee -- 2nd in Woodland Blue behind New Berlin West (The Pirates tied New Berlin Eisenhower for the North Division title last season and return three premier backcourt players in Tyler Hanson, Mike Olewinski and Pat Bacon.)

Lake Country Lutheran -- 3rd in Midwest Classic North (Though the Lightning lack size, guard play figures to be an asset behind the return of Matthew Babel, Mitch Carlson and Jake Bahr.)

Mukwonago -- 4th in Classic 8 (A potent one-two punch led by senior guard Ty Bauschek and junior wing Derek Hasanoglu will be difficult to contain.)

Hamilton -- 4th in Greater Metro (The Chargers' title hopes suffered a severe blow when senior Kameron Cerroni went down with an ACL injury during the football season. Seniors Brett Meinecke and Brian Gryszkiewicz top an experienced group of returning players.)

Kettle Moraine -- 7th in Classic 8 (The Lasers aim for an upper-echelon finish for the fourth straight season in the Classic 8.)

GIRLS

Mukwonago -- 2nd in Classic 8 behind Milwaukee Pius (undefeated conference champion returns three all-conference choices but loses conference Player of the Year Krissy Fehly.)

Pewaukee -- 2nd in Woodland Blue behind Cudahy (seniors Hannah Frett and Shannon Kalamarz will ascend from complimentary players to go-to options and will battle with Cudahy's Taylor Gradinjan, perhaps the league's best player as just a sophomore).

Hamilton -- 3rd in Greater Metro (could be conference's most improved team ... returns second-teamer Steph Kirchner and boasts a tall front line behind new coach Dan Carey.)

Oconomowoc -- 3rd in Wisconsin Little Ten (one of league's most experienced teams, including first-teamer Lindsey Gosh, and will present matchup problems with their size.)

Kettle Moraine -- 4th in Classic 8 (good chance to outperform last year's fourth place effort with large wealth of returnees, including first-teamer Sam Pfeifer and second-teamer Anna Luterbach)

Lake Country Lutheran -- 4th in Midwest Classic North (good balance on offense, though the team will need a secondary scorer to assist Emily Dufek, a returning first-teamer)

Arrowhead -- 5th in Classic 8 (returns three starters and brings a big front line back, along with considerable depth.)