Brone headlines for G-E-T squad hoping to be among Coulee’s best
In his first three years with the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau boys basketball team, point guard Mason Brone has been a part of the starting lineup. Throughout that time, his role has continuously evolved — from a complementary player as a freshman to the team’s second-leading scorer as a sophomore and finally taking center stage for the Red Hawks as a junior.
Heading into his senior season, Brone will assume even more responsibilities and a larger leadership role, as he completes his journey from facilitator to focal point for a G-E-T squad aiming to fight to be among the Coulee Conference’s best.
“(Brone) is one of the best players in the area,” said Ian Anderson, who enters his second year as G-E-T’s head coach. “Mason can score, set up his teammates and play great defense. He’s an all-around player and a leader of the team.”
Brone, a first-team all-conference selection last year after averaging 19.2 points and 6.7 assists per game, leads a group of four returnees with significant varsity experience heading into the 2025-26 season. The Red Hawks posted a 16-9 record last winter, finishing in a tie for second in the Coulee standings and seeing their season end with a home loss to Berlin in the regional semifinals.
The departing seniors from that most recent G-E-T team included second-leading scorer Jackson Burns (13.5 points per game), third-leading scorer Brecken Ebersold (10.5 ppg) and defensive lynchpin Kyle Seiling.
“Replacing their scoring and their rebounding, especially on the defensive end, will be extremely important for us this year,” Anderson said.
In addition to Brone, the Red Hawks also return another senior starter in Travis Theisen, a 6-foot-7 forward who Anderson says will take on bigger roles on both ends of the floor and brings “size, length and increased athleticism in addition to his three-point shooting.”
Junior forward Luke Herman and sophomore guard Talon Fabian each worked their way into meaningful roles in the G-E-T rotation by the end of last season, and they are both set to make the next leap by joining the starting lineup.
“Luke is a phenomenal rebounder and finisher around the rim and brings an improved offensive skillset from last season,” Anderson said. “Talon, like Travis, will take on a bigger role in addition to being a three-point specialist and has shown growth, physically and with his game. If those three and others can continue to improve around Mason, we can be very good.”
Brone, Theisen, Herman and Fabian in the starting lineup is what Anderson knows for certain going into the season. That final starting spot and the other four main spots in the Red Hawks’ regular rotation will be determined on a “night-by-night basis” depending on who is playing well, according to Anderson.
Senior guards Mitchell Thell and Carter Giemza provide a boost of backcourt depth, while a trio of juniors are in line to round out the main rotation: guard Sam De Jager, forward Kane Waletzko and center Sawyer Foust.
Senior center AJ Johnson, sophomore forward Bo Sebion, junior guard Isaiah Carroll, junior guard Andrew Lebakken and freshman forward Brady Hansen finish up the varsity roster for G-E-T.
“Our greatest strength is Mason’s experience and skillset, and the offensive talent we have around him,” Anderson said. “The team speed, athleticism and shooting are all at high levels. We should be able to move the ball well and get a lot of good shots. Our biggest question mark is defensive rebounding. It was an issue at times last year, and now we will be smaller height-wise than before.”
Anderson did not want to put a specific record or length of a potential playoff run forward as the expectations for this group, but he did note that they hope to be in the mix for a conference title when February rolls around and to earn themselves a high seed for the postseason.
With a star senior point guard and a revamped supporting cast, there’s reason for optimism that another successful winter on the hardcourt could be in store for the Red Hawks.
