Two seniors from the River Falls High School basketball team, Michael Schurman and Ethan Campbell received First-Team and Second- Team All-Conference honors respectively for their play throughout the 2021-22 season.

Schurman and Campbell served as one of the best guard/big man duos in the Big Rivers Conference this season. Their efforts propelled River Falls to a 20-6 overall record, including an 11-3 record in Big Rivers action. Their impressive record in conference play trailed only Eau Claire Memorial’s 13-1 record.

Throughout the season, Schurman served as the ball-in-hand point guard that generated most of the Wildcats’ offense through his ability to pass and get downhill. River Falls head coach Zac Campbell spoke about Schurman’s selection to the First-Team All-Conference squad.

“So much of those (all-conference selections) revolve around points per game numbers, but really, Michael (Schurman’s) is about efficiency and it was nice to see the coaches in our league acknowledge that,” Zac Campbell said. “I believe he finished shooting 57% from the field and taking care of the basketball is the number one thing in high school basketball.”

Part of Schurman’s ability to shoot a high percentage as a point guard is in his ability to get going to the basket. He’s a dynamic slasher that can finish and can also play make while he’s attacking.

“The whole key to him is balance,” Zac Campbell said. “When he stays on balance around the rim, he finishes it really well. His first step is extremely quick and with his length at 6’2” you can run offensively through him.”

In addition to being River Falls’ floor general facilitating the offense, Schurman is a tenacious defender that is almost universally guarding the other team’s best player on a nightly basis. Zac Campbell spoke about what Schurman does on the defensive end of the floor.

“He typically defends the other team’s best player,” Zac Campbell said of Schurman. “We talk about his numbers, but the best part of his game is something that you can’t see on the stat sheet.”

Schurman’s defense was key in the Wildcats’ impressive season. But he also filled up the stat sheet. He finished the season averaging 11.7 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game and 3.4 assists per game, the last of which was a teamhigh average for the season.

In addition to Schurman, his dynamic-duo included the aforementioned senior forward Ethan Campbell, who earned Second-Team All-Conference honors. He finished the year averaging 11.9 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per game, both of which were team-high marks for the year. Zac Campbell spoke about Ethan Campbell’s Second-Team All-Conference accolade.

“(Ethan’s) jump from middle school up to varsity was what it’s like to live the process,” Zac Campbell said of Ethan Campbell. “There are so many guys that want to be good but can’t fathom or understand what it takes to do it. He was a B-team player in middle school.”

When Ethan Campbell was a B-team player in his middle school years, he dedicated himself to the weight room and the gym and as that happened, he began to transform what he looked like and what he produced on the field.

“We saw his success in football and his work in the weight room and the gym, he’s a byproduct of the process,” Zac Campbell said. “He was willing to commit what it takes and was all-in all the time. His results of being a second-team player is a byproduct of his work.”

Zac Campbell spoke about how difficult it is to make the all-conference team. Not only in the Big Rivers but high school basketball in general. The spots are limited and there are usually more than enough deserving players.

“It’s so hard to make all-conference in basketball,” Zac Campbell said. “Only 12 people make it. In baseball, it’s 22 or 23 people and in football, I believe it’s 48 or something like that. Only 12 guys get acknowledged in our league.”

While Ethan Campbell was a solid player throughout the season, he played the best when the games mattered most. In games against Big Rivers opponents, Ethan shot a ridiculous 44% from the three-point line. He also averaged over 3 offensive rebounds per game. He also averaged 2.5 rebounds more per game than any other player on the roster.

“To have a guy that can space the court and be able to control the glass, that makes him a complete player,” Zac Campbell said of Ethan Campbell’s overall game.

The Wildcats will be in a familiar spot next season, as they graduate four starting seniors this May, the same situation that happened going into the 2021-22 season. Schurman as a First-Team All-Conference player and Ethan Campbell as a Second-Team All-Conference player are going to be large shoes to fill.

However, River Falls did it last season and based on the culture of that program, nothing is stopping the Wildcats from bouncing back again for the 2022-23

River Falls senior Ethan Campbell takes a three from the top of the key during a home game against New Richmond earlier this season. Campbell received Second-Team All-Conference honors for his play throughout the 2021-22 season. Photo by Reagan Hoverman