Badger North Conference: Preview

Badger North Conference: Preview <img class="size-medium wp-image-181838 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/06/Preview-300x188.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="188" /> Last year both DeForest and Beaver Dam finished at the top of the conference. Beaver Dam finished first with a 14-0 record while Deforest ended the season 12-2. Each team has been powerhouses in girls basketball for years, so another successful season didn’t surprise many. Beaver Dam returns two First Team All Conference players including Player of the Year and number one player in Prep Girls Hoops rankings, Maty Wilke. [player_tooltip player_id="132356" first="Natalie" last="Jens"] of Beaver Dam will be back to compete as well. Honorable Mention earner [player_tooltip player_id="132352" first="Paige" last="Hodgson"] will also return for Beaver Dam. Defrost lost their top scoring players as their team was stacked with seniors last season. However 2023 standout [player_tooltip player_id="156054" first="Jaelyn" last="Derlein"] has been making noise this summer and will certainly be an impact player this season. Natalie Compe earned Honorable Mention last season and will be back to compete with Deforest. Reedsburg finished fourth last season but may be the sleeper team that sneaks their way up to a top spot this season. Last season the team finished with an 8-6 record. The dynamic duo of [player_tooltip player_id="132388" first="Trenna" last="Cherney"] and [player_tooltip player_id="132374" first="Mahra" last="Wieman"] was exciting to watch and will be even more exciting to watch how their chemistry has improved leading into this season. Both girls earned First Team All Conference last season. Two more sophomores in [player_tooltip player_id="204158" first="Macie" last="Wieman"] and Melissa Dietz should have impact seasons as well. Both earned honorable mention last season. Take a look at the top returning players in the Badger North Conference: Maty Wilke | Beaver Dam | Senior | 5’10 G <img class=" wp-image-132882 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/01/Matyson-Wilke-300x257.jpeg" alt="" width="274" height="235" /> Wilke is the top player in her class and competes like an elite athlete every minute she is on the floor. Last season she averaged 16.7 points and 8 rebounds per game. Wilke is a versatile guard with incredibly high potential. She possesses the ideal size and length of a combo guard. Her ability to create a game for herself is exceptional- she has impressive handles and strength when she gets into the lane. She uses her body well inside but is an impact player when finishing mid range or on the perimeter. She finished third in her conference in scoring as well and made over 40 three point baskets. She added 4.8 assists per game. Wilke is committed to Wisconsin. [player_tooltip player_id="132374" first="Mahra" last="Wieman"] | Reedsburg | Junior | 5’10 G Wieman finished first in scoring last season with 20 points per game. While leading both her team and the Badger- North, Wieman earned a First Team All Conference award. A true scorer, Wieman has a bag full of dribble moves and finish moves at the rim. She can score from all three spots and finished with 35 made three point baskets last season. She is successful going down hill and seems most comfortable in transition play. She consistently put up big numbers for her team and was the go-to player on both ends. Her defensive footwork is there- making her a threat due to her size and speed. She’s tough to stop offensively but even more tough to get by her hard nosed defense. She’s resilient and it shows. [player_tooltip player_id="155760" first="Naomi" last="Breunig"] | Sauk Prairie | Senior | 5’10 G Breunig is such a high ceiling athlete who continues to add more and more to her game. She’s really developed into a three level scorer and a two way standout. Last season she finished second in scoring while averaging 18 points per game. Her ability to get herself open is most impressive- her movement without the ball is going to translate so well at the next level. She has a high motor and high energy on both ends. Breunig thrives in transition play and is an offensive rebounding specialist. She is committed to Winona State. [player_tooltip player_id="155759" first="Julia" last="Magnuson"] | Mount Horeb | Senior | 6’0 F Magnuson is a physical post player with a lot of potential on the paint as well as expanding her game to the perimeter. She’s athletic and confident. She has great size, speed and natural instincts that are aspects one cannot teach. She is becoming a dominant force down low and did well being the go-to offensive threat for her team last season. The First Team All Conference selection finished the season with 14.8 points per game including 24 points in a huge win over Belleville. She has great awareness on the floor and can handle the ball well, someone who was primarily in the paint for her team. Once she continues to add a more diverse set of skills and develop her technical skills, Magnuson will be scary. [player_tooltip player_id="155761" first="Elena" last="Maier"] | Waunakee | Senior | 5’9 G Maier was a role player turned standout last season. She really took on the leadership role and contributed in so many ways. She’s a three level scorer- she can knock it down from deep, attack and pull up or put her head down and finish at the rim. All are impressive to watch and are done with such composure. She understands the flow of the game and doesn’t force much on either end. She can take over a game offensively with her ability to create space and use her teammates to get herself open. She can hit it from deep- Maier made 37 three’s last season. She’s become quite the facilitator as well, with all of the defense’ eyes on Maier, she has learned to find her teammates open. She dished over 55 assists last season. Maier is committed to Kent State.