Players to Watch: Big Eight

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Big Eight was one of the most competitive conferences in the state last season, with Sun Prairie East and Verona sharing the conference title with a 15-3 conference record. However, for different reasons, only two teams played in a sectional semifinal. That'll change this season because I believe there are two legitimate state contenders in the Big Eight. Today, I'll highlight four returners who can impact what the standings look like at the end of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209595' first='Taylor' last='Stremlow']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Verona point guard suffered an injury shortly before the 22-23 season, which changed how the Wildcats played. This season (knock on wood), she'll be healthy and contribute all season. The last high school game that Stremlow played in was a 2021 Division 1 state semifinal game. In that game, the then-freshman recorded 18 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. She's gotten back into a rhythm with [program_tooltip program_id='715882' first='Wisconsin' last='Flight Elite']'s 16u EYBLE team over the summer. I think she will be the key figure in the Big Eight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='157531' first='Avree' last='Antony']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season Antony suffered a knee injury in Sun Prairie East's regional title game against Watertown and will be sidelined until at least the new year. However, her addition to a talented Sun Prairie West roster in 2023 will be intriguing. Even if she's not back to where she was pre-injury, the rising senior is better than most kids in Wisconsin if Antony's 85% of what she was before. With her addition in the second half of the season, watch out for that team in the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209609' first='Mya' last='Nicholson']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, Janesville Craig ended up third in the Big Eight, and they beat Verona and Sun Prairie East on the road early in the season. This team has already shown that they can beat teams in the top half of this conference, and Nicholson is a big reason they compete at the highest level. She's an elite shooter who can get into a rhythm in a hurry and showed that in the last live period for her [program_tooltip program_id='712778' first='Purple' last='Aces'] team. In my opinion, Nicholson is the barometer of the upcoming Cougars' season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='388287' first='Alayna' last='West']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The La Follette guard fits the mold of undersized combo guards that I love to watch. She plays hard, fights for every loose ball, attacks the space on the floor and plays hard whenever she's on the floor. She's one of a short list of guards who can grab 19 rebounds in a game. La Follette lost a talented 2022 class, but West is more than good enough to give teams problems in the top half of the Big Eight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->