Sectional 2 Division 2: Predictions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Following our look at sectional one yesterday, we move on to sectional two today. This sectional hosted the eventual champion of division two, Notre Dame. However, Beaver Dam gave them a game in the sectional final but fell short due to second-half turnovers. Although these teams return most of their roster, other teams in sectional two are capable of making a run. Let's meet some of the teams in sectional two.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":1} --> <h2>State Contenders</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notre Dame</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tritons have won back-to-back state titles and return all but two kids to their rotation. Star sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='209880' first='Gracie' last='Grzesk'], [player_tooltip player_id='209879' first='Trista' last='Fayta'], and [player_tooltip player_id='209882' first='Sydney' last='Whitehouse'] return following an impressive AAU run with [program_tooltip program_id='712778' first='Purple' last='Aces'], defeating multiple EYBL teams this past summer. [player_tooltip player_id='338948' first='Peyton' last='Musial'] returns, likely receiving a more prominent role for the Tritons. The Tritons also get back [player_tooltip player_id='157533' first='Hope' last='Barington'] after a solid summer, which resulted in multiple college offers. The main question surrounding this team is; how will they replace UW-Oshkosh freshman Sarah Hardwick? They won't have that clear five that they had last season. However, Grzesk is more than capable of taking the exact role that Hardwick had, but it may limit her all-around game because she's much more than a screener, interior defender, and scorer. Fayta will continue to run the high-level offense for the Tritons, and Whitehouse and Barington will hustle and create extra possessions all year. If we're to have a new champion in division two, it'll likely involve beating Notre Dame.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Beaver Dam</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Golden Beavers have all the right to believe they should've beaten Notre Dame in the sectional final. They were the better team in the first half of that game, but their Achilles heel was turnovers, and that's what did them in. The Golden Beavers only lost one rotation player to graduation and have back their entire starting five. However, the Golden Beavers already have questions regarding their health. With some key figures' health in question heading into the season, Beaver Dam will look for new contributors in their absence. Senior Maddi Kuenzi will have to take another step in her playmaking and scoring, along with fellow senior Bella Oestriecher. Both have shown they can be that player in spurts but need to add consistency. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='264946' first='Kylie' last='Wittnebel'] has to finish better around the basket. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='533067' first='Nataya' last='Donaldson'] could be the x-factor for this team this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":1} --> <h2>Sectional Teams</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Watertown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Goslings dropped to division 2 and could compete to play in a sectional final. They nearly beat Beaver Dam late last season, and their 1-3-1 zone will give teams problems. Drew Henrichs and [player_tooltip player_id='209604' first='Ellie' last='Demet'] are athletic wings who can make tough shots.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West De Pere</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Phantoms' backcourt of sophomores of [player_tooltip player_id='329595' first='Ella' last='Francois'] and [player_tooltip player_id='448251' first='Faith' last='Walder'] and senior [player_tooltip player_id='329540' first='Katie' last='Waukau'] can compete with any backcourt in division two. Last season this group may have been too young to make that step in contention, but this season could be a year where West De Pere surprises some teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cedarburg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Losing Claire Deiner will change how this team plays, but it may work for this team. The Bulldogs have talented guards like [player_tooltip player_id='156097' first='Reagan' last='Pahl'], [player_tooltip player_id='266999' first='Mary' last='Stroebel'], [player_tooltip player_id='425371' first='Mimi' last='Hart'], Ella Rollison, and [player_tooltip player_id='361396' first='Hannah' last='Somorin']. They should take care of the ball and defend the perimeter well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":1} --> <h2>Frisky Regional Teams</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fox Valley Lutheran</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, the Foxes went to sectionals but ended up being knocked out by Notre Dame. [player_tooltip player_id='156096' first='Emily' last='Jaenke'] is the reigning 3-point champion in Wisconsin, and anytime she makes shots, this team is dangerous.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grafton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Black Hawks have talented guards who can make shots and create. This team can compete at the top of the North Shore Conference. I need to see them beat sectional-level teams to put them in that category, but they have the talent to play in sectionals this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":1} --> <h2>My Sectional Teams</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol><li>Notre Dame</li><li>Beaver Dam</li><li>Watertown</li><li>West De Pere</li></ol> <!-- /wp:list -->