Division 4 Sectional 4: Predictions

Brady Peterson October 9, 2022 @ 03:11 PM

<p>Now that there is a day in between rankings content, I can spend a day previewing another sectional. Sectional four division four's champion last year was Laconia. However, there is a new layout to this conference, which may make it the most unpredictable sectional in the state. Let's meet some contenders.</p>   <h2>State Contenders</h2>   <p><strong>Randolph</strong></p>   <p>The most significant change of the upcoming season is Randolph moving up to D4. The Rockets dominated their way to a D5 state title and a 31-0 record a season ago. Future UW-Milwaukee Panther [player_tooltip player_id='264942' first='Jorey' last='Buwalda'] dominated the D5 ranks and was far and away the best kid in that division at the Resch Center. Some of the schools in this sectional have the size to compete with her, so it'll be interesting to see how the Rockets' postseason plays out.</p>   <p><strong>Laconia</strong></p>   <p>The Spartans were my favorite team at the state tournament last March. [player_tooltip player_id='342096' first='Tierney' last='Madigan'], [player_tooltip player_id='448258' first='Payton' last='Morgan'], Molly Duel, and [player_tooltip player_id='375953' first='Aubrey' last='Leonard'] were all freshmen who flew around defensively and could knock down perimeter jumpers. 6-foot-0 Callista VandeBerg may be the x-factor on the Spartan season. If she can handle the physicality of Buwalda, this team has the talent to return to the Resch. The possible matchup between Randolph and Laconia in a sectional-semifinal already seems destined, but who knows. Anything can happen.</p>   <h2>Sectional Teams</h2>   <p><strong>The Prairie School</strong></p>   <p>The Hawks lost last season to Racine Lutheran in a sectional semifinal, and they probably think they could've gone further. [player_tooltip player_id='374228' first='JJ' last='Barnes'] is one of the most talented 2025s in the region and will be a prominent factor in this sectional.</p>   <p><strong>Dominican</strong></p>   <p>Last season, the Knights made the D3 state tournament and now find themselves in D4. [player_tooltip player_id='156091' first='Alicia' last='Burgos'] is one of the better forwards in the 2023 state class and forced her will onto eventual champions, Waupun. The Knights will also return some talent and add an intriguing 2026 guard to this team. This team is a sleeper but could rise above the rest this season.</p>   <h2>Frisky Regional Teams</h2>   <p><strong>Sheboygan Lutheran</strong></p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='374230' first='Addy' last='Verhagen'] is one of the most fun players to watch play in the state. Her ability to create is second to none. However, this team struggled against Randolph in D5 last season and will have to get through either them or Laconia to make the sectional rounds. However, I wouldn't be surprised if they found a way through their bloodbath of a subsectional.</p>   <p><strong>New Holstein</strong></p>   <p>The Huskies lost to Kiel in a game where they'll think they didn't play anywhere near their best. [player_tooltip player_id='329557' first='Grace' last='Schisel'] is heading into her senior season, and her shooting could end a team's season prematurely.</p>   <h2>My Sectional Predictions</h2>   <ol><li>Randolph</li><li>Laconia</li><li>Dominican</li><li>The Prairie School</li></ol>

Now that there is a day in between rankings content, I can spend a day previewing another sectional. Sectional four division four's champion last year was Laconia. However, there is a new layout to this conference, which may make it the most unpredictable sectional in the state. Let's meet some contenders.