Teams Who Didn’t Go to State Last Season, But Could This Season
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Every year a new cycle of teams leaps into contending for a conference, regional, sectional, or state contention. Today, we’ll talk about some groups who fit this bill on the state scale and why they can take home a gold…
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Continue ReadingEvery year a new cycle of teams leaps into contending for a conference, regional, sectional, or state contention. Today, we’ll talk about some groups who fit this bill on the state scale and why they can take home a gold ball this season.
The Prairie School
The Hawks are a relatively new program but have gotten a massive influx of talent over the last few years. Junior Reese Jaramillo Reese Jaramillo 5'9" | SG Prairie | 2024 State WI can stretch the floor for some guards who love to attack the rim. Sophomores JJ Glass-Barnes JJ Glass-Barnes 5'8" | CG The Prairie School | 2025 State WI , and Meg Decker Meg Decker 5'8" | CG The Prairie School | 2025 State WI are some of the most athletic kids in their class and make a bunch of plays on the perimeter. Junior Ava Collier-White Ava Collier-White 5'4" | PG Prairie | 2024 State WI is one of the most intense perimeter defenders in Wisconsin.
Neenah
Everything the Rockets do starts with UConn commit Allie Ziebell Allie Ziebell 5'11" | SG Neenah | 2024 State WI , with good reason. The Rockets pulled off the upset last season against Hortonville and were maybe a year ahead of schedule. Now, the Rockets have a few shooters alongside Ziebell, in seniors Ava Kok Ava Kok 5'6" | CG Neenah | 2023 State WI and Sammie Buss Sammie Buss 5'5" | PG Neenah | 2023 State WI . Those two have had excellent seasons due to the amount of attention the 6-foot wing demands from defenses. What helps Neenah go to the next level is junior Amaya Jones Amaya Jones 6'1" | C Neenah | 2024 State WI , her size and fight around the rim help the Rockets get easy second-chance points, which add up in sectional and state games.
Turtle Lake
Last season, Turtle Lake had a young group that went out of the playoffs in the regional rounds. This season, the Turtles have one of the standouts in D5, Mackenzie Tarman Mackenzie Tarman 6'0" | SF Turtle Lake | 2024 State WI , who reached her 1,000-point milestone as a junior earlier this season and can swing a game in a few possessions. In small school basketball, it takes one kid who can win games for their team, and Tarman can do that as well as anyone. Don’t be surprised if the Turtles play deep into the postseason.
Verona
Injuries plagued the Wildcats last season. Iowa commit Taylor Stremlow Taylor Stremlow 5'8" | PG Verona | 2024 State WI missed her sophomore season due to injury, and she’s back. Fellow junior Reagan Briggs Reagan Briggs 5'9" | SG Verona | 2024 State WI is also as dynamic as anyone and can create her shot off the dribble. Seniors Paige Lambe Paige Lambe 6'2" | PF Verona | 2023 State WI and Megan Murphy Megan Murphy 5'6" | CG Verona | 2023 State WI are kids who’ve grown through the years and have already made a run to the state tournament as sophomores and have the experience to handle some of the ups and downs that postseason games can bring. Maia Ellis Maia Ellis 5'10" | SF Verona | 2024 State WI is a talented defensive wing who could be an x-factor in the Wildcats’ sectional.