Games to Watch This Season
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Now is the time of the year when I look to plan out some trips to games or events around the Midwest. However, there’s no chance I can get to all these games due to travel and an uncertain work…
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Continue ReadingNow is the time of the year when I look to plan out some trips to games or events around the Midwest. However, there’s no chance I can get to all these games due to travel and an uncertain work schedule. Regardless, I want to highlight some games this season if you have the time or want to watch some good basketball.
Nov. 17th: Hudson at Prescott
Let’s start in Western Wisconsin with two teams with plenty of recent success. Although this is a D3 against a D1, talent will be all over the floor. Hudson is coming off a perfect 14-0 run through the BRC last season, and Prescott won the Middle Border Conference. There will be many talented wings, including Bradley commit and Prescott senior Lila Posthuma Lila Posthuma 6'1" | SF Prescott | 2024 State WI . That game will also be the first test for Hudson newcomer Olivia LaBlanc Olivia LaBlanc 5'11" | PF Hudson | 2027 State WI , who’s made a name for herself in the Minnesota AAU scene over the past few seasons. I could talk about other kids like Olivia Grothaus, Ella Carstensen, or Violet Otto Violet Otto 5'10" | SG Prescott | 2026 State WI and the roles they’ll play for their program this season. That game will be one worth watching if you’re around the area.
Nov. 18th: Pewaukee at Notre Dame
The story writes itself for this game. The Tritons and Pirates have seen each other plenty over the past four seasons. Since the class of 2024 got into high school, the Tritons have led the series over the past three years, four games to one. There are teams in D2 who could beat Pewaukee or Notre Dame on their best night, but the expectation is that these two will meet again with a gold ball on the line at Resch Center next March. That said, if that game were to happen, there’d be a little more juice in the building for that game. Notre Dame’s three starting seniors will be gunning for their fourth state title and cap off arguably the most successful four years any program has had in Wisconsin in any sport. Pewaukee is a group of kids who know they can knock that Triton group off, and even though they’ll likely be among the favorites next season heading into D1, a state title win over Notre Dame would probably be sweeter. The star power in the gym for that game will include at least six kids who’ll play at the NCAA Division 1 level. If you can make this game, I can’t recommend it more.
Dec. 6th: Neenah at Arrowhead
Both of these schools are in similar situations heading into this season. Each team has one of the best players in the country in their class and had problems getting over that final hump to get to the Resch Center. Each has lost in the Sectional Finals these past two seasons but has the talent to play again at the Resch Center, but you can watch them in Hartland in early December. If you’re the kind of person drawn to a headline one-on-one matchup, there may not be one that draws the eyes of the country in Wisconsin more than Allie Ziebell Allie Ziebell 5'11" | SG Neenah | 2024 State WI and Natalie Kussow Natalie Kussow 5'10" | SG Arrowhead | 2026 State WI . Each is in ESPN’s top 25 in the country, for what it’s worth, and are two of the most prolific scorers in the state. Adding onto that, these teams have excellent pieces around their stars. The Warhawks have one of the best young cores in the state, which includes sophomores Presly Samz Presly Samz 5'7" | PG Arrowhead | 2026 State WI , Libby Gilmore Libby Gilmore 5'9" | SG Arrowhead | 2026 State WI , and Kussow herself, and they’re adding a newcomer in Sidney Zehner Sidney Zehner 5'9" | PG Hartland Arrowhead | 2027 State WI . The Rockets have two talented sophomores themselves named Rowan Klesmit Rowan Klesmit 5'7" | PG Neenah | 2026 State WI and Ellie Buss Ellie Buss 5'6" | PG Neenah | 2026 State WI . I suspect the score in this one will not be in the 40s. It has the potential to be an offensive slugfest.
Dec. 12th: Hartford at Homestead
If you’re looking for a game in Southeast Wisconsin with two teams with something to prove, this may be what you’re looking for. Each was upset in the regional title game next season and could have aspirations for a deep tournament run. There’s been a lack of real challengers to Homestead in the North Shore over the past two seasons, and this could be an opportunity for Hartford to make a statement early in the season. I’ve talked about the newcomers at Hartford plenty over the last few weeks, and Makena Christian Makena Christian 6'0" | PF Hartford | 2025 State WI is the best player in the conference. On the Highlander side, they’re no longer a young upstart group of underclassmen. They’re juniors and seniors now. They’ve had some of the most successful units in teams in program history over the past few years but have left a lot on the table in February, and they’d probably admit that.