2024 Playoff Preview - The Big Playoff Picture (Class C2-D2)

At the beginning of the season I gave my preseason predictions of what each Class Playoff picture may look like. In this article, we are going to revisit those predictions and figure out where I went wrong, along with talking about the near future and the star players from each perspective Class.   Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!   Class C2   When you look at this C2 Class as a whole, you see that there are four teams that hold two losses or less so far this season, while Crofton High School stands alone as the only undefeated at 22-0. Most of the teams that you would expect to be in the hunt for a state title, are there. The favorite and returning C2 Champion has moved to the D1 Class, meaning that there will need to be a new team to take over the reigns. I think it would be dumb to say that Crofton (22-0) isn't a top team but some others to keep an eye on would be Yutan (18-2), St. Cecilia (14-4), Bishop Neumann (16-5), Elmwood-Murdock (21-1), Cross Country (21-2), Bayard (20-3), and a few select others. Any one of these teams could get hot at the right time and put together a run to remember. Whoever puts it together the most, at the correct time, is going to be the group who takes it all the way.   Some Players To Know In Class C2: [player_tooltip player_id='316646' first='Cassie' last='Allen'], [player_tooltip player_id='316647' first='Sammie' last='Allen'], [player_tooltip player_id='770528' first='Maura' last='Tichota'] (11 PPG/6 RPG/4 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='777585' first='Jade' last='Lewis'] (10.1 PPG/6 RPG/3.2 SPG), [player_tooltip player_id='757583' first='Mylee' last='Tichota'] (9 PPG/5 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='316643' first='Jill' last='Johnson'], Aj Bosak, Emma Keith, Tatum Krickan (12.6 PPG/5 RPG/1.4 APG), Ryann Sabatka (9 PPG/5 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='757573' first='Avery' last='Kissinger'] (9.3 PPG/4.3 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='827788' first='Shyanna' last='Anderson'] (12.9 PPG/4.3 APG/3.5 SPG), [player_tooltip player_id='369218' first='Lilly' last='Peterson'] (9.3 PPG/6.1 RPG/1.7 APG), Adrienne Waller (6.7 PPG/4.9 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='770426' first='Tatum' last='Backemeyer'] (17.3 PPG/2.9 SPG), Laney Frahm (9.2 PPG/6.8 RPG/5 APG), Brooke Goudie (7 RPG), Brooklyn Mans (9.1 PPG/2.7 APG), Joslyn Hopkins (14 PPG/5.6 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='770507' first='Lexi' last='Fiscus'] (13.5 PPG/5 RPG/3 APG), Dani Harter (8.2 PPG/3.7 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='315106' first='Avery' last='Yosten'] (14.3 PPG/9.4 RPG/1.1 BPG), [player_tooltip player_id='300307' first='Chloe' last='Hanel'] (20 PPG/5.7 RPG/3.4 APG), Brynn Settje (9.4 PPG/1 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='502335' first='Josilyn' last='Miller'] (26 PPG/7 RPG/3 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='817141' first='Rena' last='Rasmussen'] (16.5 PPG/8.2 RPG/1.1 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='770510' first='Mallory' last='Eriksen'] (10.1 PPG/7.7 RPG/2.2 SPG)   Class D1   As soon as you bring up the D1 Class, you think of handful of successful programs that all have a shot at the title this winter. Teams like GACC (15-2), Southern Valley (23-1), Johnson-Brock (19-2), St. Mary's (O'Neil) (19-2), Pender (22-1), and McCool Junction (18-2) will all have the opportunity to prove how good they really are over these next few weeks. Each of these programs has prospects with collegiate level talent but they still are going to need to show up when the lights are the brightest. If I HAD to pick a team to take it all the way at this point, it's the team I picked at the start of the year and that is the Pender Pendragons. Coming off of a title in a larger Class, it's fair to assume that they can run the table once again. It's not going to be a "walk in the park" by any means but I'm sure that this group has the ability to take it all the way for back to back titles, in two different Classes.   Some Players To Know In Class D1: [player_tooltip player_id='316682' first='Maya' last='Dolliver'] (14.4 PPG/3.3 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='770558' first='Avery' last='Wegner'] (13.4 PPG/7 RPG), Maddie Dolliver (11 PPG/ 3.4 RPG/2.7 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='758864' first='Tori' last='Bose'], [player_tooltip player_id='770404' first='Ann' last='Bose'], Lily Holste, [player_tooltip player_id='316642' first='Taryn' last='Ottemann'] (17.1 PPG/7.4 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='316654' first='Brooklyn' last='Behrends'] (10.1 PPG/1.7 APG), Natalie Knippelmeyer (9.6 PPG/4.4 RPG/2 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='770411' first='Alissa' last='Brabec'] (18.3 PPG/2.1 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='770500' first='Mya' last='Hedstorm'] (16.4 PPG/8.2 RPG/4.5 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='770554' first='Lorissa' last='Reiman'] (11.1 PPG/12.5 RPG), Mckenna Yates (19.1 PPG/3.8 RPG/3.2 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='871247' first='Karissa' last='Stengel'] (11.5 PPG/4.4 RPG/2 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='757589' first='Tierston' last='Moore'] (8.9 PPG/6.7 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='770413' first='Mikah' last='O'Neil'] (17.9 PPG/9 RPG/3 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='720295' first='Adyson' last='Mlnarik'] (24 PPG/7.2 RPG/3.1 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='766565' first='Myleigh' last='Weers'] (21.8 PPG/4 RPG/3 APG)   Class D2   All of the top teams that were in the State conversation, that returned to the D2 Class this winter are back once again for a shot at the belt. The returning champs, Scared Heart, is sitting with a 17-4 record moving into the Playoffs and I'm sure they are content with their position while other schools like Overton and Wynot are each sitting with only 1-loss. It seems that everyone who is moving closer and close to the finals, all know about each other. They have all seemed to have met before in the past and that is going to play a factor as things unfold. It's like a boxer that has seen their competition a handful of times prior. They start to have a complex understanding of their opponent moves and what they custom to doing. If you can capitalize from those opportunities, it's sweet sailing. If not, you are in for a long night. I think most of the favorites of their Regions are going to make it to their [program_tooltip program_id='713325' first='Elite' last=''] 8 but once they get there, it'll be a cluster. I'm not sure there is an outright favorite in this Class at this point. If there is, we are going to find out shortly once Playoff action gets underway.   Some Players To Know In Class D2: Joel Ryan (14.9 PPG/7 RPG/1.8 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='770632' first='Natalie' last='Wood'] (11.1 PPG/10.4 RPG), Grace Luther (3.2 APG), Allison Wieseler, Kayla Pinkelman, MaKinley Scholl, Hallie Jones, [player_tooltip player_id='766561' first='Zaili' last='Benish'] (23.5 PPG/5.3 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='1005077' first='Shawnee' last='Gamble'] (11.1 PPG/3 RPG/4.5 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='770506' first='Abbie' last='Kromarek'] (15.2 PPG/7.5 RPG/4 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='770559' first='Teya' last='Boyer'] (11.1 PPG/6.6 RPG/1.4 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='766584' first='Madison' last='Bunger'] (12.6 PPG/9.6 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='1092028' first='Cara' last='Bunger'] (8.2 PPG/5.4 RPG/4.5 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='1208590' first='Katelyn' last='Bunger'] (8 PPG/4.6 RPG/1 APG), Brylyn Springer (11.3 PPG/7.1 RPG), Ana Dimas (10.1 PPG/2.3 APG), Mya Turman (14.2 PPG/8.3 RPG/3.2 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='758812' first='Julia' last='Russell'] (8.9 PPG/11.4 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='770548' first='Britney' last='Klein'] (16 PPG/6.6 RPG/3.6 APG)

At the beginning of the season I gave my preseason predictions of what each Class Playoff picture may look like. In this article, we are going to revisit those predictions and figure out where I went wrong, along with talking about the near future and the star players from each perspective Class.