Breaking Down Other D3 Contenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Somerset</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top half of Sectional 1 is a toss-up, and Somerset knows that all too well, losing to Prescott in regionals last season in a competitive game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Julia Rybacki is as crucial to her team's success as anyone in D3 and maybe even the state. She leads her team in most statistical categories and is the first name on every opposing team's scouting report. However, even if teams try to cut her out of Somerset's offense, she manufactures her offense by making extra-effort plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group could easily get overlooked, but they're a tough out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Somerset is seeking their first trip to the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prescott</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cardinals have the best duo in this sectional, which gives them an edge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='266982' first='Lila' last='Posthuma'] is a do-it-all 6-0 wing who can create, score, defend multiple positions, and play through traffic. How she plays will dictate how far her group can go in the next few weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='767790' first='Violet' last='Otto'] is the other member of the Prescott duo. The way she shoots the ball allows Prescott to open up their offense, and whenever she gets rolling, she can win her team a game against uber-talented teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cardinals are seeking their first trip to the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aquinas</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blugolds were in the D4 title game a year ago and got bumped up to D3 due to enrollment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The most notable difference in this season's group will be the absence of now-Montana guard Macy Donarski. However, they've done a solid job filling the void she left with all their rotational players.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='533058' first='Samantha' last='Davis'] has developed into a reliable focal point of the Blugold offense even without being a threat beyond the three-point line, and her defensive prowess allows the Blugold defense to stay as aggressive as they've always been.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='751241' first='Ava' last='Fernholz'] and [player_tooltip player_id='780388' first='Maddie' last='Murphy'] have also been solid creative pieces for a reimagined Aquinas group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blugolds are looking for their seventh trip to the state tournament and third state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Freedom</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2023s graduating left a massive void for Freedom that most programs couldn't dream to fill. However, they've gotten productive seasons from multiple kids.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Irish also returned two kids with severe knee injuries, [player_tooltip player_id='329579' first='Haley' last='Reed'] and [player_tooltip player_id='448321' first='Breana' last='Dickrell'], whose return wasn't long ago. Those two give the Irish an added dimension of perimeter shooting, and the two kids' defenses have to pay attention to whenever they're on the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The experience of kids like [player_tooltip player_id='528117' first='Gracie' last='Martzhal'], [player_tooltip player_id='528118' first='Abbie' last='Cropsey'], and [player_tooltip player_id='337027' first='Gretchen' last='Ponschock'] also lightens the blow of losing all the talent that took the Irish to the state title game in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Irish are looking for their fourth trip to the state tournament and first title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Edgewood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The guards that the Crusaders will make or break their postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='764918' first='Anna' last='Miller'] is one of the top lead guards in the state, and she's only a freshman. Her ability to create and make quick decisions with the ball in her hands and not turn it over makes me believe that this group can maximize their offense every game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":808375,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/11/Anna-Miller-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-808375" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='209589' first='Taya' last='Fernandez'] is an unreal passer and is as aggressive as anyone trying to fit the ball into small windows. Having Miller alongside her allows her to play on or away from the ball and make quick reads while trusting her teammates to make a play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are also these other role kids who can make things happen. [player_tooltip player_id='914983' first='Beanie' last='Thompson'] is a lot like [player_tooltip player_id='338944' first='Georgia' last='Acompanado'] because she's an excellent rebounding guard and plays physically. [player_tooltip player_id='995775' first='Maren' last='Schmotzer'] adds a true post player to this group, Zhana Gnewuch is a kid who looks to try and get in rhythm offensively, and Lily Moschkau, coming back around the new year, gives them a spot-up shooter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I love this group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Crusaders are seeking their first trip to the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kettle Moraine Lutheran</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chargers are the same kind of team they've always been.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They're guard-oriented, have excellent athletes, and make all the extra effort plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='448257' first='Makenzie' last='Luehring'] is the initiator of the KML offense, and she's proven to be a kid who can score in bunches. However, the emergence of [player_tooltip player_id='448261' first='Madeline' last='Leffel'] has taken this group to another level. Her two-way ability gives them defensive versatility, and her shooting gives them a second explosive weapon on the offensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":858021,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/Makenzie-Luehring-3.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-858021" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Also, don't underestimate the fact that [player_tooltip player_id='419332' first='Taylor' last='Schwalenberg'] is massive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":858022,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/Taylor-Schwalenberg-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-858022" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chargers are looking for their third trip to the state tournament and their second title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Milwaukee Academy of Science</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Losing the amount of talent Novas did last season made this season a little uncomfortable.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They have one of the youngest groups who have a chance at making a deep run in the next three weeks. The Novas have a fair amount of 26s and 27s getting significant rotational minutes and have kids without much experience as juniors and seniors giving them massive minutes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The lineup of [player_tooltip player_id='448262' first='Jaeda' last='Turner']-[player_tooltip player_id='417959' first='Parker' last='Johnson']-[player_tooltip player_id='882114' first='Ariel' last='Allen']-[player_tooltip player_id='743735' first='Kourtlyn' last='Guy']-Ellis Johnson is a complete five-player lineup. That's not even including the ceiling that [player_tooltip player_id='448248' first='Faith' last='Trotter'] has to offer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Novas are looking for their fourth trip to the state tournament and first title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->