More Regional Championship Game Underdogs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tonight, 40 teams will earn Regional Championship plaques all over Wisconsin. In those eighty games, I want to talk about some underdogs and players who could lead their team to an unexpected trip to the Sectional Semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wisconsin Lutheran</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vikings are part of the four-team group expected to make it out of their Sectional if they get to the Sectional final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To earn a Regional Title plaque, Wisconsin Lutheran has to beat a team that defeated them less than a month ago, Wauwatosa East.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After their 1-4 start, the Vikings have gone on a 17-3 run in their last 20 games, and they've found their groove as the seasons gone on. They earned a sweep of Pius XI for the first time in a while and have roles set, and everyone has accepted what they need to do to help their team win games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They have a blend of experienced kids like [player_tooltip player_id='828946' first='Kenly' last='Frey'], [player_tooltip player_id='444779' first='Jazzmine' last='Smith'], and [player_tooltip player_id='209600' first='Jayla' last='Rankin']. However, they also have young and talented kids like [player_tooltip player_id='751277' first='Reese' last='Grudzielanek'], Kaelyn Nommesen, and Beth Langebartles. The Vikings have only improved with time.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Columbus</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As much as things change, Columbus being a thorn in higher seeds' sides in Regionals seems like it'll never change.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After heading to Oconomowoc and knocking off No. 3 seed Lake Country Lutheran, the Cardinals will head to Lake [player_tooltip player_id='884522' first='Mills' last=''] and face their conference foe for a Regional Title plaque.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cardinals had a rough go of it in the conference, finishing with a 1-7 record, but they were competitive with the L-Cats, who won the conference, so don't expect this to be a 40-point win for Lake [player_tooltip player_id='884522' first='Mills' last=''].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Poynette</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I believe the Pumas will have the best player in their subsection, which gives them a puncher's chance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='751244' first='Avalyn' last='Albrecht'] was excellent in the Pumas opening playoff game and will now travel east to play the No. 1 seeded Living Word Lutheran Timberwolves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is a chance that Albrecht could make a name for herself with a deep playoff run. Her ability to change the course of the game on both ends of the floor is something most D4 teams don't have. Even some state favorites don't have anyone as talented as Albrecht.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gilman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The only No. 9 seed to beat a No. 1 was Gilman in D5, upsetting top-seeded South Shore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Pirates have been led all year by their senior leader, Danielle Mann. Mann has had explosive scoring outbursts, scoring over 30 a few times and over 40 on one occasion this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whenever you have a kid who can score like that, you're never out of a game, and it helps that the Pirates have been battle-tested in the Cloverbelt-East all year. They'll be a tough out in D5.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->