D2 and D1 All-Tournament Teams

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The curtain has fallen on the 2023-24 girls' basketball season, and we witnessed probably one of the most entertaining state tournaments we could see in Green Bay this past weekend. I want to get these All-Tournament teams out as quickly as possible, so let's start with D2 and D1 in this article. I'll have five players in each team, then a sixth as an MVP of the tournament.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":1} --> <h1 class="wp-block-heading">D1</h1> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Co-MVPs: [player_tooltip player_id='189502' first='Allie' last='Ziebell'] (Neenah), [player_tooltip player_id='533057' first='Natalie' last='Kussow'] (Arrowhead)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='189502' first='Allie' last='Ziebell'] may have outscored Kussow in the two games they played, but the scoring that those two showed was historic. Ziebell averaged 37.5 PPG in her two games, and Kussow averaged 29.5 and won a state title. Both were special and deserved to be the MVP of the tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='338945' first='Makena' last='Christian'] (Hartford)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Minnesota commit scored 23 points and grabbed nine boards in their semifinal against Neenah. Her combination of skill and physicality drew all the attention of the Neenag defense. She also co-led her team with three assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='751281' first='Rita' last='Kuepper'] (Hartford)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kuepper lost her mind in the second half. In the 2nd half, it felt like everything she threw at the rim went through the hoop. She finished with 21 points, and 14 came in the second half.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='533082' first='Libby' last='Gilmore'] (Arrowhead)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gilmore's ability to have a hand in everything her team does without being a focal point is incredible. She's the perfect supporting piece for a player like Kussow because she can score, pass, defend, and rebound, and she's one of the toughest players you'll find. She averaged 11.5 PPG and 6.5 RPG and played stellar defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='533069' first='Presly' last='Samz'] (Arrowhead)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Samz may not be the most athletic kid you'll watch at the lead guard spot, but she always gets her team good shots. She's Arrowhead's table setter, evident in the semifinal game where she recorded 11 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='337022' first='Natalie' last='Meaux'] (Franklin)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Franklin lost one of their leading scorers early, and Meaux found ways to put the ball in the basket all game when Arrowhead's defense keyed in on her. She finished with 24 points in the Sabers semifinal game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":1} --> <h1 class="wp-block-heading">D2</h1> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MVP: [player_tooltip player_id='374229' first='Amy' last='Terrian'] (Pewaukee)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='374229' first='Amy' last='Terrian'] is the Pirates' emotional leader, and her scoring and passing are as good as anyone in the state. She had an outstanding state title game, recording 18 points, six assists, and four rebounds. When Notre Dame made their runs, it felt like Terrian ended them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='536013' first='Giselle' last='Janowski'] (Pewaukee)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sophomore scored 20 points in the title game and played elite perimeter defense. Janowski's as strong as any guard in the state, and she got to the basket at will. The Pirate recorded three steals in the title game as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='333100' first='Kennedy' last='Retherford'] (Pewaukee)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She may not be the first, second, or third kid on the scouting report, but that shows the depth of the Pirates. Retherford was among the most effective kids on the floor in any title game. The junior recorded 14 points and seven rebounds to help the Pirates win the gold ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='209880' first='Gracie' last='Grzesk'] (Notre Dame)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grzesk's one of the best wing passers I've seen, and she showed that against Tosa East, earning ten assists. Even when her shots aren't falling, she's still a dangerous offensive weapon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='209879' first='Trista' last='Fayta'] (Notre Dame)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fayta had ten assists against Tosa East and was at the heart of the final run the Tritons made to cut a once 16-point Pirate lead to one late in the second half. She and her fellow seniors didn't go down in the final game without a fight. Even though they didn't win their fourth in a row, they had a historic run over four years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='400915' first='Mikaia' last='Litza'] (Wauwatosa East)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tosa East got their feet wet in the Resch Center and have the youth that suggests we may not have seen the last of them in Green Bay. Litza was the kid that Notre Dame had trouble containing. She had 21 points and five assists but also drew seven Notre Dame fouls and shot 8-11 from the field. She was not afraid of the moment and competed the entire game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->