Small Schools: Sectional Preview

Sectional Week has plenty of emotion behind it, good and bad. Eighty teams will play on Thursday night for the right to be one of the 20 teams that make the trip to Green Bay for the State Tournament in their respective divisions. Before we tip-off tonight, I'll have some previews for the large schools (D1 & D2) and small schools (D4-D3).   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">D3</h2>   S1   The No. 1 seeded Baldwin-Woodville has been a steady defensive unit all season, and regionals were no different. The Blackhawks held each of their first two opponents under 50 points, controlled those games on the defensive end, and will look to do the same tonight.   Somerset's Julia Rybacki has been a thorn in the Middle Border Conference side, and in her senior season, she made it back to Sectionals. Her ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor and cause chaos is valuable against a steady Baldwin-Woodville group.   Elk Mound avoided a slip-up in Regionals like they had two years ago and controlled the whole game against Wisconsin Dells. [player_tooltip player_id='448260' first='Ellie' last='Schiszik'] didn't have her best shooting game from the field, but she was effective with the ball in her hands. Against a team like Aquinas, Schiszik will need to be at her best.   Aquinas escaped La Crosse with a one-point win over Aquinas. [player_tooltip player_id='780388' first='Maddie' last='Murphy'] was massive in that game, and [player_tooltip player_id='751241' first='Ava' last='Fernholz']'s creation has been important for the Blugolds all year. However, [player_tooltip player_id='533058' first='Samantha' last='Davis'] is good enough to take this team to another state title game if she's making shots.   S2   Wittenberg-Birnamwood took a regional title with ease. They took care of business and reached sectionals to play Freedom. [player_tooltip player_id='842221' first='Melaina' last='Granquist'] and [player_tooltip player_id='842241' first='Rory' last='Salvesen'] are in uncharted territory but have the talent to get to Saturday.   It may not look like the Freedom of the past two seasons, but the Irish are back in Sectionals. There is nobody like Sadie Jarmolowicz on this team, and they score by committee. For instance, Stella Verhasselt and Jaydah Bork average less than six points per game, and each scored ten in the Regional Title game to get here. It can be anyone on any night.   Xavier went out and played some of the top large schools in the state this year, some of the best in D3, and competed for the most part. Carsyn Stempa has been a pleasant surprise this season with how well she creates at the point of attack, and having the youth has been massive for the Hawks. [player_tooltip player_id='751258' first='Elle' last='Krull'] and [player_tooltip player_id='766619' first='Joy' last='Krull'] are solid guards who can play on and off the ball. However, the piece that can take them over the top is Halle VandeHey. Her size and athleticism can help balance the guard-heavy lineups the Hawks roll out.   Winneconne made it out of Regionals as a No. 6 seed. In the Wolves' win over No. 2 Wautoma, it wasn't behind a massive performance by Gracie Mitchell. Millie Braman, recording a 19-point and 13-rebound double-double, pushed them through. The Wolves were ok in the East Central Conference but have seen some of the top teams in D3, so they weren't overwhelmed by the talent and experience of Wautoma.    S3   Edgerton is guard-oriented. [player_tooltip player_id='914989' first='Claudia' last='Jenny']'s shooting, with the all-around game of [player_tooltip player_id='533071' first='Marti' last='Rebman'], makes the Crimson Tide's offense work. They don't play in a premier conference, so they get overlooked, but this group is as good as any team they've had in the past few years.   Edgewood is one of the most dangerous teams in D3 because of how talented their guards are. [player_tooltip player_id='764918' first='Anna' last='Miller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='209589' first='Taya' last='Fernandez'] are kids who can maximize each possession by getting a good shot for their teams and not turning the ball over. Those two could get Edgewood a gold ball. They're that good.   Waupun has all the pedigree in the world with Kay Petersen, [player_tooltip player_id='209618' first='Gracie' last='Gopalan'], and [player_tooltip player_id='374233' first='Lydia' last='Aalsma']. The only thing that can stop this team from getting to the state tournament is themselves.   Lake [player_tooltip player_id='884522' first='Mills' last=''] is a team that doesn't have the go-to player they had last year in Bella Pitta. They're an organized group who all do a little of everything to win games, which won't change tonight.   S4   Dominican pulled off a shocking upset, knocking off D3 state-contender Oostburg on the road in the Regional Title game. One of the most underrated guards in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='533079' first='Brooklyn' last='Love'], dominated that game from start to finish and played like one of the top guards in the 2026 class. The Knights will need more of the same playing against one of the most aggressive defenses in Kettle Moraine Lutheran.   Kettle Moraine Lutheran has multiple athletic guards that cause havoc all over the floor. Taylor Schwalemberg is one of the most athletic guards in D3, and she loves to defend full court. However, the scoring that [player_tooltip player_id='448257' first='Makenzie' last='Luehring'] and [player_tooltip player_id='448261' first='Madeline' last='Leffel'] will dictate how the next few days go for the Chargers.   Catholic Memorial has the depth to make a deep run. Yes, kids like Olvia Conway and [player_tooltip player_id='374232' first='Jenna' last='Welsch'] are excellent, but they have seven kids who could start anywhere in D3 and play a role. You may get one kid having an off night, but you likely won't get seven having off nights.   Milwaukee Academy of Science won this sectional last year but has a new team. There's no more Beautiful Waheed and Lalani Ellis. It's now up to [player_tooltip player_id='448262' first='Jaeda' last='Turner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='417959' first='Parker' last='Johnson']. However, they have the wild card of having multiple talented but inexperienced kids who could surprise you any night.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">D4</h2>   S1   Fall Creek has been something else for some years now. They're usually competitive, but they haven't had a group to get them to Green Bay for some time. However, if they want to come out of this sectional, keep tabs on [player_tooltip player_id='491719' first='Jasmin' last='Heuer'].   Regis has a talented 6-1 post in [player_tooltip player_id='849560' first='Ashley' last='Chilson']. Her ability to control the game around the basket is a necessity at this point in the playoffs.   McDonell won D5 last year but got bumped up to D4. The Macks have the talent to get to state behind [player_tooltip player_id='751257' first='EllaMay' last='Cooper'] and [player_tooltip player_id='209585' first='Emily' last='Cooper'] in the backcourt. However, the post-play of Aubrey Dorn was excellent last year and could be what wins them a gold ball this year.    Phillips won the regional title in overtime to get here, and they're a team that can match the athleticism at the guard spot with McDonell. Kacy Eggebrecht and Mataya Eckert have played up-tempo all year and could cause anyone issues if they're unprepared for what they can do.   S2   St. Mary Catholic has played their best basketball of the year the past few weeks. The Zephyrs beat Oostburg at home near the end of the regular season, and [player_tooltip player_id='448256' first='Emily' last='Vogel'] had her coming-out party in that one. Vogel and senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='444793' first='Audrey' last='Norville'] make this team go and will get them to state if they keep rolling.   Laconia is as deep as anyone in the state and has the experience and talent to win a second gold ball in a row. [player_tooltip player_id='342096' first='Tierney' last='Madigan'] is the kid who can do a little of everything from the wing, but their 2025 is historic. [player_tooltip player_id='375953' first='Aubrey' last='Leonard'] already has the career assist record, Madigan has 1000 points, and [player_tooltip player_id='448258' first='Payton' last='Morgan'] will likely get that same milestone next season. The Spartans have everything you'd want for another run at a gold ball.   Valders rely on their main three for scoring, and they've answered the bell this postseason, beating Kewaunee on the road. They also all understand their roles and are willing to dig in and do all the little things like outrebounding their opponent to win games.   Sheboygan Lutheran was in the subsection of death last year but finally made it to sectionals this year. The Crusaders have one of the most creative guards in [player_tooltip player_id='374230' first='Addy' last='Verhagen'], who they rely on heavily. Her ability to generate open shots is the key for this group if they want to make it to Green Bay.   S3   Neillsville has been dominant in the Cloverbelt-West forever, and they tend to have some of the best talent in the Northwest. [player_tooltip player_id='780363' first='Paris' last='Opelt'] is a 5-11 wing among the top uncommitted kids in Wisconsin's 24 class. Her ability to create on the wing can alter games, and having a kid like Madi Davel opens up the floor for her to make plays off the dribble.   [player_tooltip player_id='448289' first='Haddie' last='Showen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='209906' first='Carly' last='Drew'] are two creative kids who can score in bunches but also have a small-town toughness to their game. Showen is more of the pure athlete of the two, but both don't mind digging in and rebounding when they have to close out games. They have state pedigree in the past, so they'll be a tough group to beat.   New Glarus, arguably, has the top player in D4 this year in [player_tooltip player_id='209591' first='Lindsey' last='Schadewalt']. The Glarner Knights will always have a shot in a game when Schadewalt is out of foul trouble. She can score at all three levels and be an absolute nightmare for opposing defenses.   Cuba City nearly knocked off D1 favorites Arrowhead around the holidays. [player_tooltip player_id='374234' first='Olivia' last='Olson'] is one of the top lead guards in the state, and she's as steady as anyone in D4. She'll maximize everything the Cubans do and give their other kids open looks at the basket.    S4   Poynette made it out of regionals as a No. 4 seed and has one of the most talented freshmen in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='751244' first='Avalyn' last='Albrecht']. They're new to sectionals and may have some jitters, but the Pumas need Albrecht to make plays to get to Saturday.   Winnebago Lutheran has sneakily been one of the top teams in D4, but they kept running into Laconia in the postseason and conference season. Abby Cole and [player_tooltip player_id='337021' first='Lindsey' last='Nell'] are two kids who can keep them in the game in both a physical and skills aspect.   The Prairie School was arguably one of the best two D4 teams last year but ran into Laconia in a Sectional Final. [player_tooltip player_id='374228' first='JJ' last='Glass-Barnes'], [player_tooltip player_id='529543' first='Reese' last='Jaramillo'], [player_tooltip player_id='533081' first='Amiyah' last='Galica'], [player_tooltip player_id='209599' first='Ava' last='Collier-White'], and [player_tooltip player_id='338967' first='Meg' last='Decker'] are as talented of a five-player group as you'll find in D4.   Cambridge got out of regionals as the No. 2 seed and will continue to rely on the duo of [player_tooltip player_id='209908' first='Saveea' last='Freeland'] and [player_tooltip player_id='448317' first='Brooke' last='Stenklyft'] to pull off the upset over TPS.

Sectional Week has plenty of emotion behind it, good and bad. Eighty teams will play on Thursday night for the right to be one of the 20 teams that make the trip to Green Bay for the State Tournament in their respective divisions. Before we tip-off tonight, I'll have some previews for the large schools (D1 & D2) and small schools (D4-D3).