Predicting D3 Sectional One

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the next two days, we're wrapping up my official sectional predictions for 2024-25. The only division I haven't picked yet is Division 3, which we'll start today with Sectionals One and Two and close things out with Three and Four tomorrow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baldwin-Woodville emerged from this sectional last winter and has the tools to make another deep run. Let's meet who I think will play in the second weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Regional Champion: St. Croix Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sectional One has plenty of teams who lost prominent players, and St. Croix Central returning a few players may make a world of difference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers' 6'2 post, [player_tooltip player_id='995788' first='Elsah' last='Rubis'], averaged a double-double last season and can control games around the basket. There's still plenty of room for growth when teams throw multiple bodies at her in the post, but she'll be a kid who demands defensive attention in the Middle Border Conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Croix Central also returns [player_tooltip player_id='1265496' first='Sophie' last='Hook']. The junior guard has been a solid ball handler for the Panthers, and her ability to initiate offense and create for others may help them make a deep run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Regional Champion: Wisconsin Dells</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The talent is there for the Dells to make a deep postseason run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chiefs' talent suggests they could be a team that could reach the Resch Center this season. The trio of [player_tooltip player_id='624964' first='Ashiya' last='Hopkins']-[player_tooltip player_id='659763' first='Natalie' last='Field']-[player_tooltip player_id='598735' first='Natalie' last='Backhaus'] is possibly the most talented in this sectional.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hopkins can score in bunches, Field has the defensive versatility, and Backhaus is a productive offensive possession.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chiefs have a wide range of areas they could end up in but may have the highest ceiling in their sectional.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional Runner-Up: Elk Mound</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mounders have dominated the Dunn-St. Croix over the past three seasons and could break out of their sectional this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='448260' first='Ellie' last='Schiszik'] is a talented guard who can score in bunches while creating for others. The future UW-La Crosse guard will be someone who will draw defenders every game and find open teammates. The question will be if they can get enough consistent half-court scoring to get over the hump in sectionals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Allies, Roder, and Robel, are two returners who'll be crucial in the Mounders' push for a sectional crown. They're both solid defenders who can make some plays on the offensive end of the floor and are x-factors in sectional games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional Champion: Baldwin-Woodville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top defensive units in D3 is back this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blackhawks boast one of the top defensive forwards in the state in Maggie Jensen. The 6'0 post plays in the middle of Baldwin-Woodville's zone and changes the shot profile other teams take. Her ability to defend without fouling and contest everything around the rim is one of the most impressive feats I've seen in D3.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Haley Jordt and Hailey Cota are each back and were reliable scorers in the Blackhawks backcourt last season. Those two are the ones to watch in games deep into the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->