Team’s Programs Won’t Want to Play in the Postseason

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I want to keep it lighter today and discuss some programs as we inch closer to the postseason. Plenty of teams have the tools to make a deep postseason run and have elite talent. However, I want to talk about a few under-the-radar programs I wouldn't want to see in the postseason if I were a coach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Westosha Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The way that [player_tooltip player_id='888387' first='Lana' last='Mannetter'] has taken to the varsity level of high school basketball has been like a duck to water.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players like [player_tooltip player_id='875003' first='Keara' last='Griffin'], Lilah Longrie, and [player_tooltip player_id='888903' first='Cardin' last='Johnson'] had been successful in years past, but adding someone like Mannetter has taken them and the program to another level. The Falcons have a little of everything on their roster and will be able to compete for a conference title this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Falcons are in contention for being a top-four seed in their sectional and hosting the regional portion of the tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grafton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams with guards like Grafton will give teams problems in a one-game playoff setting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blackhawks are a scrappy team who've challenged themselves against some of the best teams in their area and even took Tosa East to the wire on the road.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players like [player_tooltip player_id='338957' first='Marissa' last='Morgan'], [player_tooltip player_id='751272' first='Melanie' last='Morgan'], [player_tooltip player_id='769179' first='Cali' last='Tagliapietra'], and Lilliana Verplancke have been around for a while and competed against talented teams for a few years. However, all of their kids have been an unselfish and scrappy bunch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They won't be a team anyone in their sectional wants to play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Xavier</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The record may not look great, but Xavier is still a borderline top-five team in D3.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='766619' first='Joy' last='Krull'] has been a constant in the Hawk's rotation these past few years and has been a reliable guard they've trusted. However, the development and health of [player_tooltip player_id='766628' first='Brynn' last='Krull'] have made a difference for Xavier. Her offensive punch has allowed her team to battle against some of the top teams in D3 and beat a team like Winneconne.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Xavier may look different, but they're still among the best in D3.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Argyle/Pecatonica</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Few public school teams have been able to jump a division due to enrollment and make state in back-to-back seasons. However, A/P could do that this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='767257' first='Kylie' last='Butler'] and [player_tooltip player_id='874373' first='Brooke' last='Wellnitz'] are among the best in D4, and the speed at which the pair can flip a game on its head is unbelievable. Wellnitz is among the best at the top of a full-court press, and Butler can fire passes to anyone from anywhere on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The A/P co-op is again among the most fun teams to watch in Wisconsin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lena</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The core of the Wildcats' run to the state title game is back, but a state return is far from guaranteed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='767273' first='Eva' last='Brooks'] and [player_tooltip player_id='842247' first='Madi' last='Thomson'] are back and having excellent seasons, but the supporting cast is still finding their footing, which has led to a few surprise losses in the early going. However, the experience and ability to win the points in the paint battle will give them an edge against every team in D5.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The experience is still there, and they all want to right the wrongs of last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->