Under-the-Radar Programs to Watch this 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>Vel Phillips Memorial</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Spartans are one of the more frustrating teams to play in D1 because they have an identity, and they all buy into what they want to do.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='844275' first='Princess' last='Nwachukwu'] sets the tone for the Spartans defensively and may be the best rebounder in D1. No one in D1 has the personnel to keep her from doing what she does best when she's at her best. Pairing her with a kid like Ni'Kiera Martin doubles down on what that frontcourt already does well. Those two control the paint as well as any other frontcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The backcourt has enough creative talent to make things happen. It's just been a little streaky, but their starters have all shown flashes of what you like seeing. [player_tooltip player_id='751263' first='Kennedi' last='Harden'] has bought into being Memorial's distributor, and she's excelled. [player_tooltip player_id='632853' first='Nevaeh' last='Jackson'] has gotten to the rim well and been a microwave scorer, and [player_tooltip player_id='533075' first='Avery' last='Blue'] has been a reliable volume-scoring option this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mosinee</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since I've been around, Lakeland has dominated the Great Northern Conference, but Mosinee has the tools to put up a fight in their second game of the season and a possible matchup in the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Jirschele sisters, Taelyn in particular, have had plenty of battles with talented teams in Central Wisconsin and beaten gifted teams in the Fox Valley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The talent in the Mosinee backcourt could allow them to upset someone in their sectional.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Baldwin-Woodville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blackhawks haven't dominated teams in their region this season, but they didn't last season and found their way to a state tournament berth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Baldwin-Woodville identity is their defense. The Blackhawks have given up more than 40 points once this season. That kind of defensive prowess is absurd.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Having continuity in their lineup with kids like Maggie Jensen and Hailey Jordt, who've been to state and played there before, gives them an edge heading into the postseason.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cameron</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Comets are close to breaking through in their D4 sectional. They have clear roles and kids who star in them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two kids to know from Cameron are Lexi Kuffel, a Minnesota State track commit, and [player_tooltip player_id='1045915' first='Bailey' last='Olson']. Kuffel is one of the best perimeter defenders in the Northwest part of the state, and her ability to set a tone on the defensive end of the floor allows the Comets to create live-ball turnovers. Olson has been a consistent offensive threat the past year and a half, and they'll rely on her when the competition stiffens in the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It would be fun to see the Comets make it to their first state tournament this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eleva-Strum</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One player can change a program's fortunes in D5, which is what happened to the Cardinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='751245' first='Avery' last='Glenz'] has been a do-it-all kid for Eleva-Strum, leading to winning for the Cardinals. Glenz and the Cardinals won five games a season ago and currently sit at 7-3 in the 24-25 season. Glenz has led the Cardinals in almost every statistical category.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eleva-Strum sits at the top of the Dairyland-Large with Whitehall and Independence/Gilmanton in a three-way tie.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->