Division 1 Sectional Predictions

The postseason starts this coming Tuesday with Regional Quarterfinal games around the state. Today, I'll release the brackets I've made with my reasoning. We'll begin with D1 and work our way down to D5.   Sectional 1   REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS   I have Oshkosh North and D.C. Everest emerging from the Regional Quarterfinal games.   REGIONAL SEMIFINALS   D.C. Everest hasn't scored over 22 in either game against SPASH, so they may not have much potential for an upset of the No. 2 Panthers. [player_tooltip player_id='751246' first='Awut' last='Alic'] and [player_tooltip player_id='889757' first='Brinna' last='Paulson'] could make a potential Eau Claire Memorial-Oshkosh North game intriguing, but the Old Abes should move on with relative ease.   I have Marshfield marching past Holemn in the 8-9 matchup. The Tigers have consistently competed with SPASH this season and made good accounts for themselves against other higher seeds in the Sectional. Not to mention, the Tigers beat Holmen by ten earlier this season.   Neenah could have some issues with Appleton North. [player_tooltip player_id='838113' first='Avery' last='Werfal']-[player_tooltip player_id='890999' first='Sophie' last='Busch']-[player_tooltip player_id='533062' first='Tay' last='Maass'] is an excellent trio that can light up a scoreboard when they're clicking. However, Neenah has been too consistent this season for me to bet against them, and [player_tooltip player_id='533065' first='Rowan' last='Klesmit'] has been on a tear all season. Neenah moves one in my bracket, but this is the most likely 12-5 upset.   After Marshfield, the Valley takes a significant dip, and even though Hudson hasn't been at 100% most of the season, the Raiders should move on here.   Hortonville is another team playing at sub 100%, and maybe things change, but I'm operating under the belief there will be no Welson or Peppler for them the rest of the way. However, I don't see the Polar Bears having a problem with Wisconsin Rapids.   Appleton East has been playing their best basketball recently and should be able to outscore Oshkosh West.   Superior is always challenging to judge because they play half their season in Minnesota and operate under some different rules because of it. However, I see the Huskies earning themselves a postseason win.   SPASH will be able to handle D.C. Everest, barring any unforeseen circumstances.   REGIONAL TITLE GAMES   Eau Claire Memorial is a deep and athletic team and should take care of their business against Marshfield to move onto sectionals.   I have No. 5 Neenah making the trek across the state and defeating No. 4 Hudson. Hudson has a deeper roster, but in a close game, I trust [player_tooltip player_id='533065' first='Rowan' last='Klesmit'] to make one or two more plays to close out a game than Hudson.   Appleton East beat Hortonville by 40 without the two Polar Bear stars in uniform, and operating under the assumption neither will be back, I have the Patriots moving onto Sectionals.   No. 2 SPASH has more of a winning formula than Eau Claire North and should enjoy homecourt and lift a Regional title plaque next weekend.   SECTIONAL SEMIFINAL   The depth Eau Claire Memorial has in their backcourt should be enough to keep the Rocket backcourt at bay, and they'll have an edge with their wings and post, so I have the Old Abes moving onto a Sectional Title game.   On the bottom half, Appleton East is more talented than SPASH, and now that their core four of Lily Muelemans-Emilia MontMarqutte-[player_tooltip player_id='749048' first='Ella' last='Sweeney']-[player_tooltip player_id='448322' first='Torie' last='Neubauer'] should be enough for a run to a Sectional Title game that none of us expected.   SECTIONAL TITLE GAME   The Old Abes have enough defensive fortitude to frustrate a streaking Patriot offense. [player_tooltip player_id='1173395' first='Norah' last='Kling']-[player_tooltip player_id='1045830' first='Raya' last='Shaw']-Ashlynne Schroeder is an excellent defensive backcourt, and adding in a consistent offensive presence in the middle with [player_tooltip player_id='653806' first='Rayna' last='Welsch'] is why I selected the Old Abes to punch their ticket to the Resch Center.   Sectional 2   REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS   To keep things brief, I have DSHA and Sheboygan North winning their games and playing on Friday in a Regional Semifinal.   REGIONAL SEMIFINALS   I have Pewaukee taking care of business against DSHA.   Germantown's press should be enough to rattle Bay Port's backcourt and earn them a trip to a Regional Title Game.   Chalk should hold the rest of the way with De Pere, Brookfield East, Homestead, Hartford, Notre Dame, and Kimberly advancing to Regional Title games.   REGIONAL TITLE GAMES   At this point, things here should get intriguing.   Germantown is a frustrating team to play against when you don't have enough talented guards, but Pewaukee does. They'll move on.   De Pere is a team that's more than the sum of its parts. However, I have a hard time seeing kids who can make something out of nothing, and Brookfield East has two of them. I have the Spartans advancing on their home floor.   Homestead has been eager for a regional crown these past four seasons, and they did split the season series with Hartford. However, you must be excellent on the offensive end to beat the Orioles without a kid who can physically contain [player_tooltip player_id='338945' first='Makena' last='Christian']. I don't think they can repeat their victory at Homestead. Hartford rolls back to Sectionals.   SECTIONAL SEMIFINAL   Pewaukee-Brookfield East is a fun contrast of styles with the Pirates' shotmaking and Spartans' zone defense. However, I don't see the Spartans making enough shots to keep up with the Pirates. I have Pewaukee.   Kimberly and Hartford are a toss-up to me. Hartford is still an efficient offensive unit, even if they aren't quite at the level they were last year. Kimberly is a talented unit with depth, but they've been inconsistent with some kids they play who aren't offensive threats. I believe Kimberly wins this one now that they're healthy, but I could see Hartford winning this game.   SECTIONAL TITLE GAME   If we get a Kimberly-Pewaukee Sectional Final, it looks like it did the first time. Pewaukee's ability to move the ball against the Papermaker defense will lead to enough open shots that the Pirates will punish them and move onto the Resch Center.   Sectional 3   REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS   I have Madison East and Janesville Craig emerging from their Regional Quarterfinal games.   REGIONAL SEMIFINALS   Arrowhead should take care of Craig with ease.   La Follette-Mukwonago should be a fun matchup with contrasting styles. However, I see Mukwonago's solidity being able to edge out the Lancers, but if that game gets close late, the Lancers could make enough plays to win it.   Vel Phillips Memorial and Verona should get by in their Regional Semifinal games.   Oregon and Kettle Moraine should beat each Sun Prairie school and meet at Oregon for a Regional Title Game.   Oconomowoc and Beloit Memorial should be an intriguing matchup with the Purple Knights' guard play and the Raccoons' defensive pressure, but I see Oconomowoc winning that on their home floor.   Waunakee should also handle Madison East on their home floor.   REGIONAL TITLE GAMES   Arrowhead should beat Mukwonago for a third time this season.   Vel Phillips Memorial can beat Verona. They've had some things go against them and have come up short. I can't bet against history there, so I'll take Verona, knowing it could bite me later.   Kettle Moraine's backcourt is good. They would be better than Oregon's if I had ranked them. The Lasers were hurt, but their seniors will be ready to go when it matters most. I'll take the No. 6 seed KM in this one.   Waunakee should avenge their loss to Oconomowoc at Fiserv Forum in the 2023-24 season and advance to Sectionals.   SECTIONAL SEMIFINAL   Arrowhead was good enough to beat a better Verona team last season, and with kids like Kussow-Samz-Klemz, I see the Warhawks making another trip to a Sectional Title Game.   Waunakee's offense is too explosive for a KM team that's been streaky and could make a game out of this, but the Warriors have been excellent lately. I'll take Waunakee.   SECTIONAL TITLE GAME   Arrowhead-Waunakee is a game we saw in the regular season, but it wasn't what we expected. It was junky from start to finish, but Arrowhead did enough to win it.   Arrowhead has been more inconsistent than expected, but when you have a player like Kussow, you can make it work, and with the state title pedigree in that group. I have them ending the season of the youthful upstarts a game before the state tournament.   Sectional 4   REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS   I have West Allis Hale winning the battle of West Allis and Milwaukee Riverside beating Racine Horlick to move on to Friday's Regional Title slate.   REGIONAL SEMIFINALS   Muskego will win with no issue.   Racine Case should have enough talent to get through the 8-9 game with St. Joan/Tenor/Veritas.   Badger and Oak Creek should meet in a Regional Title Game.   I have Franklin beating Bradley Tech, which will become a point to discuss Milwaukee City Conference seedings.   An injured Westosha Central should find a way past Milwaukee King at home.   Kenosha Indian Trail travels to Milwaukee Hamilton/Audubon Tech and wins there.   Bradford has no issues with Horlick.   REGIONAL TITLE GAMES   Muskego beats Case.   Oak Creek frustrates Badger's offense and moves on to Sectionals.   Westosha Central has enough to beat No. 14 Franklin, even without Mannetter.   Bradford gets by Indian Trail.   SECTIONAL SEMIFINAL   Muskego beats Oak Creek in a junky, low-scoring game.   Bradford breezes past an injured Westosha Central unit.   SECTIONAL TITLE GAME   Muskego avenges their season-opening loss at Bradford in a single-digit game and punches their ticket to the State Tournament.   <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d37KvCCpfOFTfgjoIqnofchDSY1LiW48/view?usp=sharing">SECTIONALS 1 AND 2</a>   <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E49cQFWr1SEo3CUCYnzvAISKnspLIYIU/view?usp=sharing">SECTIONALS 3 AND 4</a>

The postseason starts this coming Tuesday with Regional Quarterfinal games around the state. Today, I'll release the brackets I've made with my reasoning. We'll begin with D1 and work our way down to D5.