D1 State Tournament Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state tournament field is out. Four teams in each division will vie for a gold ball. By Thursday, we'll have previews of what to watch for in each semifinal game and what to watch from each program at the state tournament. It's time for D1, where three teams needed overtime to win their sectional finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":1} --> <h1 class="wp-block-heading">Semifinal No. 1: No. 1 Kimberly vs. No. 4 Appleton East</h1> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pregame Notes</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kimberly</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Papermakers snuck their way through perennial power Pewaukee on the back of two massive three-pointers from [player_tooltip player_id='448243' first='Katelyn' last='McGinnis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='764903' first='Ava' last='Van Vonderen'] to tie that game up in regulation and send it to overtime.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Papermakers have been one of the most successful programs in D1 for a long time. Kimberly is making their 12th appearance at the state tournament and seeking their fifth state title in program history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Appleton East</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Patriots needed overtime to beat SPASH in the Sectional Semifinal and double overtime in the Sectional Final to beat No. 1 seed Eau Claire Memorial. Appleton East has been on a heater since losing a convincing game against Kimberly in the middle of May, with their only stumbling block being against Neenah in Overtime.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Appleton East is making its first trip back to the Resch Center since 2022 and its fourth trip in program history, seeking its first gold ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What to Expect</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kimberly swept the season series against Appleton East in the FVA, but the Papermakers haven't played the Patriots since they found their groove in January.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='448322' first='Torie' last='Neubauer'] has been playing her best basketball in the second half of the season, and every time she shoots the ball, it feels like it's going in. [player_tooltip player_id='749048' first='Ella' last='Sweeney'] and [player_tooltip player_id='338969' first='Lilly' last='Meulemans'] have become a balanced backcourt. Each made massive plays down the stretch in sectional games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other name to watch on this unit is their newcomer, [player_tooltip player_id='904623' first='Emilia' last='MontMarquette']. She won't have the gaudy numbers that the other three may put on a stat sheet, but she's the connector for this team. Yes, she can make plays, but having her out there and willing to make an extra pass has led to better offensive possessions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kimberly, undefeated FVA Champions, has as much depth as you could hope for as a coach. The Papermakers could go ten or eleven deep if they wanted.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The main threat for them is [player_tooltip player_id='448243' first='Katelyn' last='McGinnis']'s catches on the perimeter. She missed half the season recovering from a knee injury and hasn't shot the ball at the elite level we're used to seeing her shoot at, but teams will treat her like a 50% three-point shooter. [player_tooltip player_id='764903' first='Ava' last='Van Vonderen'] is coming off possibly her best game in high school against Pewaukee. Yes, she hit the ridiculous game-tying three in that game, but I felt she defended as well as I've seen her defend in her first two seasons. Those are the two main threats the Papermakers boast.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='764909' first='Haylie' last='Dulas'] is the gadget kid on this roster. She can play any role Coach Lepisto wants and is a proven high-level defender. The main three in the Kimberly backcourt, [player_tooltip player_id='509695' first='Emily' last='Urban'], [player_tooltip player_id='764927' first='Kennedy' last='Ebben'], and [player_tooltip player_id='338966' first='Bentley' last='Drout'], complement each other. Urban is the creator and a regular starter, Ebben is the defensive ace, and Drout is the wildcard off the bench who can create her shot off the dribble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The question mark is [player_tooltip player_id='448245' first='Raegan' last='Krueger']. The 6'1 forward went down in the regular season with a knee injury and returned in the regular season. However, she reaggravated that injury in that Sectional Final win. I have no inside information, but not having a 6'1 scholarship-level post would sting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":1} --> <h1 class="wp-block-heading">Semifinal No. 2: No. 2 Arrowhead vs. No. 3 Muskego</h1> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pregame Notes</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have essentially a Classic Eight Conference Title Game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Arrowhead</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The reigning D1 state champions are making their 12th trip to the State Tournament and will seek their fourth state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, [player_tooltip player_id='533057' first='Natalie' last='Kussow'] had a state tournament for the ages, scoring the third most points by an individual in the current two-game format, being now WNBA veteran and DSHA graduate Arike Ogunbawale and current UConn newcomer and Neenah graduate Allie Ziebell.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warhawks will have three new starters this season. They'll have a different look, but they still have the tools to take another gold ball back to the Lake Country.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Muskego</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors are making their first appearance in the state tournament, and the Muskego youth program will be well represented. The Warriors have one of the top youth programs in the state, and it's generated one of the deepest teams in Wisconsin this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors split with Arrowhead this season, and in the game they lost, they walked into the locker room at halftime with a lead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Muskego will play a 1-3-1 zone and muck up the game on that end of the floor, and Arrowhead has had trouble with them this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you like a chaotic defense, this team is the one for you.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What to Expect</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arrowhead and Muskego are opposites. Arrowhead has a more traditional approach, and with a talent like [player_tooltip player_id='533057' first='Natalie' last='Kussow'], she should touch the ball as much as possible. The Warhawks also play man-to-man defense. Muskego tends to move the ball as much as possible, play zone most of the game, and attempt to generate as many turnovers as possible.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warhawks offense's focal point is [player_tooltip player_id='533057' first='Natalie' last='Kussow'], and she's a good enough passer to get open looks to [player_tooltip player_id='509719' first='Teresa' last='Kescenovitz'] when her defender helps around the basket, [player_tooltip player_id='843757' first='Karina' last='Klemz'] when her defender helps off her, and everyone else.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='843757' first='Karina' last='Klemz'] has been a welcomed addition to the graduations and injuries Arrowhead has endured. The transfer from Southern California has been an excellent perimeter threat, and her confidence has grown throughout the season as she's grown accustomed to her new surroundings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other name to watch is [player_tooltip player_id='751284' first='Sidney' last='Zehner']. The sophomore played spot minutes on last season's title-winning team, but she's been crucial to this Warhawk team. Her ability to create off the dribble and aggression fits next to [player_tooltip player_id='533069' first='Presly' last='Samz'], who's more focused on taking care of the ball and keeping things flowing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the Muskego side, the Warriors have about eight kids who could hurt a defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='528116' first='Autumn' last='Dibb'] is the identity of the Warriors. She's the kid who plays with a reckless abandoned on the bottom of the 1-3-1, defending from sideline to sideline. Dibb is a versatile piece who can score from the perimeter, create off the dribble, and finish around the rim. Her competitiveness is something her teammates feed off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='528119' first='Rachel' last='Agg'] and [player_tooltip player_id='528122' first='Melena' last='Glysch'] are two inside-out six-foot kids who can hurt teams in multiple fashions. [player_tooltip player_id='842235' first='Mallory' last='Glysch'] has been an elite spot-up shooter, and then you have kids like [player_tooltip player_id='889826' first='Clare' last='Sperka'], [player_tooltip player_id='751273' first='Molly' last='Makinen'], [player_tooltip player_id='986163' first='Tatum' last='Meinen'], and multiple more kids the Warriors trust off their bench.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->