Division 3 Sectional Preview

Today, we'll break down each sectional in every division and discuss what has to go right for each team to reach the Resch Center and what could hold them back from hoisting a Sectional Championship plaque on Saturday. We'll discuss D3 to D5, and I'll make my sectional predictions tomorrow.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sectional 1</h2>   Baldwin-Woodville   Reasons they could go to the state tournament.   The defense is real. The Blackhawks' defense is suffocating yet again, and they continue to be one of the best-scoring defenses in the state. Maggie Jensen is still the lynchpin of the defense, and they have experience with Haley Jordt and Hailey Cota back from last season's state qualifying team.   What could go wrong?   Baldwin-Woodville struggled offensively against Edgewood last season, and they still have had stretches where they can't put the ball in the basket.   St. Croix Central   Reasons they could go to the state tournament.   The Panthers have a solid balance inside and out. [player_tooltip player_id='1265496' first='Sophie' last='Hook'] and Addison Kofal have stepped up on the offensive end and slot in well with [player_tooltip player_id='995788' first='Elsah' last='Rubis'] on the block.   What could go wrong?   St. Croix Central has little postseason experience, and to reach the Resch, they'll have to beat two teams with more postseason experience.   Elk Mound   Reasons they could go to the state tournament.   The Mounders have been close to the state tournament for a few seasons. Future UW-La Crosse Eagle [player_tooltip player_id='448260' first='Ellie' last='Schiszik'] organizes their offense well and can score in bunches. Allie Robel and Allie Roder have improved each season as two-way wings. Robel had a 29-point outburst in Elk Mound's Regional Title Game.   What could go wrong?   They've been a team who struggles against productive defensive units and haven't gotten over the hump against teams who can take them out of their rhythm.   Wisconsin Dells   Reasons they could go to the state tournament.   The Chiefs have the most talented kid in their sectional with forward [player_tooltip player_id='598735' first='Natalie' last='Backhaus']. The 6'0 Augustana commit is an excellent tough-shot maker who can throw passes through small windows. Ashyia Hopkins and [player_tooltip player_id='659763' first='Natalie' last='Field'] are two experienced guards and wings who can make plays in high-pressure situations.   What could go wrong?   The depth of offensive weapons is thin. Anything that takes Backhaus, Hopkins, or Field off the floor makes things more challenging for this group.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sectional 2</h2>   Wittenberg-Birnamwood   Reasons they could go to the state tournament.   The last undefeated in Wisconsin. Wittenberg-Birnamwood boasts one of the best duos in D3, in [player_tooltip player_id='842241' first='Rory' last='Salvesen'] and Melania Granquist. Granquist is an excellent inside-out threat in the frontcourt, and Salvesen is a tall and athletic guard.   What could go wrong?   The Chargers haven't had the best schedule in D3. If Wittenberg-Birnamwood reaches the state tournament, the Chargers may need to earn their two best wins of the season.   Freedom   Reasons they could go to the state tournament.   The Irish have experienced kids who've played in competitive sectional games. Gracie Martzahl, [player_tooltip player_id='448321' first='Breana' last='Dickrell'], and [player_tooltip player_id='528118' first='Abbie' last='Cropsey'], among others, know their role and what it takes to make a state tournament, and they battled through a competitive Northeast Conference all season.   What could go wrong?   The depth is there for the Irish, but their offense has been streaky. Finishing with under 30 points at Waupun was alarming.   Winneconne   Reasons they could go to the state tournament.   The Wolves turned a corner this season. [player_tooltip player_id='751291' first='Grace' last='Mitchell'] has become one of the top kids in the East Central Conference. [player_tooltip player_id='1162234' first='Harper' last='Neace'] is an excellent interior presence, and Jada Kaiser has been one of the top shooters in D3 all season. Winneconne has the tools to punch a ticket to Green Bay.   What could go wrong?   Winneconne has struggled against the top teams in D3, like Xavier and Kettle Moraine Lutheran, and to get where they want to go, they have to beat those types of teams.   Xavier   Reasons they could go to the state tournament.   The Hawks are battle-tested and have played well against some of the best programs in the state. The record may not describe how good they are, but they're among the best in D3. [player_tooltip player_id='751258' first='Elle' last='Krull']'s absence has hurt Xavier all season. However, [player_tooltip player_id='766628' first='Brynn' last='Krull'] has stepped up, [player_tooltip player_id='766619' first='Joy' last='Krull'] is their glue kid, Hailey Hafner is their spark off the bench, and they're comfortable playing 11 kids.   What could go wrong?   The depth can hurt them if their kids can't find a rhythm. They don't have more than two kids who can create off the dribble either, which could lead to a stagnant offense.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sectional 3</h2>   Edgerton   Reasons they could go to the state tournament.   The Crimson Tide have the backcourt to make a run. [player_tooltip player_id='914989' first='Claudia' last='Jenny'] is their leader at the point of attack, [player_tooltip player_id='533071' first='Marti' last='Rebman'] has been a solid off-ball option for them, and [player_tooltip player_id='624854' first='Gracee' last='Langer'] adds a physical presence for them in the paint.   What could go wrong?   Edgerton has had some stretches where they're susceptible to runs because they don't have kids who can get downhill whenever they want. Langer's foul tally in each game will be critical for them.   Prairie du Chien   Reasons they could go to the state tournament.   Every year, I think there's no way Prairie du Chien makes it back to sectionals, and they keep plucking their way back. Greenlee Krahn has made the most of senior season, and [player_tooltip player_id='914330' first='Tannah' last='Radloff'] has stepped up in her final high school season.   What could go wrong?   The teams left in this sectional have some high-level guards. I'm not sure the Blackhawks can handle that.   Laconia   Reasons they could go to the state tournament.   Laconia has all the tools to make a fourth consecutive trip to Green Bay. The experience, talent, guard play, and production. [player_tooltip player_id='342096' first='Tierney' last='Madigan'], [player_tooltip player_id='375953' first='Aubrey' last='Leonard'], [player_tooltip player_id='448258' first='Payton' last='Morgan'], [player_tooltip player_id='877430' first='Eva' last='Engel'], Molly Duel, and [player_tooltip player_id='764914' first='Finley' last='Morgan'] have done it all before and can do it again.   What could go wrong?   As talented as they are, against some of the elite talents, like [player_tooltip player_id='880796' first='Kinsley' last='Ketterhagen'], [player_tooltip player_id='533060' first='Ady' last='Ketterhagen'], and [player_tooltip player_id='448257' first='Makenzie' last='Luehring'], they've had to allocate extra resources to slow them down, which could lead to others finding a groove.   East Troy   Reasons they could go to the state tournament.   The Trojans dominated the Rock Valley Conference and entered the postseason as a two-loss team. Amya Pluess has been an excellent scorer for them, and Aubrie Cherek and [player_tooltip player_id='509720' first='Valencia' last='Burgos'] have produced consistently all season.   What could go wrong?   East Troy hasn't proven how good they are against some of the elite teams in D3 and will have to beat at least one juggernaut to reach Green Bay.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sectional 4</h2>   Kettle Moraine Lutheran   Reasons they could go to the state tournament.   The Chargers haven't done anything to beat good teams all year. From Hartford and Brookfield East, among others. [player_tooltip player_id='448257' first='Makenzie' last='Luehring'] probably deserved to be a finalist for Ms. Basketball this year. The senior has been that good. Her younger sister, [player_tooltip player_id='931583' first='Brooklyn' last='Luehring'], has been an excellent secondary ball handler, and [player_tooltip player_id='751259' first='Hayden' last='Lauer'] adds to their defensive identity. [player_tooltip player_id='448261' first='Madeline' last='Leffel'] also adds some versatility on the defensive end and perimeter shooting.   What could go wrong?   We saw it last season. The Chargers can be inconsistent on the offensive end, and if shots don't fall, it'll be an uphill battle against some of the other elite teams in D3.   Oostburg   Reasons they could go to the state tournament.   The Lady Dutch has the best trio in D3 in the Ketterhagen sisters. [player_tooltip player_id='533060' first='Ady' last='Ketterhagen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='533061' first='Riley' last='Ketterhagen'] know how quickly these moments go by and want to get over the hump and reach Green Bay. Younger sister Kinsley Keterhagen is as talented as anyone and is an elite tough-shot maker. No single player can slow her down.   What could go wrong?   The supporting cast isn't at the level of Laconia or Kettle Moraine Lutheran, but they've improved over the years and need to be confident to hoist a gold ball.   Catholic Memorial   Reasons they could go to the state tournament.   The Crusaders have had plenty of "firsts" these last few seasons. The win over Arrowhead was a statement win, and they had a real chance to earn a share of the Classic 8 title following a Sectional Final trip last season. [player_tooltip player_id='374232' first='Jenna' last='Welsch'], [player_tooltip player_id='520094' first='Hallie' last='Koltz'], and [player_tooltip player_id='533059' first='Kelly' last='Boinski'] are a group that can make some noise together, and it's their last chance.   What could go wrong?   For whatever reason, CMH has had games where they came out flat and couldn't emerge from that funk, which can't happen if the Crusaders want to make the state tournament for the first time in decades.   St. Thomas More   Reasons they could go to the state tournament.   The Cavaliers have a solid unit. [player_tooltip player_id='624974' first='Zoë' last='Dispennette'] and [player_tooltip player_id='842243' first='Hanna' last='Bultman'] are a talented duo who've figured out how to coexist with one another. They each can fill it up and swing a game on their own.   What could go wrong?   Guard play is a question for this group, and they've gone extremely cold on the offensive end and played their way out of a few games this season and into others that shouldn't have been competitive.

Today, we'll break down each sectional in every division and discuss what has to go right for each team to reach the Resch Center and what could hold them back from hoisting a Sectional Championship plaque on Saturday. We'll discuss D3 to D5, and I'll make my sectional predictions tomorrow.