What to Watch For (Small School Sectional Title Games)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, we're punching twenty tickets to the state tournament. I'll leave some thoughts for the large and small school divisions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baldwin-Woodville could have the best-scoring defense in the state. In the first game with Elk Mound, they gave up 35 points. Elk Mound is also a team on the cusp of a trip to the state tournament for a while and has a real shot tonight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Xavier and Wittenberg-Birnamwood played last season's sectional title game, and we have the same faces from that game. Familiarity breeds competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Laconia-Edgerton should be an intriguing tale of an upstart Edgerton group against a Laconia team that's achieved everything the Crimson Tide wants. It'll be an uphill battle for Edgerton, but if they pull it off, we'll talk about it forever.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oostburg beat an elite Kettle Moraine Lutheran group to get here, and Catholic Memorial beat a tricky St. Thomas More team to reach a Sectional Final. Each team is hungry for a state tournament, and this one could get scrappy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Durand-Arksansaw and McDonell is a game with a team that's been to state each of the last four seasons and one wanting to get there. McDonell always finds a way, and it's hard to bet against them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Mary Catholic-Manitowoc Lutheran is a rubber match between two conference teams that will be a nail-biter. Those kids play against each other all the time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aquinas-Cuba City is one we've seen before. Two of the most successful teams in Southwest Wisconsin make a fun matchup. There will be elite talents from both teams who should make this a fun matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westfield-The Prairie School is a game where we have a clear favorite. Westfield has an uphill battle in this one. However, that's why we play the games. The Hawks may be the favorites in D4 this season, but nothing is guaranteed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D5</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Owen-Withee was here last season and could get over the hump and make it to state if they beat their second No. 6 seed in Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran, who's been on a Cinderella.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assumption-Sevastopol is another David vs. Goliath story. The Royals have been a routinely elite team. Sevastopol has an uphill battle, but they've earned the right to be here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Barneveld is among the most storied small-school programs in Wisconsin, and Eleva-Strum is a team coming off a five-win season, which makes for an intriguing matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lourdes Academy has made a few Sectional Final games, but an elite team like Albany/Monticello is their most daunting challenge yet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->