More Opening Week games I’m looking forward to

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stevens Point at E.C. Memorial</strong>---If I could be in two places at once, I would definitely go to the Eagle's Nest for this game! This opening week matchup, of two potential top 10 teams, should be a wild one. Last year the Panthers gave the Old Abes one of their three loses, 50-37. In that game Lindsey Weiler scored 23 while All-State Honorable Mention [player_tooltip player_id='764935' first='Jada' last='Seubert'] added 15. Eau Claire Memorial is lead by sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1173395' first='Norah' last='Kling'] who is a legit game changer on both sides of the ball and a freak athlete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I see the depth of SPASH being too much for Memorial to handle. I think the development of sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='936786' first='Leah' last='Awe'] (6-2, 8.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.9 bpg) will be the difference in the victory,</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hortonville at West De Pere</strong>---Hortonville is an interesting team to watch how they start their first season without FVA Player of the Year Rainey Welson and her 26.4 points per game (2,046 career). The Polar Bears were just a .500 team after her season was lost due to a knee injury. Hortonville does have a solid group coming back led by D1 recruit, junior&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='533074' first='Kardyn' last='Peppler'], senior [player_tooltip player_id='842218' first='Julieyn' last='Martin'], junior Madi Springer, and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='892249' first='Morgan' last='Mocadlo']. The defending Bay Conference champion Phantoms, who were hit hard by graduation, are coming off a tough opening night loss, losing 52-49 at Appleton North. These teams met last December with Hortonville pulling out a 96-81 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think the Polar Bears start the post-Welson era off with a bang getting a hard fought road victory over the Phantoms. <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kardyn-peppler/"></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Xavier at Laconia</strong>---If I could be in three places at once...This matchup of state qualifiers could be the game of the year in D3! Both teams had the misfortune to lose to eventual state champ Oostburg, at the Resch Center, but both looked primed to make another run. Laconia won last year's matchup 64-41 at Xavier High School with Tierney Madigan leading the way with 19 and Payton Morgan adding 17. The Hawks went cold shooting just .362 (17-47) from the field and 4 of 15 from 3 with no players scoring in double figures. One key factor going in is that the Spartans graduated 4 of their top 5 scorers so it will be interesting to see who steps up to fill the void. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='764914' first='Finley' last='Morgan'] (5-9, 14.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg) is their top returning scorer and her leadership will be key.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I believe Laconia wins this game but Xavier will keep it close with the Spartans ultimately winning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bay Port at Appleton East</strong>---Bay Port is coming off a big opening night victory 52-30 over Lux-Casco. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='736760' first='Melia' last='Lemorande'] had 26 points and 13 rebounds while junior [player_tooltip player_id='874380' first='Olivia' last='Williams'] added 19 points. Appleton East lost a close one 57-49 to Oostburg on Tuesday. [player_tooltip player_id='904623' first='Emilia' last='MontMarquette'] led all scorers with 21 points. Last season, Bay Port got the best of the Patriots 69-65 in overtime. In that game [player_tooltip player_id='736760' first='Melia' last='Lemorande'] led all scorers with 28 points. [player_tooltip player_id='749048' first='Ella' last='Sweeney'] led East with 16 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be another close game similar to last season and may even go into overtime. I think the fact that the Patriots are at home and Bay Port possibly being without emerging big [player_tooltip player_id='874389' first='Kailynn' last='Thompson'] makes the difference with East pulling out the victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->