North Eastern Conference preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Marinette 16-2 (22-5); 2. Freedom 14-4 (20-7); 3. Wrightstown 12-6 (14-12); 4. Denmark 11-7 (16-10); 5. Luxemburg-Casco 10-8 (11-14) 6. Waupaca 9-9 (11-14); 7. Fox Valley Lutheran 8-10 (10-14); 8. Oconto Falls 8-10 (11-15); 9. Clintonville 2-16 (2-23); 10. Little Chute 0-18 (2-23)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Note: Fox Valley Lutheran joined the Bay Conference for 2025-26.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the first week of practices wrap up, I'm going to wrap up my conference previews with the North Eastern Conference. Here is how I see things playing out:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. <strong>Denmark</strong>---Denmark is one of the more intriguing teams to watch in D3 this season. They did graduate four players however they do return their three top scorers. Leading the way is 2nd Team All-Conference senior [player_tooltip player_id='842232' first='Kiarrah' last='Micolichek'] (5-7, 15.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.0 spg, 89.1% FT). She starts her senior season with 887 career points. 1st Team All-Conference Junior [player_tooltip player_id='878990' first='Allie' last='VanVonderen'] (5-7, 14.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.6 apg, 2.2 spg, 83.2% FT) is coming off of a huge club summer season and starts her junior season with 618 career points. Rounding out the Vikings "big 3" is senior [player_tooltip player_id='879637' first='Paige' last='Selner'] (5-9, 9.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.5 spg). Coming off a season where they lost seven games by six points or less it's easy to see that this experienced talented group is more than ready to take their turn on the top of the conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. <strong>Wrightstown</strong>---The Tigers were a bit of a tough team to try and predict where they might fall this season. Season ended with a 45-34 loss to Seymour in the Regional. They did graduate 4 players however they have some nice pieces coming back led by All-Conference senior [player_tooltip player_id='842229' first='Ella' last='Verbeten'] (5-8, 15.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, 2.1 spg). She starts her senior season with 879 career points and will be the key reason that I predict the Tigers will move up one spot and compete with Denmark and Freedom for the conference title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. <strong>Freedom</strong>---I see Freedom taking a slight step back from last season's 20 wins that ended in a 56-39 loss to Wittenberg-Birnamwood in the Sectional. They graduated 7 losing a couple of key pieces in Gracie Martzahl (8.7 ppg) and Abbie Cropsey (7.2 ppg). Returning are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='448321' first='Breana' last='Dickrell'] (5-9, 7.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.2 spg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1225944' first='Jaydah' last='Bork'] (5-8, 6.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.2 spg) to provide leadership and scoring punch to help keep the Irish competitive. They start out with a favorable schedule playing their first two at home.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4.<strong> Marinette</strong>---Champions of the conference, for the last two years, I see Marinette dropping to fourth this season. Winners of 58 games over the last 3 seasons. A promising 2025 season ended in a 49-39 loss to Shawano in the Sectional. The Marines were hit hard graduating 9 players and 6 of their top 7 scorers accounting for 37.9 points per game. 1st Team All-Conference Junior Elizabeth Wade (5-8, 10.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.2 apg, 2.4 spg,) is the top returning scorer and a lot of weight will fall on her shoulders to keep Marinette in the top half of the conference. They do have a favorable schedule, to start the season, with three very winnable games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. <strong>Waupaca</strong>---Waupaca is a team that could surprise me this season. While I have them picked 5th, I could easily see them in the top 3 once the dust settles. Last season ended with a 39-30 loss to Fox Valley Lutheran in the Regional. On the bright side they only graduated two players accounting for 15.5 points per game. Returning is All-Conference selection, senior [player_tooltip player_id='842246' first='Hailey' last='Bechard'] (5-6, 17.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.0 apg, 5.5 spg). She is the conference's reigning scoring champ and starts her final season with 1,004 career points. She is paired with fellow senior Taylor Kling (5-7, 7.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.8 spg) to provide veteran leadership. The Comets start on the road against Iola-Scandinavia before heading home for three straight games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. <strong>Luxemburg-Casco</strong>---The Spartans had a solid 2024-25 finishing with 10 wins in the conference. Lost 38-34 to Pulaski, in the Regional but return 3 of their top 4 scorers. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='879628' first='Brianna' last='Bray'] (5-4, 11.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.9 apg, 2.0 spg) starts her senior season with 702 career points and has a good chance to hit 1,000 before the end of the year. Also returning are junior [player_tooltip player_id='1214571' first='Sienna' last='Blohowiak'] (5-3, 11.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.8 spg) and senior Alayna Deprez (5-8, 4.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg). Lux-Casco definitely has the firepower to finish in the 4-5 range if things go right. They will be tested, right out of the gate, with a November 18 game at FRCC favorite Bay Port.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. <strong>Oconto Falls</strong>---The Panthers took a bit of a step back from their 14 win 2024 season finishing with a 66-52 loss to Wittenberg-Birnamwood in the Regional. They were hit moderately hard, through graduation, losing four players including Honorable Mention All-Conference Maddy Maloney and her 11.2 ppg to Wisconsin Lutheran College. They do return leading scorer senior [player_tooltip player_id='877438' first='Rylie' last='Shallow'] (5-6, 16.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.3 apg, 4.6 spg). She was a 1st team All-Conference selection and starts her senior season with 663 career points and should hit 1,000 in February.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8.<strong> Clintonville</strong>---Clintonville is looking to rebound from a two win season where they only graduated one player accounting for about five points per game. Lost to conference rival Wrightstown 55-29 in the Regional. A bright spot is returning player, senior Zoey Ferg (5-11, 9.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 0.6 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.1 bpg). She will be key in helping the Truckers stay out of the cellar and competing for middle of the pack. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. <strong>Little Chute</strong>---Little Chute has had a very difficult three year run winning only six games in the process. Optimistically they return 80% of their scoring and have nowhere to go but up! Seniors Elliana Martin (5-7, 4.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.4 spg) and Miranda Kirchner (5-9, 3.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.2 spg) return to lead the Mustangs attack. They open at Valley Christian looking to avenge a 58-38 loss last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->