Under-The-Radar Teams Who Could Make a Tournament Run

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every year, some teams surprise people and make deep postseason runs. Last season, as a No. 6 seed in Division 1, Appleton East made a run to the state tournament, playing two overtime games in the Sectional Rounds. The 2026 postseason will be no different, and we may even have another lower seed that has to travel for a Regional Championship; you never know. In my final article before the Regional Semifinals and Finals, we will look at some teams that may not be traditional powers making a deep postseason run, and potentially find themselves in Green Bay in a few weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Monona Grove</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since the turn of the calendar, Monona Grove has been as streaky a team as you can find in Division 1 this season. I'm sure there are games they'd like back, but they've shown they can compete with talented programs in the Badger-Large. The beauty of what they do is that any of the five players could be a swing player in a one-game playoff scenario. [player_tooltip player_id='953285' first='Sydney' last='Glynn'] was the player who brokeout earlier in the season in the frontcourt. However, they have a stable of guards who have had their moments this season in [player_tooltip player_id='1217182' first='Bailey' last='Nelson'], MiKayla McQueeney, Addyson Schmudlach, and [player_tooltip player_id='842251' first='Danielle' last='Becker']. They've had a shaky run into the postseason. Still, if these kids found themselves beating a talented Waunakee team, I wouldn't be completely floored, even though they have to get through a challenging road game at No. 7 Vel Phillips Memorial before a potential third matchup with Waunakee on Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Menomonie</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mustangs were the "best of the rest" in the Big Rivers Conference this season, and pushed Rice Lake to overtime, and beat a talented Hudson team on the road at the border. They come into their half-sectional as a No. 5 seed and will travel to Central Wisconsin to lock horns with No. 4 Medford, with a potential matchup with No. 1 Rice Lake on Saturday. However, this team has the tools to make life challenging for anyone they play due to junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1275661' first='Jordan' last='Ohman']. Ohman is a physical, athletic, and skilled player who can excel on both ends of the floor and score in bunches. She has been as efficent as anyone could've hoped. Outside of Ohman, her younger sister, [player_tooltip player_id='1241270' first='Lauren' last='Ohman'], has had a solid first season of high school basketball, and they've gotten solid seasons from [player_tooltip player_id='1241165' first='Emmi' last='Marlett'], Reece Barfknect, and Mya Rosmos.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West De Pere</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nothing in particular in Phantoms' ranks compares to their 2024-25 team that went to the state tournament. However, due to circumstances around their sectional, they are an intriguing underdog to watch. In December, the Phantoms played the No. 1 seed in their half of the sectional on the road and lost 48-44. I don't think this group is as far off the top of the sectional in the northern or southern half as people may think. [player_tooltip player_id='879987' first='Molly' last='Walder'] stepped up in a major way in her junior season, and having someone with experience like [player_tooltip player_id='842266' first='Alexa' last='Rattray'] gives West De Pere some stability in their backcourt. I wouldn't count this team out from potentially making a deep postseason run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wisconsin Dells</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It feels odd to say that an undefeated team heading into the postseason could be lurking in the weeds, but the Chiefs feel like they are. The No. 2 seed in their half sectional would likely have to get through No. 1 seeds Aquinas, then Edgerton, to reach the state tournament, but at this point, you can't count them out. They beat a solid Winneconne team and hammered La Crosse Central, who's had an excellent season to this point. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='598735' first='Natalie' last='Backhaus'] and [player_tooltip player_id='624964' first='Ashiya' last='Hopkins'] have been incredible this year, playing their best basketball in their careers. It has also helped that younger players like [player_tooltip player_id='992497' first='Jazlyn' last='Alwin'] and Aja Gall have been confident and found their footing, to elevate this team to where it is heading into the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->