D2 State Tournament X-Factors

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are down to the final four with the Division 2 state semi-finals starting Friday. Today I will be pointing out one player, from each team, that could be an X-Factor in helping their team take home the gold ball on Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='884745' first='Brielle' last='Balts']</strong>-Rice Lake</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Relative unknown Balts, known more for her rebounding, and averaging just over 5 points per game, exploded onto the scene with 18 points in the Sectional final. That outburst included 15 in the first half as Rice Lake beat Shawano to head to State. I am intrigued to see if the freshman guard can keep the momentum up, as another reliable scoring option for the 25-3 Warriors, on Friday, against Beaver Dam. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emma Julka</strong>-Beaver Dam</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5-7 senior Julka, a three-sport athlete at Beaver Dam, is an X-Factor for me in these remaining game(s). Averaging 11.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.7 apg, and 3.3 spg is solid but what catches my eye is her free-throw shooting (80.6%) that could come into play if Beaver Dam holds a late lead against Rice Lake on Friday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1228363' first='Madeline' last='Volpe']</strong>-Whitefish Bay</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1228363' first='Madeline' last='Volpe'], a 5-4 junior, has been a key reason why the 24-4 Blue Dukes are two wins away from a state title. Where she catches my eye, as a potential X-Factor is her 38.2% from deep while leading the team in makes with 58. If she gets on a two game heater, it could be curtains for the rest of the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kenzie Pedersen</strong>-Elkhorn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Elkhorn's X-Factor, I'm going a little bit on a limb with the 5-7 senior Pedersen. Averaging a respectable 7.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.4 apg, and 58% from the floor, she could factor in as someone who Whitefish Bay might try and put on the line, late in the game, where she is shooting 60%. Her ability to knock down free-throws could make the difference for the 24-4 Elks advancing to Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->