Badger-Small Conference preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the pause in events, in August, I will get a jump start on my conference previews reviewing last season and looking forward to this season finishing up the Badger Conference. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2025-26 Standings:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Edgewood 14-0 (20-7) 2. Mount Horeb 10-3 (15-11) 3. McFarland 9-5 (12-14) 3. Sauk Prairie 9-5 (13-12) 5. Fort Atkinson 5-8 (12-13) 6. Stoughton 5-9 (9-17) 7. Reedsburg 3-11 (5-20) 8. Portage 0-14 (3-21)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edgewood has been dominate, in the Badger-Small, for the past couple of years and I see that continuing in 2027. Here is what I think things will look like once the dust settles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. <strong>Edgewood</strong>---It is rare when a 20 win season might be seen as taking a step back however it was no surprise to see the Crusaders back on top of the Badger-Small in 2026, their second consecutive conference title. What was a bit of a surprise was Edgewood not making a third consecutive trip, to the Resch Center, with their season ending in a 84-71 loss to Milton in the Sectional final. Edgewood comes back looking for revenge and are led by arguably the top senior duo, in the state, in Bradley commit, 5-10 [player_tooltip player_id='914983' first='Beanie' last='Thompson'] (17.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.7 spg) and 5-8 Wisconsin commit [player_tooltip player_id='764918' first='Anna' last='Miller'] (19.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.7 apg, 3.2 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. <strong>McFarland</strong>---Season ended in a 69-47 loss to DeForest Area in the Regional semifinal. The Spartans, winners of nine conference games last season, did not lose much in graduation returning their three leading scorers in 5-9 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1276313' first='Allison' last='Charbonneau'] (13.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.0 spg), 5-10 senior [player_tooltip player_id='1224563' first='Brooke' last='DeShong'] (7.4 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.5 spg) and 5-3 senior Charlie Loeder (7.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.0 spg). I see them again slugging it out with Mount Horeb for second in the conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. <strong>Mount Horeb</strong>---The Vikings, winners of 15 games, saw their season come to an end with a 59-21 loss to Edgewood in the Regional final. I have them finishing third but they could easily finish second again. Returning are 1st team All-Conference selections, 5-4 junior [player_tooltip player_id='880249' first='Lauren' last='Mester'] (9.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2.2 spg) and 5-6 senior [player_tooltip player_id='915005' first='Courtney' last='Monroe'] (8.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.1 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. <strong>Sauk Prairie</strong>---The Eagles were hit hard, by graduation, losing three All-Conference seniors in Mallory Hartwig, Brooklyn Kaufman, and Haylie Bader. I think the Eagles will finish fourth but I could realistically see them in the mix for the two or three spot this season with seniors 5-5 [player_tooltip player_id='1784610' first='Audrey' last='Brickl'] and 5-6 defensive standout [player_tooltip player_id='874947' first='Sophia' last='Hanson'] leading the charge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. <strong>Reedsburg</strong>---The Beavers, winners of just 5 games last season, make the biggest jump in 2027 moving up two spaces to the number 5 spot. Returning from a season, which ended with a 53-48 loss to Stoughton, are Reedsburg's top four scorers lead by 1st team All-Conference selection [player_tooltip player_id='1227274' first='Lorelei' last='Williams']. The 5-11 junior put up 17.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.2 apg, 2.3 spg and 1.3 bpg. Joining her are fellow juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1215410' first='Lily' last='Engel'], Sydney Olson, and Lanie Delkamp providing veteran leadership.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. <strong>Stoughton</strong>---Stoughton, hit hard by graduation in 2025, dropped from 2nd to 6th finishing 5-9 in conference play ending with a 84-55 loss to Milton in the Regional semifinal. I see the Vikings holding at the six spot again this season led by 1st team All-Conference junior [player_tooltip player_id='881134' first='Emma' last='Trautsch'] (5-7, 18.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.6 apg, 3.1 spg) and sophomore Emma Desmet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. <strong>Fort Atkinson</strong>---The Blackhawks fall two spots in my prediction for 2027 due to being hit hard by the graduation of 3 seniors and 16 points per game. Last season ended on a down note with a three game losing streak and a 71-54 loss to Waukesha West in the Regional. Returning are a pair of solid juniors in [player_tooltip player_id='879831' first='Olivia' last='Knickrehm'] (10.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 0.5 apg, 2.0 spg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1228248' first='Lyla' last='Hintz'] (8.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 2.2 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. <strong>Portage</strong>---The Warriors winless, in the Badger-Small, ended their season with a 71-20 loss to McFarland. Unfortunately I do not see them getting out of the cellar, this season, which would make it six straight last place finishes. Back to prove me wrong, and provide veteran leadership, are a trio of seniors in Julia Chilson (6.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 0.8 apg, 1.0 spg), [player_tooltip player_id='874946' first='Josie' last='Kiefer'] (6.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 0.5 apg, 1.7 spg) and [player_tooltip player_id='874945' first='Lyla' last='Brown'] (6.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.4 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->