Big East-North Conference preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025-26 Standings:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. St. Mary Catholic 12-0 (25-4) 2. Manitowoc Lutheran 10-2 (22-5) 3. Howards Grove 8-4 (20-6) 4. Mishicot 5-7 (13-12) 5. Reedsville 4-8 (11-14) 6. Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah 3-9 (9-14) 7. Hilbert 0-12 (5-19)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. <strong>Saint Mary Catholic</strong>---The Zephyrs ran the table, in 2026, with a perfect 14-0 record and their fifth consecutive Big East-North crown. A terrific 25 win season, in which they made it to the Resch Center, ended with a 45-31 loss to Albany/Monticello in the State semifinal. The conference's deepest team, a season ago, returns their top three scorers and all but 1.8 points as they should cruise to their 6th straight league title. Returning is conference POY, senior [player_tooltip player_id='751240' first='Autumn' last='Crowe'] (5-10, 21.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.8 apg, 5.3 spg, 1.0 bpg) as well as fellow senior, 2nd Team All-Conference Luci Nacker (5-6, 11.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.7 apg, 3.0 spg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='890590' first='Gabby' last='Guerrero'] (5-4, 10.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 2.4 apg, 3.1 spg) who made the All-Conference Honorable Mention team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. <strong>Howards Grove</strong>---Returning a good mixture of size and scoring, I see the Tigers jumping up a spot to #2 this season. Last season ended in a 60-46 loss to Lomira in the Regional final. Returning for the Tigers are All-Conference selections, senior Addison Stoeckight (5-7, 13.1ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.1 apg, 3.2 spg) a 1st team selection as well as teammates 5-6 junior Kendall Holzwart (10.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.2 apg, 2.7 spg) and 5-10 senior Natalie Camody (9.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.2 apg, 2.3 spg) who both made Honorable Mention.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. <strong>Manitowoc Lutheran</strong>---The Lancers were hit hard by graduation, losing their top 4 scorers, and 7 seniors to graduation, accounting for 48 points of productivity. A fantastic 22 win season ended with a close 75-69 loss to Denmark in the Sectional semifinal. While the cupboard might be somewhat bare, Lutheran does return senior Morgan Jost (5.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.7 apg, 2.2 spg) and junior Sydney Pipkorn (4.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.5 apg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. <strong>Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah</strong>---The Resorters finished in 7th last season, however I see them making the biggest jump, to 4th this season. Last season ended with a 52-48 loss, to Wild Rose, in the Regional semifinal however they return a strong senior led squad highlighted by 2nd Team All-Conference selection, 5-9 Delaney Maranell (12.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.1 spg), 5-11 Paige Ganga (9.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.9 spg) and 5-6 Dyani Lisowe (8.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.4 apg, 3.9 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. <strong>Mishicot</strong>---The Indians, winners of 5 games last season, and 13 overall, drop one spot to 5th in 2027. Having graduated two, including their leading scorer, Mishicot's season ended in a heartbreaker losing 59-57 to Southern Door in the Sectional. Top returning players include juniors Brooklyn Paider (10.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 0.6 apg, 1.5 spg) and Lily Trochil (7.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.0 spg, 1.5 bpg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. <strong>Reedsville</strong>---Season ended in a 76-32 loss to Valley Christian in the Regional semifinal. Another team hit hard by graduation, the Panthers will need to find a way to replace three of their top four scorers and about 36 points per game. One player critical to that effort will be junior Brooklyn Taddy (9.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.5 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. <strong>Hilbert</strong>---The Wolves had another rough season, in the Big East-North, going winless for the third consecutive season. On the bright side, there is nowhere to go but up and they return all 12 of their players! I predict that they will get at least one conference win, this season, and it will be due to the effort and leadership of players like senior Liz Schneider (8.9 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 1.6 apg, 2.9 spg) and junior Aurora Sromek (7.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.9 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->