Capital-North Conference preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025-26 Standings:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Lakeside Lutheran 10-0 (19-8) 2. Poynette 5-5 (10-17) 2. Waupun 5-5 (11-15) 2. Columbus 5-5 (15-11) 5. Lodi 3-7 (8-18) 6. Lake Mills 2-8 (12-13) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. <strong>Lakeside Lutheran</strong>---The Warriors, a perfect 10-0 last season, look again like the team to beat in the Capital-North this season. Coming off of a 19 win season, that ended with a 54-33 loss to Kettle Moraine Lutheran in the Sectional semifinals, Poynette returns all but 15 points of their scoring and a ton of size. Returning is senior, 1st Team All-Conference, [player_tooltip player_id='1230033' first='Nadia' last='Murphy'] (5-11, 15.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.9 spg, 83.8% FT) and her sister [player_tooltip player_id='615460' first='Paige' last='Murphy'] (5-10, 11.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.0 spg). They anchor a squad that also has fellow senior, 2nd Team All-Conference Kara Meske (5-11, 5.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.9 apg, 1.1 spg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1801730' first='Alex' last='Moore'] (5-8, 10.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.9 spg, 0.8 bpg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. <strong>Columbus</strong>---The Cardinals finished in a three-way tie for 2nd, last season, but they will have it all to themselves this season. Returning their top four scorers, from a season that ended with a 59-47 loss, to Kiel, in the Regional semifinal, Columbus's returning core give them the edge. Returning is senior 1st Team All-Conference, [player_tooltip player_id='840046' first='Isabelle' last='Markevitch'] (5-11, 18.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.0 apg, 2.0 spg). She is joined by fellow senior, Honorable Mention All-Conference, Payton Dornaus (5-8, 9.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 3.2 spg). The Cardinal "Big 3" is filled out with talented junior, 1st Team All-Conference, [player_tooltip player_id='892938' first='Kinsley' last='Venden'] (5-7, 14.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 3.5 spg). The lead a squad that returns 13 players that saw action last season and will compete with Lakeside Lutheran for the title this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. <strong>Poynette</strong>---The Pumas season, ended with a 53-39 loss, to Luther, in the Regional final. Graduating five players, including Honorable Mention All-Conference selection Capri Lapacek, the Pumas will need even more from the school's all-time leading scorer and reigning conference POY [player_tooltip player_id='751244' first='Avalyn' last='Albrecht']. The 6-1 UW-GB commit averaged 20.1 ppg, 14.1 rpg, 2.7 apg, 5.8 bpg will need to lead a returning core along with fellow senior [player_tooltip player_id='874941' first='Cora' last='Larson'] if they hope to keep pace with Lakeside Lutheran and an improved Columbus squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. <strong>Lake Mills</strong>---Lake Mills, winners of just two conference games last season, will be the most improved in 2027. Only graduating one player, and about 5.5 points per game, the L-Cats return talented senior [player_tooltip player_id='1174747' first='Milan' last='Fullerton'] (18.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.4 apg, 2.2 spg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='1227276' first='Sydney' last='Grundahl'] (12.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.7 apg, 3.9 spg) and senior McKenna Klubertanz (6.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.1 spg) for a squad that I could see finishing as high as 3rd after the dust settles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. <strong>Waupun</strong>---Nobody in the conference was hit as hard, by graduation, as the Warriors. Looking to replace three of their top four scorers will not be easy and Waupun will need their 7 returning players, led by 5-10 junior, [player_tooltip player_id='900199' first='Alexis' last='Babiash'] (7.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 0.3 apg) and 6-1 senior [player_tooltip player_id='1775294' first='Addie' last='Voight'] (6.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg) to step up if they hope to keep pace.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. <strong>Lodi</strong>---The Blue Devils 8-18 season ended with a 63-37 loss to Wisconsin Dells in the Regional semifinal. Looking to replace the graduations of All-Conference performers Gracie Clary and Taylor Reese will not be easy. Returning All-Conference Honorable Mention selection, senior [player_tooltip player_id='874949' first='Zoey' last='Bahe'] (5-7, 12.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.8 spg) will be asked to carry the load and help keep Lodi competitive in an improved Capital-North this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->