Classic Eight Conference preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025-26 Standings:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Arrowhead 14-0 (28-2) 2. Mukwonago 11-3 (18-8) 3. Muskego 8-6 (12-12) 4. Catholic Memorial 7-7 (14-13) 5. Oconomowoc 6-8 (15-11) 6. Oak Creek 4-10 (11-15) 7. Kettle Moraine 3-11 (11-13) 8. Waukesha West 3-11 (12-14)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. <strong>Arrowhead</strong>---The Warhawks, winners of 103 games over the last four seasons, capped 2026 with a 80-74 win over Wauwatosa East in the State Championship. Arrowhead, just like most of the Classic Eight, was hit extremely hard by graduation with 5 players and about 50 points per game not returning. The biggest void to fill will be All-State Natalie Kussow and her 27.1 points per game. Returning are a trio of talented seniors in 1st Team All-Conference, 5-9 [player_tooltip player_id='751284' first='Sidney' last='Zehner'] (12.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.7 spg). 2nd Team All-Conference, 5-11 [player_tooltip player_id='843757' first='Karina' last='Klemz'] (8.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.9 spg) and Honorable Mention All-Conference, 5-11 Elly Petersen (5.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.6 apg, 0.5 spg). They will be tasked with trying to win a 4th straight conference title this winter while leading a largely inexperienced group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. <strong>Mukwonago</strong>---The Indians, winners of 18 games a year ago, saw their season end at the hands of the eventual state champs and conference rival Arrowhead 61-43 in the Sectional semifinal. Out to avenge that team, a group that graduated three including their leading scorer Rachael Chilicki and her 17.5 ppg, will be 6-2 junior, 1st Team All-conference selection [player_tooltip player_id='1232213' first='Peyton' last='Cochenet'] (16.6 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.5 spg, 0.9 bpg) and Honorable Mention All-Conference, 5-6 junior Ella Maltby (6.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.6 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. <strong>Oconomowoc</strong>---Oconomowoc makes the biggest jump, in the preseason rankings, up to the #3 spot after finishing in fifth last season which ended in a 88-62 loss to Arrowhead in the Regional final. Returning a very strong core, the Racoons will rely on seniors [player_tooltip player_id='751237' first='Amelia' last='Van Der Kooy'] (5-9, 12.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.2 apg, 0.6 spg), Ari Strick (5-9, 9.2 ppg, 6.39 rpg, 2.3 apg, 0.7 spg, 0.5 bpg) and Maddex Hansen (5-11, 7.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.9 apg, 0.5 spg) to help overcome the graduation of four seniors and about 22 points of production.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. <strong>Muskego</strong>---The Warriors season ended with a 59-54 loss to Westosha Central in the Regional semifinal. To make matters worse, Muskego graduated 3 of their top 4 scorers and about 30 points per game. Top returning players include a trio of seniors 5-6 [player_tooltip player_id='751273' first='Molly' last='Makinen'] (9.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.9 spg), 5-5 Taylor [player_tooltip player_id='1231936' first='Collins' last=''] (6.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.8 apg, 1.2 spg) and 6-0 Taylor Meinen (5.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.3 spg). Their senior leadership gives them the slight edge to stay in the top half of the conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. <strong>Kettle Moraine</strong>---The Lasers, winners of just three conference games, a season ago make the jump to #5. Last season ended with a 81-75 loss to Madison LaFollette. Having only graduated two players, there is plenty of optimism around this exciting young team. Top returning players are juniors [player_tooltip player_id='992511' first='Quinn' last='Lodes'] (5-9, 17.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.0 spg), Edynn Lawters (5-5, 6.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.4 spg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1307706' first='Tenley' last='Neal'] (5-5, 5.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.8 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. <strong>Catholic Memorial</strong>---The Crusaders, winners of 7 conference games last season, drop a couple spots to the #6 spot this season. Replacing the scoring, left by losing three of their top four to graduation, will not be easy in arguable one of the state's toughest conferences. Returning are 5-8 junior Sloan Haase (8.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.9 spg) and 5-6 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='888384' first='Kate' last='Boinski'] (5.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.7 apg, 0.4 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. <strong>Oak Creek</strong>---The Knights were another Classic Eight team hit hard by graduation losing 31 points of scoring. Season ended with a 59-51 loss to Westosha Central in the Regional final. Top returning players include 5-11 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='888335' first='Sofija' last='Paldrmic'] (7.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.9 bpg) and 5-7 senior [player_tooltip player_id='874971' first='Sophia' last='Peets'] (6.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.1 apg, 0.4 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. <strong>Waukesha West</strong>---Waukesha West, winners of just three conference games, last season will struggle to stay out of the basement again in 2027. Last season, which ended in a 67-44 loss, to Elkhorn Area, in the Regional semifinal also saw the graduation of their top two scorers and about 30 points per game overall. Returning for the Wolverines are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='751242' first='Ava' last='Spratt'] (11.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.8 spg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='898263' first='Clare' last='Tutkowski'] (4.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.5 bpg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->