Metro Classic Conference preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the pause in events, in August, I will continue my conference previews reviewing last season and looking forward to this season continuing with the Metro Classic Conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2025-26 Standings:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Dominican 14-0 (24-3) 2. St. Thomas More 12-2 (23-4) 3. Racine St. Catherine's 9-5 (17-9) 4. Kenosha St. Joseph 8-6 (21-7) 5. The Prairie School 7-7 (14-12) 6. Martin Luther 4-10 (9-16) 7. Shoreland Lutheran 2-12 (9-18) 8. Racine Lutheran 0-14 (6-20)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. <strong>Dominican</strong>---The Knights, after a two season hiatus, returned to the top of the Metro Classic in 2026 running the table to a perfect 14-0 record. However the postseason would not be as kind to them as they dropped a 58-54 heartbreaker to conference rival Kenosha St. Joseph in the Sectional semifinal. Dominican was hit especially hard in graduation losing 3 of their top 5 scorers accounting for 38.7 points per game. Even under a new coach, I see the Knights repeating based on their returning core and the fact that every other team in the conference seemed to graduate just as much of their scoring, or more, than the Knights. Leading the way is senior [player_tooltip player_id='1039225' first='Angelina' last='Reyes'] (10.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.6 spg) fresh off of a fantastic summer on the AAU circuit. She is joined by sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='877581' first='Jordyn' last='Woods'] (5.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 0.6 apg, 0.9 spg) and Morgan Banks (4.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 0.3 apg, 0.6 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. <strong>Kenosha St. Joseph</strong>---The Lancers, winners of 21 games last season, jump to #2 this season after a surprising postseason run that ended with a 61-57 loss to Lomira in the Sectional finals. With all but one graduated senior returning, the Lancers look to build off of last season's momentum led by 2nd team All-Conference selection, 5-9 sophomore Grace Kenesie (13.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.6 apg, 3.0 spg), 5-6 junior Lili Baez (12.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.7 spg) and 5-7 senior [player_tooltip player_id='889779' first='Lea' last='Coker'] (8.8 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.8 apg, 1.0 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. <strong>Racine St. Catherine's</strong>---Season ended with a 84-70 loss to Milwaukee Academy of Science in the Regional final. Another Metro Classic team hit hard by graduation losing 32 points per game. Looking to fill that void will be 1st team All-conference and All-Defensive team [player_tooltip player_id='890055' first='Jayda' last='King']. The 6-1 junior leads the Angels in scoring at 16.6 points, rebounding with 11.7 adding 2.9 assists, 1.8 steals, and almost two blocks per game. She is joined by up-and-coming junior 5-4 [player_tooltip player_id='1809720' first='Laniyah' last='Hamilton'] (5.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.3 spg). Hamilton was an All-Conference Honorable Mention selection and her ability to take the defensive pressure off of King will be key for the Angels chances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. <strong>St. Thomas More</strong>---Another Metro Classic team who's season ended with a loss to MAS, 70-47 in the Sectional semi-final. The Cavaliers were ravaged through graduation including their top 3 scorers and 45.8 ppg. Looking to help fill that scoring void will be seniors [player_tooltip player_id='824200' first='Leigha' last='Wardlow'] (5-7, 7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.6 apg, 1.3 spg) and Sophia Scardino (5-9, 5.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.3 spg, 1.2 bpg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. <strong>The Prairie School</strong>---The Prairie School's two year hold on the conference title ended in 2026 dropping to fifth in the conference with a 7-7 record ending with a 55-37 loss to Dominican in the Regional final. 5th is exactly where I think they will stay for this season as they once again graduated their top scorer and 17.6 ppg total. Top returning players include junior [player_tooltip player_id='891015' first='Tessa' last='Collum'] (8.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 2.1 spg), senior Finley Remington (7.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.6 spg) and sophomore Jazzy McCray (6.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 0.5 apg, 1.0 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. <strong>Racine Lutheran</strong>---The Crusaders are probably the conference's most intriguing team heading into the season. Went winless in conference, last season, but did not graduate any players and return their top six scorers who are all juniors this season. They may not be quite ready this season but could threaten for a conference title in 2028. Returning are 5-8 [player_tooltip player_id='1230707' first='Terriyah' last='Brumby'] (9.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.2 spg), 5-10 Adeline Gasau (8.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.6 apg, 2.1 spg) and 5-5 Gina Luna (7.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.5 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. <strong>Martin Luther</strong>---Nine win 2026 ended in a heartbreaking 65-63 loss to Whitnall in the Regional semifinal. Graduated two seniors including their top scorer and will look to replace 22.6 points per game from a nice group of veterans and youth. Leading the way will be 5-8 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1796939' first='Payton' last='Atkinson'] (9.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.2 spg), 5-6 senior [player_tooltip player_id='892396' first='Brooklyn' last='Mentkowski'] (8.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.7 spg), sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='1797038' first='Sophia' last='Batzko'] (5-5, 7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.6 apg, 1.0 spg) and 5-9 [player_tooltip player_id='1814489' first='Legaci' last='Lewis'] (4.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.8 apg, 2.1 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. <strong>Shoreland Lutheran</strong>---Season ended with a 66-28 loss to St. Thomas More in the Regional final. To make matters worse, the Pacers graduated their top four scorers and almost 33 points per game. Top returning players include 5-7 junior Leah Vogel (3.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.5 apg, 1.1 spg) and 5-3 senior Emma Bauer (3.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.6 apg, 1.3 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->