Middle Border Conference preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025-26 Standings:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Baldwin-Woodville 13-1 (20-7) 2. St. Croix Central 12-2 (22-5) 3. Prescott 9-5 (16-10) 4. Altoona 7-7 (14-11) 4. Amery 7-7 (14-12) 6. Somerset 4-10 (8-18) 7. Osceola 2-12 (7-18) 7. Ellsworth 2-12 (8-17)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. <strong>Baldwin-Woodville</strong>---The Blackhawks capped off their third straight MBC title, and 20 win season, with a 58-41 upset loss to St. Croix Central in the Sectional semifinal. Despite losing four to graduation, I see BW winning their 4th straight this winter. Returning is a nice veteran group led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='1241167' first='Trinity' last='Karau'] (10.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.4 spg). She was a 2nd Team All-Conference performer last season. She is joined by fellow senior MaKenzie Midtling (5.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.8 apg, 2.5 spg) and junior Ava Pack (5.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.3 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. <strong>Amery</strong>---The Warriors, winners of 7 MBC games, a year ago, make the biggest jump in 2027. Returning probably the strongest core, Amery is led by 1st Team All-Conference senior Miley Brotzel (5-6, 16.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.7 apg, 4.1 spg). Honorable Mention All-Conference junior [player_tooltip player_id='1241208' first='Rylee' last='Reese'] (5-5, 10.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.9 spg) and senior Kaleigh Wilson (8.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.8 apg, 1.8 spg). Together they will push Baldwin-Woodville all season and could, after the dust settles, find themselves on top of the Middle Border in March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. <strong>St. Croix Central</strong>---The Panthers finished in 2nd place, last season, but scored the upset ousting conference champ B-W in the Sectional semifinal with their season ultimately ending with a 69-53 loss to Mosinee in the Sectional final. Having to navigate the graduation of their top two scorers, I see the Panthers dropping to # 3 but could slip to #5 after it is all said and done. Top returning players are 6-0 senior Megan Felberg (7.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2.1 spg) and 5-8 junior [player_tooltip player_id='1840283' first='Breslin' last='Hinzman'] (5.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.5 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. <strong>Prescott</strong>---Prescott, the last team to win the conference before Baldwin-Woodville's three year run, was hit hard by graduation and will struggle to stay in the top half of the conference. Losing last year's Conference Player of the Year, Violet Otto, the Cardinals will need their trio of returning veterans to fill the scoring void. Juniors Hannah Schommer (8.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.3 apg, 0.9 spg), seniors Delaney Nelson (6.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.7 apg, 0.6 spg) and Izzy Thoen (5.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.1 spg) will be counted on for their leadership.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. <strong>Altoona</strong>---The Railroaders season ended with a 53-30 loss to Mosinee in the Regional final. To make matters worse, they graduated 3 of their top 4 scorers accounting for 31 points of production. Top returning players are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1547922' first='Jasmen' last='Klika'] (7.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.3 apg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1547914' first='Brya' last='Kleinschmidt'] (5.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.2 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. <strong>Ellsworth</strong>---The Panthers, inhabitants of the MBC basement, for the past two seasons, will be one of the conference's most improved teams and jump up two spots to #6 in 2027. Like Amery, they return a ton of talent having only lost 2 players to graduation during a season that ended with a 51-50 loss to St. Croix Falls. Returning is 2nd Team All-Conference, sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='939071' first='Tate' last='Huppert'] (16.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.5 spg), Honorable Mention All-Conference, junior Jenna Stoltenberg (10.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.0 spg) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='1235491' first='Alivia' last='Maher'] (12.1 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.0 apg, 2.5 spg) to headline a squad that will compete night in and night out this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. <strong>Osceola</strong>---The Chieftains are one of the harder teams to predict going into 2027. I could see them finishing as high as 4th, if things break right but ultimately decided on putting them, begrudgingly, as #7. 2026 ended with a 50-46 loss, to Somerset, but return all but 8.4 points and have a solid returning core led by 5-8 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1817708' first='Emily' last='Haase'] (12.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2.0 spg) and 5-10 junior Lucy Hahn (6.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.8 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. <strong>Somerset</strong>---Somerset, winners of just 8 games a year ago, were hit probably the hardest by graduation losing their top 4 scorers and about 44 points per game. The Panthers will struggle, to stay out of the cellar this season, and will need juniors Lily Braithwaite (5.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.4 apg, 2.5 spg) and Josie Wilson (2.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.4 apg, 0.4 spg) to step up and carry the majority of the load.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->