Predicting Division 1 Sectional 1 in August

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Usually, I get to predictions well before this time of year and have something posted around sectionals. However, because they were posted so late due to rule changes, and because of my schedule at the time they were originally posted, I couldn't do this sooner. That said, today, we're starting to predict what the results of this sectional could look like well before the season starts, and we'll see how right or wrong I am come February and March. We'll dive a little deeper into my picks as we move along through the divisions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Sleeper Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>De Pere</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Red Birds lost one player in their rotation. Unfortunately, it was their leading scorer, Abby Tassoul, who will play at UW-Eau Claire this winter. The one thing I've learned about the Red Birds is that their Head Coach, Jeremy Boileau, will get the most of the players on the De Pere roster, and I expect next season to be no different. The core players on next season's roster are all kids who play hard and help earn their team extra possessions. The Red Birds will win plenty of games in the FRCC next winter, and with a group of kids that includes [player_tooltip player_id='992482' first='Allie' last='Neuenfeldt'], [player_tooltip player_id='874379' first='Aubree' last='Fischer'], [player_tooltip player_id='874376' first='Adeline' last='Dwyer'], and [player_tooltip player_id='874393' first='Jaelyn' last='Craig'], among others, this won't be a team that rolls over against anyone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Appleton North</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Largely, the Lightning haven't had the success in recent years that they'd like, but they have run into some talented teams in regionals. [player_tooltip player_id='838113' first='Avery' last='Werfal'] has been North's go-to perimeter creator, and she's done a solid job as a primary scoring option for this program the past three seasons. However, she may have less ball-handling responsibilities this season, which could do wonders for her. [player_tooltip player_id='1217431' first='Maddie' last='Brown'] is as talented with the ball in her hands as anyone in this sectional, and can beat her defender off the dribble more often than not. Her ability to create could add another element to this team. I'm also eager to see if [player_tooltip player_id='1775475' first='Princess' last='Tomori'] and [player_tooltip player_id='874387' first='Brooke' last='Schuh'] can take another step forward and help this team potentially reach the second weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hortonville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In general, the Polar Bears were relatively young last season, showing promising flashes throughout the year, including a non-conference win at SPASH and pushing Kimberly to the brink on the road. The guards the Polar Bears roll out are skilled, play hard, and can knock down shots anywhere on the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='533074' first='Kardyn' last='Peppler'] was impressive in her first season as the focal point of her team's offense and controlled the ball well. The biggest x-factors on this team this winter will be [player_tooltip player_id='751269' first='Madelyn' last='Springer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='892249' first='Morgan' last='Mocadlo']. Each of those two has improved throughout their high school careers and will have more responsibilities this season. I am also curious to see if [player_tooltip player_id='890152' first='Bella' last='Biese'] can find her way into the rotation. She can do things nobody else on this team can, but she has to earn that role. Head Coach A.C. Clouthier has won at the highest level, and he will get the most out of this group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Regional Champions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hudson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Raiders are bringing back their entire starting unit from last season, who had plenty of success together. [player_tooltip player_id='751276' first='Olivia' last='LaBlanc'] is one of the most talented kids in her position around the state, and may be at her best as a facilitator. There is also plenty of size alongside the 6-0 LaBlanc. [player_tooltip player_id='764290' first='Gretchen' last='Whitten'] and [player_tooltip player_id='992505' first='Libby' last='Bartz'] are both physical and skilled 5-11 or 6-0 kids who can make reads with the ball in their hands, finish around the rim, and space the floor. The backcourt also has plenty of experience with [player_tooltip player_id='992496' first='Jadyn' last='Mataczynski'] and [player_tooltip player_id='814306' first='Devin' last='Larson']. Mataczynski stepped into a larger role last season and had her moments when they came her way, and Larson has been a steady presence as a ball handler and an excellent shooter in her time as a Raider. Hudson coach Jess Vadnais has had success in the Big Rivers and led the Raiders to state in 2021; this could be the year the Raiders get back to the second weekend and compete for another trip to state if things go their way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eau Claire Memorial</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Old Abes will look different at the start of the season this November. Memorial will have a new coach and will be without [player_tooltip player_id='1173395' first='Norah' last='Kling'] for a little while, as she continues to recover from her knee injury last winter. The bright side is that this team was a [player_tooltip player_id='1173395' first='Norah' last='Kling'] knee injury away from earning at least a share of the Big Rivers Conference crown, and the top four leading scorers last season were all underclassmen; they added 6-5 2029 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1241213' first='Evelyn' last='Borcherding'], who transferred from Regis. The other thing that should excite the coaches at Memorial is that their three leading scorers from last season, who will be ready to go in November, [player_tooltip player_id='810813' first='Ava' last='Hoitomt'], [player_tooltip player_id='872479' first='Evelyn' last='Bast'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1221076' first='Ava' last='McCarthy'], were all north of 40% from beyond the three-point line, and pairing that with a talented 6-5 post and a returning [player_tooltip player_id='1173395' first='Norah' last='Kling'] makes this group deeper than you may think.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kimberly</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Papermaker Head Coach Dave Lepisto has done an excellent job in his first few years in that role and has had his team playing at a level that was worthy of state at the end of the year nearly every year. This winter, he may have the most experienced team in the state and will have seniors he can rely on to make plays. [player_tooltip player_id='764903' first='Ava' last='Van Vonderen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='764909' first='Haylie' last='Dulas'] have played prominent roles since their first seasons of high school basketball, have been a part of three incredibly successful teams, and have won a gold ball at Kimberly in 2025. After that, there could be a competition for minutes, and there are a plethora of talented kids who could take them. Kendyll Brotchrup played minutes last season and did well defensively; [player_tooltip player_id='1353017' first='Kinnley' last='Fulcer'] is healthy and may be the most physical player on the roster, [player_tooltip player_id='1353020' first='Laney' last='Sitek'] has done nice things in JV games I've seen her play, and could find minutes in the backcourt, [player_tooltip player_id='885539' first='Kylie' last='Ver Bockel'] is back after her knee injury, and that's not even talking about some of the players coming into the high school ranks this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SPASH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If there is such a thing as 'star power' in high school basketball, the Panthers have more of it than anyone. SPASH boasts two power four recruits in [player_tooltip player_id='764935' first='Jada' last='Seubert'] and [player_tooltip player_id='936786' first='Leah' last='Awe'], both of whom can swing a game on either end of the court at any time. It also doesn't hurt that they are coached by one of, if not the, best players the state of Wisconsin has ever produced: 2005 WNBA No. 1 overall pick Janel McCarville. That trio, along with a few seniors they could rely on, was a half away from getting to state last winter and beating Notre Dame. Without some of the seniors they had last season, this team is thinner than a year ago, and it doesn't hurt that they added a unanimous first-team All-Conference player in [player_tooltip player_id='1225521' first='Kennedy' last='Konkol'] from Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln. This team has the high-end talent to beat anyone, and if there were a year for a team from the Wisconsin Valley to get to the Resch Center, this would be it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Sectional Runner-Up</strong>: Kimberly</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Sectional Champion</strong>: SPASH</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->