South Central Conference preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025-26 Standings:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Wisconsin Dells 14-0 (29-1) 2. Mauston 11-3 (21-5) 3. Adams-Friendship 9-5 (14-11) 3. Westfield 9-5 (15-11) 5. Berlin 7-7 (10-15) 6. Ripon 4-10 (5-19) 7. Nekoosa 2-12 (5-20) 8. Wautoma 0-14 (0-25)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. <strong>Wisconsin Dells</strong>---The Chiefs finished 2026 with a perfect 14-0 conference record and an eventual trip to the State final losing 64-37 to Oostburg. On paper the loss of their two leading scorers, Natalie Backhaus (20.5 ppg) and Ashiya Hopkins (16.0 ppg), might give pause to predicting a three-peat but the returning core of 1st Team All-Conference selection, 5-7 junior [player_tooltip player_id='992497' first='Jazlyn' last='Alwin'] (15.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.8 apg, 2.9 spg) and 2nd Team selection, 5-8 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1821176' first='Aja' last='Gall'] (9.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.1 spg) gives them the slight nod. Both Alwin and Gall are 36% shooters, from 3, and give the Chiefs the best chance to overcome the graduation of six seniors from last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. <strong>Westfield</strong>---The Pioneers, winners of four straight South Central titles, from 2021-2024, finished with a 9-5 record good for a third place tie ending with a 49-48 loss to Mauston in the Regional final. I can see them finishing anywhere in the 1-5 range this season ultimately settling with them at #2. Returning are juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1801566' first='Libbie' last='Showen'] (12.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.5 spg) and Brooklyn Stankiwicz (8.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.2 apg, 2.3 spg) to lead a group looking to replace 28 points of production.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. <strong>Adams-Friendship</strong>---The Green Devils finished last season with 14 wins, 9 in conference, and a 64-57 loss to Lodi. While I have them holding steady, in 3rd place, they could easily be on top, of the conference, in March. Returning are their top 2 scorers in 1st Team All-Conference selection, 5-10 junior [player_tooltip player_id='1359333' first='Piper' last='Moyer'] (20.4 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, 5.2 spg, 1.4 bpg) and 2nd Team selection, 5-9 junior [player_tooltip player_id='1848543' first='Bianca' last='Smith'] (17.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.8 apg, 3.0 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. <strong>Mauston</strong>---The Golden Eagles, winners of 21 games a year ago, were hit probably the hardest by graduation losing 3 of their top 4 scorers and about 43 points per game. I have them holding on (barely) to the #4 spot as they are led by talented sophomores, Crimson Hanson (5-8, 12.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 3.5 apg, 3.1 spg, 1.0 bpg), a 2nd Team All-Conference selection, and [player_tooltip player_id='1308546' first='Jordin' last='Bates'] (5-6, 6.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.1 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. <strong>Berlin</strong>---The Indians season ended with a 5th place conference finish and a 53-32 loss to Mayville. Graduating 4 seniors and about 22 points of productivity, Berlin will count on sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='900179' first='Ahzayla' last='Bell'] (5-5, 5.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.3 spg) and seniors Aubrie Hilgart (5-7, 4.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.6 spg) and Savanna Huser (5-5, 4.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.6 spg) to help them keep pace with an improved bottom half of the conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. <strong>Ripon</strong>---Another South Central team that was hit hard by graduation, the Tigers look to replace 20 points per game for a team that only won 5 games and found their season ending with a 71-55 loss to Columbus. Returning are seniors Emerson Pier (8.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.5 spg), junior Adele Minor (5.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.6 spg, 0.8 bpg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1874469' first='Paisley' last='Spaulding'] (5.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.6 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. <strong>Nekoosa</strong>---Nekoosa's 2026 season, in which they won just two conference games, ended with a 64-15 loss to Luther in the Regional semifinal. The Papermakers return their top three scorers, from a year ago and, if things break right, could finish as high as 5th this season. Top returning players include juniors include Emily Vega (6.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 0.7 apg, 2.3 spg), Lily Ostrum (5.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 0.6 apg, 2.2 spg) and Taylor Krubsack (5.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.5 apg, 2.0 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. <strong>Wautoma</strong>---The Hornets, looking for their next coach, and winless in the conference over the past two seasons, will once again struggle to leave the basement in the South Central. Optimistically I think they will get a conference win but there is nowhere to go for them but up. Top returning players are junior Claire Swen (7.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 0.5 apg, 1.6 spg) and senior Kelcey Michalski (3.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.9 apg, 1.7 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->