My D2 Sectional Two Predictions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>D1 and D5 predictions are live, and now we move to a wide-open D2. I could see maybe eight teams who could start practices today believing they have a shot at lifting a gold ball. We'll start looking at D2's first and second sectionals and make some predictions on Regional Champs, Sectional Runner-Up, and Sectional champs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, Pewaukee came out of this sectional and won a state title. That won't happen again because the Pirates went to D1, but let's talk about who's still here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Regional Champions: Grafton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Black Hawks were bounced from Notre Dame's to Pewaukee's sectional the past few years, which I'm sure was a kick in the teeth. However, the Black Hawks may look different, but they have a chance to make things happen if they break right.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They'll have an identity they haven't had with [player_tooltip player_id='1039233' first='Cali' last='Tagliapietra'], Emily Sewell, [player_tooltip player_id='338957' first='Marissa' last='Morgan'], and Lilliana Verplancke. All those kids fly over the floor and make extra effort plays that will add up throughout the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The one piece to keep an eye on is [player_tooltip player_id='751272' first='Melanie' last='Morgan']. Her ability to score and score efficiently may be a make-or-break factor for this team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Regional Champions: Beaver Dam</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Golden Beavers have a new look for this season, which may be for the best, but boast plenty of weapons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='533067' first='Nataya' last='Donaldson'] has been their most effective offensive weapon the last few seasons and will have the greenest light heading into her junior season. Donaldson will be enough to keep the Golden Beavers competing at the top of the Badger-Large.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='842257' first='Sheamarie' last='Ashley'] and Emma Julka will be two pieces that will be barometers of how effective this Golden Beaver team will be.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional Runner-Up: Waukesha West</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wolverines have been agonizingly close to a state tournament recently and have the potential to get there this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waukesha West has their core trio of [player_tooltip player_id='602353' first='Jordan' last='Fenske']-[player_tooltip player_id='533083' first='Taylor' last='Gifford']-[player_tooltip player_id='751242' first='Ava' last='Spratt'] back. After some success late last season, they could carry some of that over into 2024-25.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fenske is a kid who can break games open with her ability to knock down shots well beyond the three-point line, and now that Gifford and Spratt have a year of playing significant minutes under them, I'd expect them to take another step this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional Champion: West De Pere</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No team has gotten the injury bug as much as the Phantoms, but they could find a clean bill of health in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='329595' first='Ella' last='Francois'] is back after missing her junior season due to an ACL injury, and [player_tooltip player_id='448302' first='Mia' last='Racine'] may be back later in the season. They're one of the most talented teams in D2 when 100%.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The backcourt duo of [player_tooltip player_id='448251' first='Faith' last='Walder'] and [player_tooltip player_id='329595' first='Ella' last='Francois'] is as productive as anyone in D2, and they understand each other's games and how to complement each other. However, the x-factor this season will be how well Maddisyn Berggren can score away from the ball to stretch defenses while Francois and Walder try to put pressure on the basket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->