Games I’m looking forward to on Friday

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get into the teeth of the conference schedule, here are a few of the games that I'm excited about tonight:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hortonville @ Neenah</strong>---Two perennial FVA powerhouses match up in this early season conference battle. Until Kimberly won the FVA, last season, these two teams swapped titles with Hortonville winning in in 2020, 2022, and 2024 and Neenah winning it in 2023. Hortonville has a different look, without Conference POY Rainey Welson, but again looks stacked beating Bay Conference champion West De Pere in the opener before losing 57-53 at defending state champion Kimberly on Tuesday. The Polar Bears are lead by juniors [player_tooltip player_id='533074' first='Kardyn' last='Peppler'] (5-8) who is averaging 18.5 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2.5 steals per game and Madi Springer (5-4) who is adding 8.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. Neenah is off to a 3-1 start with their only loss being to Wauwatosa East. All-State senior [player_tooltip player_id='533065' first='Rowan' last='Klesmit'] (5-5) leads the Rockets in scoring with 17.7 with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='732637' first='Sydney' last='Michalkiewicz'] (5-7) chipping in 9.3 ppg. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: I think this one could go down to the wire but I think the scoring of Klesmit, paired with home court, will be the difference with the Rockets pulling out a very close 63-58 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Manitowoc Lincoln @ Bay Port</strong>---Bay Port had a bit of a rocky start to the season, going 1-2, but the Pirates have looked to have steadied the ship with the return of Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='874389' first='Kailynn' last='Thompson'] and her 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks in a 75-36 win against Oshkosh North on Tuesday. Thompson provides a much needed inside presence to help take the pressure off of senior [player_tooltip player_id='736760' first='Melia' last='Lemorande'] (17.8 ppg, 9.8 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='874380' first='Olivia' last='Williams'] (14.3 ppg, 4 rpg). Manitowoc Lincoln is off to a 1-1 start and looking for an opportunity to shock the FRCC and go on the road to spring the upset. The Ships are lead by 1st team All-Conference senior [player_tooltip player_id='777580' first='Sarah' last='Bolchen'] (5-5) who is averaging 19.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, and 5 steals per game while junior [player_tooltip player_id='750262' first='Kendall' last='Schmitz'] (5-5) is putting up 15.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.5 apg, and 3.5 steals per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: While I like Manitowoc Lincoln, I think the return of Thompson pushes this in favor of Bay Port 67-56.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Xavier at Milwaukee Academy of Science</strong>---Xavier seems to have picked right back up off of their state tournament appearance starting the season 2-0 before dropping a close one 61-60 at Winneconne on Tuesday. The Hawks led by 8, at half, but couldn't withstand a 2nd half surge by the Wolves. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='766628' first='Brynn' last='Krull'] (5-8) leads the team averaging 14 points and 6 rebounds while junior Hailey Hafner (5-5) is adding 13 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. MAS has started their season 3-0 including a 67-65 win at Whitnall on Tuesday. The Novas are lead by juniors [player_tooltip player_id='882114' first='Ariell' last='Allen'] (5-7) and [player_tooltip player_id='743735' first='Kourtlyn' last='Guy'] (5-10). Locking up Guy will be key for the Hawks. She is a "crafty" scorer strong at utilizing her speed, body control, and athleticism to either get to the basket or consistently knock down the contested mid-range shot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: I don't see Xavier losing two in a row as they go on the road and get a hard fought 58-55 victory over the Novas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>De Pere at Notre Dame Academy</strong>---</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 3-0 defending FRCC champion Cardinals, with an average margin of victory of 31.3 points, will get their first real test of the season as the head to NDA to start the conference slate. De Pere is showing a nice balance, in scoring, with junior [player_tooltip player_id='874379' first='Aubree' last='Fischer']<a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/aubree-fischer/"></a> (5-9) leading with 16.0 ppg, senior [player_tooltip player_id='772587' first='Abigail' last='Tassoul']<a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/abigail-tassoul/"></a> (5-5) is contributing 12.7 ppg. while junior [player_tooltip player_id='874376' first='Adeline' last='Dwyer']<strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/adeline-dwyer/"></a> </strong>(5-7) is putting up 12.3. Sophomore. [player_tooltip player_id='992482' first='Allie' last='Neuenfeldt']<a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/allie-neuenfeldt/"></a> (5-9) is adding 11.3 ppg and is the Cardinals leading rebounder with 6.7 rpg. Notre Dame Academy is off to an 0-2 start but have been battle tested early having played perennial powerhouse Pewaukee and defending D3 champ Oostburg to start the season. The Tritons are led by freshman [player_tooltip player_id='874404' first='Ava' last='Cumicek'] 11.5 ppg, seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1275665' first='Destiny' last='Webster'] with 10 ppg and [player_tooltip player_id='842209' first='Aspen' last='Abel'] with 9.5 ppg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: I think De Pere keeps it close but I think NDA is too talented to lose three straight as they hand the defending conference champions their first loss, 62-55.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->