Predicting Division 3 Sectional 4 in September

<!-- 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>Winnebago Lutheran</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vikings lost two of their three leading scorers due to graduation, which will make things more challenging for them. However, they return one of the most productive post players in the state last season, [player_tooltip player_id='1877738' first='Jill' last='Pinno']. There will be things to figure out for Winnebago Lutheran in their rotation, but Pino will be a player no other program in this sectional has a one-for-one matchup for. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Regional Champions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dominican</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights will have a talented young core, who should be around for a while. I also don't think it's far-fetched to say that their younger kids could help this program make a deep run like Laconia did back in 2022. I wouldn't be surprised to see three newcomers get significant minutes out of the gate, and rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='877581' first='Jordyn' last='Woods'] could take a step forward with the backcourt talent coming in. Dominican also has a new coach this season, which could mean the team plays much differently than they have in the past.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sheboygan Falls</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Falls has some kids back from last season and will have continuity at the top of their rotation with players like [player_tooltip player_id='1153935' first='Mollie' last='Schliewe'] and Lily Gahagan returning for their senior seasons. There will also be a jolt with one of the more talented players in the incoming freshman class who will be a versatile player for the Falcons this winter. There are reasons to be intrigued by Sheboygan Falls, and they could be a team that makes it further than you expect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Milwaukee Academy of Science</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lady Novas will have one of the most talented trios in their backcourt this coming winter. [player_tooltip player_id='743735' first='Kourtlyn' last='Guy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='882114' first='Ariell' last='Allen'] are reliable and experienced players who have played high-pressure basketball in their three seasons at the high school level. However, the emergence of Kimora Allen could be what takes this team to another level. Her ability to attack off the dribble and put pressure on defenses is something most teams can't handle, and she's a willing passer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Thomas More</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cavaliers have been a consistently competitive program since I've been around. [player_tooltip player_id='824200' first='Leigha' last='Wardlow'] is an athletic lead guard who shifted her focus away from basketball last spring and missed most of the grassroots season, but if she's back, she can set a tone from the point of attack. I also trust the Thomas More coaching staff to develop the rest of their young players into solid rotational players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Sectional Runner-Up</strong>: Dominican</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Sectional Champion</strong>: Milwaukee Academy of Science</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->