North Shore Conference Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025-26 Standings:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Hartford 11-1 (21-7) 1. Whitefish Bay 11-1 (26-4) 3. Grafton 8-4 (20-6) 4. Homestead 5-7 (9-16) 5. Slinger 4-8 (5-20) 6. Nicolet 3-9 (11-14) 7. Cedarburg 0-12 (4-23)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. <strong>Whitefish Bay</strong>---The Blue Dukes finally got over the hump, last season, into a tie for first in the conference loosening Hartford's grip at the top. They rode that momentum all the way to the Resch taking home the Gold Ball with a 64-63 win over Beaver Dam in the D2 title game. Things look bright again this season, under new coach Kevin Lazovik, as Whitefish Bay returns 4 of their top 5 scorers. Four seniors lead the charge starting with [player_tooltip player_id='751283' first='Rowan' last='Counsell']. The 1st Team All-State selection averaged 21.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.5 apg, and 3.9 spg while shooting 51% from the floor, 38% from 3 and over 80% at the line. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1228363' first='Madeline' last='Volpe'] (12.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.7 spg, 41% from 3), [player_tooltip player_id='751252' first='Carrington' last='Balthasar'] (6.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.0 spg) and Madonna Helf (4.1 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.8 spg) give the Blue Dukes the strongest core and the slight edge in my predictions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. <strong>Hartford</strong>---For the third straight season, the Orioles finished in first in the North Shore, this time sharing the title with Whitefish Bay finishing 11-1 in the conference. The Orioles have a combined 43-3 record over that span but I believe their grip on the conference ends this season. The loss of 6 players to graduation and 31 points of productivity will be difficult to replace and Whitefish Bay returns just too much firepower. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='751281' first='Rita' last='Kuepper'] (5-6, 20.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.5 spg, 37% from 3) and [player_tooltip player_id='751236' first='Alexis' last='Shelsta'] (5-6, 14.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.8 spg, 82.1% FT) are as dynamic a duo that you will find, in the conference, and will be key to providing leadership. Junior big [player_tooltip player_id='991141' first='Keira' last='Bailey'] (6-1, 4.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 0.2 apg, 0.7 bpg) will be, in my opinion, the X-Factor for Hartford to have a chance for a 4-peat. They will be challenged, right out of the gate, as they play their first six games, on the road, with their home opener not until December 10th vs Slinger.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. <strong>Grafton</strong>---Grafton, coming off a 20 win season, is a team that I could easily see finishing in either first or second this season. Returning their top 7 scorers, from a team who's season ended with a 67-46 to Beaver Dam in the Regional Final, makes them an intriguing squad to watch. Five seniors return bringing a ton of leadership and productivity. 1st Team All-Conference, [player_tooltip player_id='769179' first='Cali' last='Tagliapietra'] (15.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 3.2 spg, 40% from 3), 2nd Team All-Conference, [player_tooltip player_id='1099058' first='Ava' last='Dotson'] (10.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.1 spg, 1.2 bpg), Honorable Mention All-Conference selections [player_tooltip player_id='751272' first='Melanie' last='Morgan'] (9.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.5 spg) and Brynlee Hildebrandt (9.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.5 spg) along with [player_tooltip player_id='883074' first='Liliana' last='Verplancke'] (8.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.9 spg, 52.7% FG) will make the Black Hawks a tough team to beat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. <strong>Homestead</strong>---The Highlanders, just two seasons removed from sharing the conference title, took a big step back finishing in 4th place, 5-7 in the conference and 9-16 overall ultimately losing 39-37 to Sheboygan North in the Regional Semifinal. Things however may not be as bleak as they seem. Returning, for Homestead, are their top 5 scorers led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='892127' first='Allison' last='Hertz'] (5-7, 13.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.6 spg) and Sarah Zehms (5-5, 6.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.3 spg), juniors Mila Ivancevic (7.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.4 apg, 2.1 spg), Tessa Lueck (5-8, 6.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.3 spg) and Cam Suckow (5-8, 5.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.1 spg). They will be challenged, right out of the gate, going on the road against the two-time defending state champion Oostburg Lady Dutch on November 20th.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. <strong>Slinger</strong>---The Owls were another North Shore team that had their season ended, by Beaver Dam, 62-41 in the Regional Semifinal. New coach Amy Owens takes over with a "full cupboard" as the Owls were the youngest team in the conference with no graduating seniors. She will lean on junior, 2nd Team All-Conference [player_tooltip player_id='888427' first='Macy' last='Karl'] (13.7 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.2 spg), senior Kaylynn Burkel (12.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 3.3 spg), juniors Adie Ourada (7.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.8 spg) and Kera Hesse (5.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.0 spg) to start the slow climb back into contention.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. <strong>Nicolet</strong>---Nicolet is another team that I can see making a jump in the conference this season. Went 3 and 9 in conference but only graduated 18 points of offense and return a pair of solid "twin tower" sophomores in Honorable Mention All-Conference selection [player_tooltip player_id='1814421' first='Kai' last='Mitchell'] (6-1, 11.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 0.4 apg, 0.4 spg and [player_tooltip player_id='1879156' first='Aaliyah' last='Campbell'] (6-0, 12.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.7 spg). They will be tested with four straight road games before their first home game, December 3rd, against defending champion Whitefish Bay.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. <strong>Cedarburg</strong>---Cedarburg finished in 7th last season and that is where I see them finishing again this season. While I think they will win a couple of conference games, improvement is the main thing that will be noticeable after last season ended with a 59-45 loss to Port Washington in the Regional Final. Top returning players are 5-6 junior [player_tooltip player_id='1538819' first='Jay' last='Luna Ruiz'] (11.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.6 spg), seniors [player_tooltip player_id='892382' first='Abby' last='Taraboi'] (6-0, 11.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.0 apg, 2.1 spg, 1.4 bpg) and Maddy Winter (5-7, 8.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.6 spg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->