Badger South Conference: Preview

Badger South Conference: Preview <img class=" wp-image-181852 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/06/PGHFeaturedImage9-300x168.jpg" alt="" width="263" height="147" /> Oregon finished first in conference play last season with a 13-1 record. The team was led by two graduates and the First Team selections [player_tooltip player_id="132459" first="Liz" last="Uhl"] and Kaitlyn Schrimpf. Uhl was Player of the Year last conference while finishing third in the conference in scoring. Both Uhl and Schrimpf will be huge losses for Oregon this season. Megan Bloyer was named to Honorable Mention last season and will have a much larger role this season. Watertown finished second in conference with a 11-3 record. The team was led by First Team unanimous selection [player_tooltip player_id="202317" first="Teya" last="Maas"]. Maas finished second in both scoring and rebounding as a junior last season. She averaged 15.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Senior Avalon Uecke will be a key player as well for this squad. Edgewood had an impressive season last year and finished third in conference play with a 10-4 record. The tem was led by dynamic duo [player_tooltip player_id="202304" first="Baluck" last="Deang"] and [player_tooltip player_id="155416" first="Sarah" last="Lazar"]- both of whom are seniors this year. The two were selected First Team during their junior seasons. Monona Grove finished with a 8-6 record and finished fourth on the season. Senior standout Peighton Nelson will be a key leader for her squad this season. She earned First Team last season and dished out nearly 3 assists per game. Here are a few players posed to make an impact as a returner this season: [player_tooltip player_id="155416" first="Sarah" last="Lazar"] | Edgewood | Senior | 6’3 F <img class=" wp-image-192218 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/07/Sarah-Lazar-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="276" height="181" /> Lazar led her team in scoring with nearly 12 points per game. In a win against Milton, Lazar dropped a season-high 25 point and finished 74% from the floor. Her stats are actually very impressive all across the board. She is a dominant force in the lane and uses her body well to find her shot. She’s athletic and is fantastic in transition play. Last season she finished her season averaging 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Lazar is coming off a successful summer and she’s added a lot to her game that will make her nearly unstoppable this season. Lazar is committed to Saint Louis. Peighton Nelson | Monona Grove | Senior | 5’9 G Nelson is a high energy guard with so much upside for her senior season. Last season she finished second in scoring with 9.4 points per game. She holds offers from multiple Division II schools. Nelson plays with poise and flare on the court- it’s very exciting to watch. She has a great change of pace and ability to finish against contact when going downhill. Her ability to play slow to fast will really help her navigate her shot selection with this team. Look for her to play a larger floor general role as she gets her teammates involved. Megan Benzschael | Monroe | Senior | 6’0 G The Monroe standout led her team in scoring with 17.3 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game. She will consistently put up huge numbers for her team and has proven to be an impact player each time she is on the floor. In a win over Oregon last season, Benzschael finished with 35 points. She is an elite athlete for her position, thus allowing her to easily blow by defenders if given space. Pairing this with good ball skills and ample dribbling skills makes Benzschael a very dangerous big man, even when she’s not in the paint. She is great at reading high- side defense- she has an innate ability to know when her point guard will find her off a screen. The Monroe standout continues to add elements into her post series too which is exciting to see. [player_tooltip player_id="204133" first="Ava" last="Loftus"] | Stoughton | Junior | 5’7 G <img class=" wp-image-210054 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/10/AVA-LOFTUS-46-scaled-e1602107624939-300x228.jpg" alt="" width="261" height="198" /> Loftus finished with 11 points per game last season and knocked down 33 three point baskets. She is a great finisher around the rim. Her downhill drive is very hard to stop, and she’s looking to find the gap everytime. Defenders have a hard time staying in front, and when she gets by she finds her teammates open as well. She’s elite at creating her own shot and is lethal from off the catch. She has a great first step as well. Loftus has quick-hitting vision, and she finds teammates at a high rate while driving which will be essential for success this season. [player_tooltip player_id="202317" first="Teya" last="Maas"] | Watertown | Senior | 6’1 F Maas is such an impressive forward with so much upside for her senior season. As a junior she averaged nearly 16 points and 10 rebounds per game. She possesses plus athleticism that allows her to be a menace on the fast break and finish at the rim. Quick foot speed enables Maas to easily beat her defender to the basket with the straight line drive. It also allows her to defend well on the perimeter and recover if beaten off the dribble. She has good handles for her size, and her shot form is ready for the next level due to her high release. Tyla Staude | Fort Atkinson | Junior | 5’8 CG Staude will have a huge role this season for Fort Atkinson. She’s a talented and athletic combo guard that can score in many different ways. She’s versatile and crafty. She works well on the move, shown by many of her shots being slightly off balance but effective. She is also good in the catch-and-shoot as well. If she moves off the ball consistently, she gets herself open for these scenarios. As a sophomore she averaged 11.4 points per game. She put up some huge numbers and proved to be elite on the offensive end. In a close win over Elkhorn, Staude scored 29 points. In another win over a tough Baraboo squad, Staude dropped 25 points.