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With the sectional semifinals tonight, I could officially predict who I think will get to Green Bay. I fully expect to be wrong on these and to be ridiculed for the next week, but I’d deserve the punishment. I will bold my predicted final matchup and score with the bold team names. I welcome the criticism and ridicule.
Division 1
Sectional 1
No. 1 Hortonville 82, No. 2 Appleton East 67
I fully expect to get a third matchup between the Polar Bears and Patriots. Neenah could beat Hortonville, but I think the volume of talent will overcome any Ziebell onslaught, and Appleton East should be able to handle Superior. In the two games, these two have had Hortonville has found a way to pull away from Appleton East and win by double digits, and I believe that will happen for the third time. If this sectional final happens, it’s a must-watch game.
Sectional 2
No. 1 Germantown 81, No. 3 De Pere 75
I’m probably more of a believer in the possibility of Kaukauna beating Germantown than most. I also think DSHA could shock De Pere. However, KK Arnold and [player_tooltip player_id="132373" first="Jordan" last="Meulemans"] feels like a safe bet. If this is the sectional final, De Pere would have a chance to avenge its 39-point blowout loss in November. I believe that De Pere would likely stay away from a zone. That would mean KK will relentlessly attack the basket and help Germantown keep separation. In this matchup, keep an eye on [player_tooltip player_id="209605" first="Claire" last="Bjorge"]. She’s been great late this season.
Sectional 3
No. 2 Arrowhead 62, No. 1 Brookfield East 59
Brookfield East has to beat a similar team to Arrowhead in Waunakee. I also don’t see Sun Prairie winning against Arrowhead without [player_tooltip player_id="157531" first="Avree" last="Antony"] if she isn’t playing (I hope everything is ok with her). In this matchup, I see the Warhawks escaping with a win. Although the Spartans won the triple-overtime thriller, the Warhawks probably believe they threw that game away. [player_tooltip player_id="262970" first="Alaina" last="Harper"] staying out of foul trouble will be crucial. [player_tooltip player_id="156077" first="Annika" last="Pluemer"] will go at her, and if she gets Harper in foul trouble, this game becomes difficult for Arrowhead to win.
Sectional 4
No. 1 Kettle Moraine 54, No. 2 Oak Creek 39
I see Kettle Moraine as the class of this sectional and Oak Creek beating Franklin to get the opportunity in this one. I don’t see this one being particularly close because the Lazers have too much talent for Oak Creek to handle. I think this is low-scoring because Oak Creek will look to limit possessions.
Division 2
Sectional 1
No. 2 Menomonie 57, No. 1 Mosinee 53
For Menomonie to get where they need to beat Rice Lake, they will have to keep [player_tooltip player_id="342360" first="Eliana" last="Sheplee"] held down, as they have in their previous two matchups. Mosinee has swept Lakeland so far this season., but it’s no guarantee they get to a sectional final. In my opinion, this is what we’re getting, and the size of Menomonie will overwhelm Mosinee a little bit.
Sectional 2
No. 1 Notre Dame 76, No. 1 Beaver Dam 68
I’ve had my heart set on this matchup since the brackets came out. I see Notre Dame handling Fox Valley Lutheran and Beaver Dam holding off Cedarburg to get here. I love [player_tooltip player_id="209588" first="Gabby" last="Wilke"], [player_tooltip player_id="264946" first="Kylie" last="Wittnebel"], [player_tooltip player_id="379639" first="Bella" last="Oestreicher"], Maddie Kuenzi, and Leila Ashley as players and think they can hang with the Tritons. However, I think Notre Dame pulls away late. The lineups the Tritons will run out will be significantly smaller, but I think the Tritons showed they play taller than their height. Exhibit A is when they became the only team to beat Hortonville.
Sectional 3
No. 1 Reedsburg 88, No. 2 Waukesha West 70
I don’t see Reedsburg playing any sectional games within single digits. Waukesha West has been dominating to close this season, so I think they belong in this game. However, the Beavers have been a team poised to avenge their state title loss a season ago. Waukesha West is unlucky to be in the Beavers’ sectional.
Sectional 4
No. 1 Pius XI 65, No. 1 Pewaukee 62
I don’t see how this game doesn’t happen. Pius and Pewaukee are even as they come. The only reason I see Pius staying a nose ahead is their backcourt. [player_tooltip player_id="171811" first="Tori" last="Kostuck"] and [player_tooltip player_id="338941" first="Tess" last="Wiczek"] are calm in crunch time, and I think that one advantage will be why Pius goes to Green Bay. I love what Pewaukee runs offensively, and they have every right to be in Green Bay. Unfortunately, one of these two won’t make it out of sectionals.
Division 3
Sectional 1
No. 1 West Salem 54, No. 1 St. Croix Falls 44
West Salem’s defense has been excellent so far this postseason, not giving up 30 points in a game. St. Croix Falls has a good duo in [player_tooltip player_id="342357" first="Kelsey" last="Cooper"] and [player_tooltip player_id="342104" first="Brianna" last="McCurdy"]. However, that duo won’t be enough to keep West Salem out of the defensive rhythm they have going at the moment.
Sectional 2
No. 1 Freedom 67, No. 1 Brillion 54
Freedom seems like a team that will be difficult to beat without a superhuman performance. [player_tooltip player_id="156082" first="Megan" last="Schuman"] is capable of that. However, I love what [player_tooltip player_id="342100" first="Sadie" last="Jarmolowicz"] brings to the floor, and their forwards, [player_tooltip player_id="155424" first="Megan" last="Alexander"] and [player_tooltip player_id="206732" first="Kierstin" last="Kriewaldt"] bring so much versatility to the Irish’s offense.
Sectional 3
No. 1 Waupun 66, No. 5 Columbus 60
I think the Cardinals run comes up just short of a trip to the state tournament. Waupun has great decision-makers like [player_tooltip player_id="209618" first="Gracie" last="Gopalan"] and some of the best scorers in the state in Kayl Peterson and [player_tooltip player_id="155422" first="Abbie" last="Aalsma"]. Columbus can keep it close by not giving any free points or committing live-ball turnovers, but I think a sectional final is where their run ends.
No. 1 Lake Mills 52, No. 1 Kettle Moraine Lutheran 47
After avenging an early-season loss to Catholic Memorial, Lake Mills should punch a ticket to Green Bay this weekend. This game is one I went back and forth on because KML has proven they can play with quality teams, like Waupun and Homestead. However, in my opinion, Lake Mills keeps on winning and goes to Green Bay.
Divison 4
Sectional 1
No. 1 Phillips 76, No. 5 Fall Creek 56
The Eggebrecht sisters deserve to play on the biggest stage in high school basketball. [player_tooltip player_id="347161" first="Jada" last="Eggebrecht"] has been outstanding over her four-year career at Phillps, and younger sister Kacy Eggebrecht has been a menace on the defensive end this season. Fall Creek, who’s had a cinderella story themselves, will come up just short of a trip to the state tournament.
Sectional 2
No. 1 St. Mary Catholic 67, No. 1 Westfield 65
In a matchup between two of the best in Division 4, it’s unfortunate one has to lose. Jaydin Vosters and [player_tooltip player_id="156056" first="Chloe" last="Vogel"] should be enough to take down sharpshooter [player_tooltip player_id="209906" first="Carly" last="Drew"] and her Westfield team. However, Drew is possibly the most talented player in D4 and can win a game herself.
Sectional 3
No. 2 Aquinas 53, No. 5 New Glarus 48
I see Aquinas making it back to Green Bay with talented upper-class talent in [player_tooltip player_id="156071" first="Macy" last="Donarski"] and [player_tooltip player_id="132376" first="Jacy" last="Weisbrod"]. New Glarus has been great this postseason. Glarner Knight Lindsay Schadewalt has shown why she’s an elite prospect. This game feels like it has as much star power as any game, I’m predicting. I see Aquinas pulling out to a two-possession game late on free throws.
Sectional 4
No. 2 The Prairie School 58, No. 1 Laconia 54
I ss [player_tooltip player_id="374228" first="JJ" last="Barnes"] being the difference in this game. Laconia will not have had to deal with anyone like her all season. Barnes can get an easy basket whenever she wants. Laconia has the talent to get out of this sectional. However, in a game like this, Barnes doing whatever she wants will keep the Hawks ahead late.
Divison 5
Sectional 1
No. 1 McDonell Central 56, No. 1 Northwood 45
Lauryn Deetz and [player_tooltip player_id="209585" first="Emily" last="Cooper"] are up there with the best backcourts a team could hope for at small schools. The defense that McDonelll has been playing thus far almost forces me to pick them. The level they are playing on that end is unmatched in D5. They are a team on a mission to get back to the state tournament.
Sectional 2
No. 1 Assumption 62, No. 2 Three Lakes 49
Assumption has rampaged through their sectional, and I think they’ll continue to do so through sectionals. I don’t see how they drop any of their sectional games this weekend. [player_tooltip player_id="262975" first="Ainara" last="Sainz de Rozas"] has been playing well, and the rest of the team has also been consistent all year, and I can’t bet against that level of consistency.
Sectional 3
No. 2 Blair-Taylor 70, No. 2 Highland 56
The Wildcats have the best scorer in D5 and the best backcourt in [player_tooltip player_id="156079" first="Lindsay" last="Steien"] and [player_tooltip player_id="156080" first="Abby" last="Thompson"]. I like what they do on the offensive end, and they are disruptive on the other end of the floor. If I had to pick a state winner at this level, it might be Blair-Taylor.
Sectional 4
No. 1 Randolph 68, No. 6 Argyle 40
My thought process begins and ends with [player_tooltip player_id="264942" first="Jorey" last="Buwalda"]. Buwalda has been as good as anyone in D5, and she dominated through regionals. I don’t see her reign of terror stopping at sectionals. A player like her won’t accept not getting a shot to lift the gold ball next weekend.
