Capitol-South Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Welcome back to the conference-by-conference preview for the 23-24 season. Today, we're looking at a few smaller school conferences, one in the Madison area, Capitol-South, and one in the Fox Valley, Central Wisconsin-East. Each produced teams that played postseason basketball for multiple weeks, so let's discuss them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Glarus</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a year where a team earns five kids with all-conference recognition, it's no surprise that they won the conference with an undefeated 10-0 record. However, two of the three Glarner Knights kids who landed on the first or second team graduated, which makes things more difficult for a New Glarus program that believes they could've lifted a gold ball last season. The good news is the one returner who made the all-conference first or second team is reigning Conference Player of the Year, [player_tooltip player_id='209591' first='Lindsey' last='Schadewalt']. The Maryville commit had an incredible statistical season last year and was among the most consistent performers anywhere in the state last season. Although the Player of the Year in 22-23 is back this season, the production that graduated this spring in Emma Nommesen and Alex Atwell creates a fair share of uncertainty. The Glarner Knights' success in D4 will rely on what returners who played significant minutes, like Elle Lancaster, Payton Schneider, and Isabelle Brenkman, give them this season. I expect another Cuba City-New Glarus Sectional Semifinal matchup this season, and the winner of the game will likely find themselves in the Resh Center next March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cambridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bluejays have two physical wings, [player_tooltip player_id='448317' first='Brooke' last='Stenklyft'] and [player_tooltip player_id='209908' first='Saveea' last='Freeland']. Both kids are skilled, good athletes and play basketball with full knowledge that it's a contact sport. I talked up New Glarus quite a bit, but Cambridge is a group that could pressure the Glarner Knights at the top of the Capitol-South standings this season. Where the Glarner Knights will lose two of their top three scorers, the Bluejays keep both their key pieces this season. Will it result in an unexpected result or two in conference play? Nobody knows, but it's not a negative to get your two most productive players back for another season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marshall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I don't have a clear picture of what this group will look like after losing Allie Rateike and Halle Weisensel, especially with having a new coach last season in Dan Nickel, but what I do know is Marshall has done a solid job bringing through talent and developing them year over year. One kid I'll be interested in this season is [player_tooltip player_id='338949' first='Kierstin' last='Hoel']. A few things about her make me think she could keep this team in the top half of the conference. One is her defensive discipline. Hoel is an aggressive defender who can get after kids at the point of attack. Her ability to stay disciplined in full-court presses makes Hoel extremley valuable. That's a big reason she finished the season in the top three in steals in the Capitol-South. An increased role may help Hoel pop this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Belleville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wildcats return Maddi DeSmet, who led the Capitol-South in rebounding last season with 10.3 per contest in the 2022-23 campaign. DeSmet was also one of only two players to finish the season averaging a double-double ([player_tooltip player_id='448317' first='Brooke' last='Stenklyft']). DeSmet did an excellent job keeping the Wildcats competitive in her sophomore season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waterloo</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two of the three players that scored over nine points per game last season for the Pirates are back. Their leading scorer, Brenna Huebner, is a kid who I think will be a massive piece of their group again this season. The senior is a talented multi-sport athlete and does a little of everything for this group. Tessa Blundell is also back and could improve due to her experience. I like how she shoots the ball and the physicality she plays with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wisconsin Heights</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vanguards lost their top three scorers from last season and will be looking to reshuffle the deck with their roster this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>My Predictions</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>New Glarus</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Cambridge</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Marshall</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Belleville</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Waterloo</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Wisconsin Heights</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list -->