A Deep Dive Into Division 1 Sectional 2 (Part 2)

I don't have many articles left to do this month, so we might as well start highlighting sectionals. We'll dive deep into all four sectionals in all five divisions and make my predictions for the upcoming season. Today, we'll continue with Division One, Sectional Two. We'll go in alphabetical order.   Homestead   The Highlanders don't have a coaching staff yet, but I'll assume they have one by November. The 2024-25 season is the last chance the senior class has to make some noise in the postseason.   To say the last three seasons have been disappointing because of how close they've been to a regional title would be putting it lightly. They lost two home games, and in the game last year, they had a near twenty-point second-half lead.   We know there is enough talent here to make a run, but whether it's challenging matchups or whatever the reason, it hasn't happened for them yet. [player_tooltip player_id='329589' first='Madison' last='Fitzgibbon'], [player_tooltip player_id='338951' first='Natalie' last='Mueller'], [player_tooltip player_id='448303' first='Grace' last='Zortman'], and [player_tooltip player_id='338947' first='Lauren' last='Strifling'] have one more chance to right the wrongs of the last three years, and I'm curious to see how it goes.   Kaukauna   At the start of the 2022-23 season, I thought the Galloping Ghosts had the potential to make a deep run in the postseason. However, an injury to Alana Zarneke ended that season, and a late July injury to Alexa Kinas left Kauakauna in rough shape last season.   There are new coaches, leaders, and outlook for the Galloping Ghosts. Northern Michigan commit [player_tooltip player_id='448246' first='Addison' last='Baumgart'] will be the kid that teams pay close attention to on the defensive end of the floor. She's among the top shooters in the FVA and will likely shoot in the high 30% range or the 40+ percent range.   Jozy Ebben and [player_tooltip player_id='448254' first='Savanna' last='Robinson'] add some size and guard play, respectively, and will need to take another step to keep Kaukauna competitive.   Kimberly   The Papermakers have one of the deepest rosters in the state, thanks to the success of their youth program over the years. That youth and veterans will have to find another gear in this sectional.   [player_tooltip player_id='448243' first='Katelyn' last='McGinnis'] was outstanding in her junior season and was the hub of what Kimberly did on the offensive end of the floor. Her fellow senior, [player_tooltip player_id='448245' first='Raegan' last='Krueger'], adds a dimension to the Papermakers most teams don't have as a skilled interior post.   The younger players have been through a complete regular season and postseason, so there are more expectations in year two. [player_tooltip player_id='764903' first='Ava' last='Van Vonderen']'s offense is a weapon, [player_tooltip player_id='764909' first='Haylie' last='Dulas'] is a trusted wing defender, [player_tooltip player_id='624965' first='Claudia' last='Asman'] can knock down perimeter shots at 6'1, and having two guards you can trust, in [player_tooltip player_id='509695' first='Emily' last='Urban'] and [player_tooltip player_id='764927' first='Kennedy' last='Ebben'] who can set a tempo opens things up. The biggest x-factor will be what [player_tooltip player_id='338966' first='Bentley' last='Drout'] can do if/once she gets back to playing in her senior season.   Manitowoc Lincoln   The core returners for the Ships are two undersized guards, [player_tooltip player_id='777580' first='Sarah' last='Bolchen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='750262' first='Kendall' last='Schmitz'].   Lincoln will be a team that has to win the possession battle and force turnovers at the point of attack. They could be a team that makes things irritating from start to finish.   There won't be massive expectations, but they could surprise a team or two this season.   Menomonee Falls   The Phoenix were an odd bunch last season. The talent is there, but for whatever reason, there isn't much flow to what they do on either end of the floor.   [player_tooltip player_id='329591' first='Jade' last='Warren']-[player_tooltip player_id='374231' first='Clare' last='Shea']-[player_tooltip player_id='602354' first='Sophie' last='Trimble'] lineups should be one of the better three-person lineups in the Greater Metro Conference this upcoming season. They all have the experience of playing together for a few years now and should have the tools to compete with anyone.   The Phoenix has enough talent to surprise people this season, and I hope they can make a run at some hardware this season.   Notre Dame   The Tritons aren't the Notre Dame of the past three seasons. There are some holdovers from the last few seasons, but they won't look like what you're used to seeing.   Trista Fayta-Gracie Grzesk-Sydney Whitehouse are all playing scholarship-level basketball, and those three kids did it all at Notre Dame.   Now, the names to watch are [player_tooltip player_id='842209' first='Aspen' last='Abel'], [player_tooltip player_id='338948' first='Peyton' last='Musial'], [player_tooltip player_id='842199' first='Kaia' last='Waldrop'], and Briana Breese. Those kids will be as fundamentally sound as anyone in the state. They may not be as explosive as some of the Triton groups over the last few years have been.   I wouldn't be surprised if the Tritons were in a sectional game in 2025.   Pewaukee   The presumptive D1 favorites are the Pewaukee Pirates. There are some injury woes that they'll have to overcome, but the talent is still there.   [player_tooltip player_id='374229' first='Amy' last='Terrian'] and [player_tooltip player_id='448223' first='Anna' last='Terrian'], as seniors, are kids who seem like they won't allow any complacency to set in within the Pirates program heading into 2024-25, and everyone in that gym knows what it takes to get the job done. [player_tooltip player_id='536013' first='Giselle' last='Janowski']'s poised for another massive season as one of the best two-way players in Wisconsin, [player_tooltip player_id='333100' first='Kennedy' last='Retherford'] found her groove last season, and there are enough other players I could talk about for 2,000 words.   The point is, Pewaukee has everything you'd need to win another state title, and the discourse around them won't be about what they have to do to win a state title as it has been. It'll be what would have to happen for them not to win it.   Sheboygan North   After the departure of Anna Fogle a few years ago, the Golden Raiders have been figuring things out.   North has most of their rotation back this season and will lean on their returners to keep them competitive.   Waukesha North/South   The more I think about the co-op between Waukesha South and North, it feels impossible. Two schools that, on average, have over a thousand kids in the school and have to co-op with one another is the kind of pool that tiny schools wish they had.   However, [player_tooltip player_id='884592' first='Ahnya' last='Terry'] and Mackenzie Hartline are a solid pairing and should be a productive duo for the Waukesha co-op in 2024-25.

I don't have many articles left to do this month, so we might as well start highlighting sectionals. We'll dive deep into all four sectionals in all five divisions and make my predictions for the upcoming season. Today, we'll continue with Division One, Sectional Two. We'll go in alphabetical order.