Norah King and Eau Claire Memorial are looking to improve upon last year’s trip to the sectional finals
DIVISION 1 | BRACKET
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(Times, dates, & locations subject to change; records & information as of 2/18)
SECTIONAL 1
Top Seeds
#1 Stevens Point (19-3, #2 in sectional in Bound Power Index, #2 Bound WI/Zaleski Media Poll)
#2 Notre Dame (19-4, #4 in Bound Power Index, #8 Bound WI/Zaleski Media Poll)
#3 Kimberly (19-4, #1 in Bound Power Index, #6 Bound WI/Zaleski Media Poll)
#4 Eau Claire Memorial (16-6, #9 in Bound Power Index, UR)
Top Scorers
Jada Seubert, Jr., Stevens Point: 25.0 PPG
Melia Lemorande, Sr., Bay Port: 19.4 PPG
Leah Awe, So., Stevens Point: 19.4 PPG
Kardyn Peppler, Jr., Hortonville: 19.3 PPG
Avery Werfal, Jr., Appleton North: 18.7 PPG
Top Rebounders
Kailynn Thompson, So., Bay Port: 8.7 RPG
Olivia LaBlanc, Jr., Hudso:, 8.5 RPG
Melia Lemorande, Sr., Bay Port: 7.9 RPG
Keira Plate, Jr., Kaukauna: 7.8 RPG
Ava Van Vonderen, Jr., Kimberly: 7.7 RPG
Favorites
Kimberly is the three-seed in a strong Sectional 1, but the Papermakers are the defending state champions and have gone through an extremely tough schedule to get to this point. In first place in the FVA heading into the final games of the season, Kimberly has the experience and talent behind juniors Ava Van Vonderen (Wisconsin commit) and Haylie Dulas as well as seniors Claudia Asman and Emily Urban to get back to Madison.
Stevens Point has climbed to second in the latest Bound Wisconsin/Zaleski Division 1 Media Poll, and the Panthers have just one loss to a Wisconsin team this season, a 58-42 setback against Hortonville way back in early December. The Panthers’ league schedule hasn’t been challenging but they have tired to go out and test themselves in non-league games. A game on Saturday against Oostburg will be a key measuring stick.
Notre Dame certainly has the pedigree and an outstanding coaching staff, and have wrapped up the FRCC championship. The Tritons have an experienced core group of seniors leading the way.
Eau Claire Memorial is the four seed, though their advanced metrics aren’t quite as rosy, with the Bound Power Index putting them ninth in the sectional. The Old Abes were a sectional finalist last year, falling in double overtime against Appleton East (who moves out of this sectional), but have lost three of the last five games, including two against Hudson.
Upset Alert
Appleton North is a ten-seed in a very deep sectional, but the Lightning are 15-8 overall coming out of the very tough Fox Valley Association. They’ve played a tough schedule and own quality victories over Bay Port and Hortonville. Avery Werfal is the kind of player that can carry a team in the postseason.
Another FVA team to watch is 14th-seeded Kaukauna. The Ghosts are 9-14, but have played one of the toughest schedules in the state and the Bound Power Index favors them more than the seed formula. Unfortunately the Ghosts are matched up with Kimberly, team they’ve lost to twice by a combined 40 points.
Top Potential Match-Ups
Please note the emphasis on potential.
Stevens Point vs. Hortonville, Regional Semifinal: Stevens Point is the top seed, but can’t be thrilled that Hortonville is the number eight, and potential regional semifinal foe. Hortonville already beat Stevens Point 58-42 back in December. As a two-seed last year, Stevens Point lost to a lower-seeded FVA team, Appleton East, in a sectional semifinal.
Notre Dame vs. Kimberly, Sectional Semifinal: Two outstanding programs with a high amount of recent success, as Kimberly is the defending Division 1 state champion while Notre Dame won three consecutive titles from 2021 to 2023. Kimberly beat Notre Dame in a sectional semifinal last season.
My Sectional Pick: Kimberly
SECTIONAL 2
The Seeds
#1 Pewaukee (19-4, #1 in sectional in Bound Power Index, #7 Bound WI/Zaleski Media Poll)
#2 Appleton East (19-3, #2 in Bound Power Index, #5 Bound WI/Zaleski Media Poll)
#3 Hartford (17-6, #3 in Bound Power Index, #10 Bound WI/Zaleski Media Poll)
#4 Milwaukee King (18-1, #15 in Bound Power Index, UR)
Top Scorers
Rowan Klesmi, Sr., Neenah: 21.5 PPG
Rita Kuepper, Jr., Hartford: 20.5 PPG
Bella Klages, Sr., Hartford: 19.6 PPG
Awut Alic, Jr., Oshkosh North: 18.5 PPG
Kendall Schmitz, Jr., Manitowoc Lincoln: 15.9 PPG
Top Rebounders
Cam Suckow, So., Homestead: 8.2 RPG
Lauren Voss, Sr., Hartford: 7.9 RPG
Madeleine Chabot, Sr., Pewaukee: 7.7 RPG
Madeline Brown, Sr., DSHA: 6.9 RPG
Kate Janssen, Sr., Menomonee Falls: 6.6 RPG
Favorites
Pewaukee is the top seed in Sectional 2, just as they were last year when they dropped an overtime heartbreaker in the sectional final to eventual champion Kimberly. The Pirates are led by a strong senior group, including Miss Basketball and Wisconsin commit Giselle Janowski, who missed much of last year with injury. Pewaukee has played an grueling schedule (second among all teams according to our metrics), with noteworthy wins over Notre Dame, Hartford, Kimberly, Pius (x2), Hortonville, and Wisconsin Lutheran (x2).
Appleton East made a Cinderella run to the state tournament last year as a six-seed out of Sectional 1 before falling to league rival Kimberly in the state semifinals. The Patriots split a pair of games with Kimberly and have beaten Neenah twice, with one of the tougher schedules in the state. Ella Sweeney leads a talented and still young group.
Hartford is 10-1 in the North Shore and likely to share the league crown with Whitefish Bay, who they split with. The Orioles certainly challenged themselves outside the league but went just 6-4 in non-conference play. The duo of junior Rita Kuepper and senior Bella Klages is as good as any in the state.
Upset Alert
Oshkosh West is a 12-seed in Sectional 2 but is the fifth-highest team in the Bound Power Index. They’ve played a lot of very competitive games against quality competition, though haven’t quite broken through for a win against an elite opponent. The Wildcats do have a pair of wins over Kaukauna and beat Oak Creek, however. Oshkosh West plays Neenah, an FVA opponent they’ve lost to twice already.
Menomonee Falls is the 13-seed but may be favored against fourth-seeded Milwaukee King. King has played just a couple games against teams outside the city of Milwaukee, and the City Conference has struggled in the postseason in recent years.
Top Potential Match-Ups
Please note the emphasis on potential.
Appleton East vs. Hartford, Sectional Semifinal: Both teams have played difficult schedules, and this would be an interesting matchup of differing styles. Hartford is one of the top scoring teams in the state behind Klages and Kuepper, while Appleton East plays a more defensive-oriented, slower-paced system.
Pewaukee vs. Appleton East, Sectional Final: Two programs with a great amount of success in the last decade and among the toughest schedules in the entire state. Janowski versus Sweeney would be an outstanding individual showdown.
My Sectional Pick: Pewaukee
SECTIONAL 3
The Seeds
#1 Arrowhead (21-2, #1 in Bound Power Index, #3 Bound WI/Zaleski Media Poll)
#2 Waunakee (20-3, #2 in Bound Power Index, #4 Bound WI/Zaleski Media Poll)
#3 Brookfield East (17-6, #3 in Bound Power Index, UR)
#4 Mukwonago (15-7, #4 in Bound Power Index, UR)
Top Scorers
Nyajuacni Riak, So., Madison La Follette: 30.0 PPG
Natalie Kussow, Sr., Arrowhead: 26.1 PPG
Macy Stremlow, So., Verona: 22.7 PPG
Tessa Bryan, Jr., Waunakee: 22.0 PPG
Teagan Schoenecker, Sr., Oregon: 20.3 PPG
Top Rebounders
Nyajuacni Riak, So., Madison La Follette: 12.9 RPG
Macy Stremlow, So., Verona: 11.3 RPG
Asharia Koch, Jr., Beloit Memorial: 10.1 RPG
Tatum Inda, Jr., Madison East: 9.9 RPG
Libby Gilmore, Sr., Arrowhead: 9.8 RPG
Favorites
Arrowhead is certainly the favorite in Sectional 3, as the Warhawks are 21-2, with close losses to Tosa East and Oostburg. The Warhawks have a number of impressive wins, including over second-seeded Waunakee plus out-of-state power Providence Academy (MN). Miss Basketball contender and Minnesota recruit Natalie Kussow is good enough to carry a team to a title, but there’s plenty of good players around her, including junior Sidney Zehner and senior Libby Gilmore.
Waunakee is the two-seed, but as mentioned, the Warhawks already have a 67-49 loss to Arrowhead and have not played the same level of schedule overall. The team is certainly capable of big things, with a prolific offense that relies heavily on the three-point shot. Junior Tessa Bryan is an extremely creative scorer.
Brookfield East earned the three-seed in Sectional 3, as the Spartans are second in the Greater Metro Conference behind Wauwatosa East. In fact, B’East just took the Red Raiders to overtime last week. Senior Miss Basketball semi-finalist Maya Kovacic leads the Spartans are just shy of 20 points per game.
Upset Alert
There’s not a clear Cinderella type team in Sectional 3, but Madison La Follette is certainly one to watch, as they have a game-changer in sophomore Nyajuacni Riak. The sophomore sensation averages 30 points per game and recently dunked in a victory over Madison East. With more than 40 scholarship offers, she is a matchup nightmare for the sixth-seeded Lancers.
Top Potential Match-Ups
Please note the emphasis on potential.
Brookfield East vs. Madison La Follette, Regional Semifinal: Brookfield East has seen plenty of good teams this season and has star power in senior Miss Basketball semifinalist Maya Kovacic. The team is certainly stronger overall than La Follette, but Nyajuacni Riak is a standout individual player who will find her way to impacting the game.
Arrowhead vs. Waunakee: Sectional Final: As mentioned, top-seeded Arrowhead already has a win over second-seeded Waunakee, a 67-49 decision in late January. The Warriors had no answer for Natalie Kussow in that one, as she finished with 34 points and 15 rebounds.
My Sectional Pick: Arrowhead
SECTIONAL 4
The Seeds
#1 Wauwatosa East ( 23-0, #1 in sectional in Bound Power Index, #1 Bound WI/Zaleski Media Poll)
#2 Kenosha Indian Trail (19-4, #4 in Bound Power Index, UR)
#3 Milwaukee Pulaski Co-op (9-4, #13 in Bound Power Index, UR)
#4 Muskego (12-11, #2 in Bound Power Index, UR)
Top Scorers
Taccari Hicks, Sr., Racine Case: 29.0 PPG
Jessiah Collins, Jr., Milwaukee Hamilton: 27.2 PPG
Addison Betker, Jr., Racine Park: 18.6 PPG
Mikaia Litza, Sr., Wauwatosa East: 17.8 PPG
Keara Griffin, Jr., Westosha Central: 15.8 PPG
Top Rebounders
Jessiah Collins, Jr., Milwaukee Hamilton: 10.5 RPG
Talyia Galvez-Hanson, Fr., Milwaukee Reagan: 9.7 RPG
Aubri Grady, Fr., Milwaukee Reagan: 7.7 RPG
Keara Griffin, Jr., Westosha Central: 7.0 RPG
Addison Betker, Jr., Racine Park: 7.0 RPG
Favorites
If Wauwatosa East does not come out of this sectional, it would be one of the most surprising upsets in girls hoops in some time. The Red Raiders have defeated all comers this year, including Arrowhead, Neenah, Kimberly, Pewaukee, and Providence Academy (MN). A balanced, aggressive, explosive unit, the team has its eyes set on getting back to Madison in Division 1, after winning the title in D2 last year.
Upset Alert
Milwaukee Pulaski is the number three seed in the group, but the team played no games outside the Milwaukee City Conference and went just 6-3 in non-forfeit games. Racine Case struggled this year, but the 14th-seeded Eagles have a stronger resume than does Pulaski.
Franklin is a number seven seed, but the Sabers will likely share the Southeast Conference title after a key win over Kenosha Indian Trail on Tuesday night. They haven’t fared as well outside the league, but have as good of a shot as any in the sectional at making a run, especially being opposite Tosa East. A trip to the sectional final would not be a surprise.
Top Potential Match-Ups
Please note the emphasis on potential.
Franklin versus Kenosha Indian Trail, Regional Final: These teams will likely share the Southeast Conference title, splitting their regular season matchups. Franklin did win the most recent game on Tuesday night, an impressive 61-41 victory.
My Sectional Pick: Wauwatosa East
Travis Wilson serves as the Bound Wisconsin Manager. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisBound or reach him at [email protected].