La Crosse Central senior Alahna Simpson
DIVISION 2 | BRACKET
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(Times, dates, & locations subject to change; records & information as of 2/18)
SECTIONAL 1
Top Seeds
#1 Rice Lake (20-3, #1 in subsectional in Bound Power Index, #2 Bound WI/Zaleski Media Poll)
#2 La Crosse Central (18-5, #4 in Bound Power Index, UR)
#1 Shawano (15-8, #1 in Bound Power Index, UR)
#2 Marinette (12-11, #6 in Bound Power Index, UR)
Top Scorers
Aubryn Clark, Jr., Rhinelander: 28.3 PPG
Adaline Sheplee, Sr., Rice Lake: 28.2 PPG
Leah Nordin, Sr., Shawano, 26.0 PPG
Taylor Klingbeil, Jr., Medford: 22.7 PPG
Alba Sanchez-Garcia, Sr., Wausau East: 21.0 PPG
Top Rebounders
Addison Schmidt, Jr., Rice Lake: 14.4 RPG
Leah Nordin, Sr., Shawano: 13.0 RPG
Abigail Treichel, Sr., River Falls: 13.0 RPG
Ava Widdeel, Sr., Waupaca: 11.8 RPG
Adaline Sheplee, Sr., Rice Lake: 9.5 RPG
Favorites
Rice Lake is the favorite to come out of Sectional 1 for a second straight year, as the Warriors have Miss Basketball contender, Wisconsin recruit, and recent 2000-point career scorer Adaline Sheplee to lead the way. The only team ranked in the latest Bound Wisconsin/Zaleski Sports Media Poll, the Warriors have a strong second option in promising junior Addison Schmidt, who averages 18.3 points and 14.4 rebounds per game.
Shawano is the top seed in the bottom half of the bracket, countering with their own 2000-point, Wisconsin commit, Miss Basketball semifinalist. Leah Nordin puts up huge numbers for the Hawks, averaging 26 points and 13 rebounds per game.
La Crosse Central won 13 games in a row to begin the year, but hit a rough patch in February, dropping five of seven at one point. They’ve rebounded with four straight wins to close the season, taking on Aquinas tonight. The Riverhawks are led by senior Alahna Simpson, a Ms. Basketball semifinalist.
Upset Alert
Menomonie and River Falls are number five and six, respectively, in the top portion of the bracket, but play in the Big Rivers Conference and come in with strong advanced metric numbers. It would not be a surprise if one or both scored road wins in the first game.
Pulaski is a six-seed in the bottom half of the bracket, but the Red Raiders play in a larger conference than most of the teams, the FRCC. Pulaski did already lose to New London and Shawano by single digits, though that was back in November. It’s been a rough stretch lately, as the team has lost eight of the last nine. Still, their Power Index number suggests they could be a sleeper team to watch.
Top Potential Match-Ups
Please note the emphasis on potential.
Rice Lake vs. Shawano, Sectional Final: This would be the marquee matchup in Sectional 1 and a rematch of last year’s sectional final, won by Rice Lake. Each has a 2000-point UW recruit that is capable of carrying them to state, though Rice Lake has a little stronger supporting group, especially with Addison Schmidt as a strong second option.
Menomonie vs. River Falls, Regional Semifinal: Both teams would have to score road upsets to get here, but it’s very possible for the Big River rival schools. They split regular season games, though Menomonie won the more recent matchup in January by 20.
My Sectional Pick: Rice Lake
SECTIONAL 2
The Seeds
#1 Edgewood (17-6, #2 in subsectional in Bound Power Index, #4 Bound WI/Zaleski Media Poll)
#2 Milton (15-8, #1 in Bound Power Index, UR)
#1 Elkhorn (18-4, #1 in Bound Power Index, #8 Bound WI/Zaleski Media Poll)
#2 Catholic Memorial (12-11, #2 in Bound Power Index, UR)
Top Scorers
Whitney Schmidt, So., Burlington: 20.3 PPG
Kelly Boinski, Sr., Catholic Memorial: 20.0 PPG
Emma Trautsch, So., Stoughton: 19.0 PPG
Grace Warborg, Jr., Jefferson: 17.5 PPG
Julia McRae, Sr., New Berlin West: 15.8 PPG
Top Rebounders
Kyrin Lile, Sr., Elkhorn: 11.1 RPG
Sophia Milosh, Fr., Waterford: 10.0 RPG
Alexis Accuardi, Jr., DeForest: 9.7 RPG
Brooke DeShong, Jr., McFarland: 9.0 RPG
Braylee Fiedrich, Jr., Monroe: 8.3 RPG
Favorites
Edgewood advanced to state in Division 2 last season after winning the D3 crown in 2024. The Crusaders nearly took home another gold ball before dropping a 59-58 thriller against Wauwatosa East. Veteran head coach Lora Staveness has another strong group, led by junior Wisconsin recruit Anna Miller plus talented classmate Beanie Thompson.
Milton played a tough early schedule and took some lumps, but have won 10 of the last 11 down the stretch. Junior Kylee Buttchen and senior Nayeli Kilen lead the way for the Red Hawks.
Elkhorn easily won the Southern Lakes Conference and is a program on the rise. The top seed in the bottom bracket, the Elks lean heavily on senior Kyrin Lile, who averages nearly 16 points with 11 rebounds per game.
Catholic Memorial is the two seed in the bottom, but the Crusaders play the majority of their games against Division 1 competition in the Classic Eight Conferencse, so their 12-11 record is a bit deceiving. Senior Kelly Boinski is one of the division’s top scorers at 20 points per game.
Upset Alert
Waukesha West is an eight-seed in the bottom part of the bracket, but the Wolverines rank fourth in the group in the Bound Power Index. With a challenging schedule in the Classic Eight, they’ll be a tough out.
Top Potential Match-Ups
Please note the emphasis on potential.
Edgewood vs. Milton, Sectional Semifinal: In opposite divisions of the Badger Conference, these teams did not meet during the regular season but have plenty of common opponents.
Elkhorn vs. Catholic Memorial, Sectional Semifinal: These teams had very different experiences in the regular season, with Elkhorn winning a conference title. Catholic Memorial played a much more difficult schedule and will finish a distant third or fourth in the Classic Eight.
My Sectional Pick: Edgewood
SECTIONAL 3
The Seeds
#1 Xavier (18-5, #1 in Bound Power Index, #6 Bound WI/Zaleski Media Poll)
#2 Fox Valley Lutheran (19-3, #2 in Bound Power Index, #3 Bound WI/Zaleski Media Poll)
#1 Milwaukee Vincent (16-1, #3 in Bound Power Index, UR)
#2 Grafton (18-5, #2 in Bound Power Index, UR)
Top Scorers
Brynn Krull, Sr., Xavier: 18.3 PPG
Nataya Donaldson, Sr., Beaver Dam: 17.6 PPG
Aria Bilke, Jr., Menasha: 16.6 PPG
Kinley Peterson, Fr., Fox Valley Lutheran: 16.4 PPG
Evelyn Nienhuis, Fr., Sheboygan South: 16.3 PPG
Top Rebounders
Norah Merow, Sr., Port Washington: 10.0 RPG
Nataya Donaldson, Sr., Beaver Dam: 9.6 RPG
Ezra Streblow, Sr., Plymouth: 9.5 RPG
Macy Karl, So., Slinger: 8.0 RPG
Abby Taraboi, Jr., Cedarburg: 7.9 RPG
Favorites
Xavier is 18-5 and a top seed, despite another rough injury year that saw two of the three Krull sisters lost for the year early in the schedule. Still, senior Brynn Krull is one of the top players in the state and capable of leading the Hawks back to state, where they were runners-up in D3 last season.
Fox Valley Lutheran is 19-3 and winners of nine straight heading down the stretch. Unfortunately all three of the losses came in conference play, as they are a couple games behind rival Xavier in the standings. They did recently avenge a previous loss to Winneconne.
Beaver Dam has the pedigree as one of the top programs in the state in the last decade, and the Golden Beavers sport the program’s all-time leading scorer in senior Nataya Donaldson. The team still has three tough remaining games against DeForest, Appleton East, and Oregon before beginning postseason action.
Upset Alert
There was considerable consternation when the seeds came out and Milwaukee Vincent received a top seed in the bottom portion of Sectional 3, as the Vikings went 16-1 but played just one game outside of the Milwaukee City Conference, a 98-10 defeat against Bay Port. They’ll take on either Cedarburg or West Bend East in the first playoff game, with those teams combining for just three victories this season. Still, it would not be a significant surprise to see one of them push the Vikings or even come away with a win.
Top Potential Match-Ups
Please note the emphasis on potential.
Xavier vs. Fox Valley Lutheran, Sectional Semifinal: These crosstown rivals met twice during the regular season, with Xavier coming away on top both times. The first game was a 24-point affair, while the January meeting was closer, won by Xavier by five points en route to a Bay Conference title.
Grafton vs. Beaver Dam, Regional Final: Both teams are quite a bit ahead of the rest of the pack in their subsectional, and each have strong resumes. Both teams like to push the pace, averaging more than 64 points per game.
My Sectional Pick: Beaver Dam
SECTIONAL 4
The Seeds
#1 Whitefish Bay ( 23-0, #1 in sectional in Bound Power Index, #1 Bound WI/Zaleski Media Poll)
#2 Pius XI Catholic (19-4, #4 in Bound Power Index, #7 Bound WI/Zaleski Media Poll)
#1 Whitnall (19-4, #3 in Bound Power Index, UR)
#2 Milwaukee Bay View (10-7, #8 in Bound Power Index, UR)
Top Scorers
Aniya Blackmon, Sr., Golda Meir: 24.3 PPG
Riley Ward, Sr., Whitnall: 21.4 PPG
Rowan Counsell, Jr., Whitefish Bay: 21.2 PPG
Amirah Taylor, Sr., Golda Meir: 18.8 PPG
Sage Miskel, Sr., Whitefish Bay: 17.7 PPG
Top Rebounders
Amirah Taylor, Sr., Golda Meir: 15.5 RPG
Nyah Nelson, So., Shorewood: 14.4 RPG
Macey St. Lawrence, Sr., Greendale: 13.2 RPG
Adeline Nagle, Fr., Shorewood: 10.0 RPG
Lizzie Jackson, So., Pius XI Catholic: 9.2 RPG
Favorites
The top part of the bracket has arguably the top three teams in the sectional, led by top seeded Whitefish Bay. The Blue Dukes are currently tied for the top spot in the North Shore Conference, with junior Rowan Counsell and senior Sage Miskel combining to average 39 points per game. The team has four wins over opponents in the overall top 25 of the Bound Power Index.
Wisconsin Lutheran played the third most difficult schedule in the state this year, with all nine of their losses coming against teams inside the top 25 of the overall Bound Power Index, including teams ranked #1, #2, #4, #5 (x2), #7, and #8 plus a pair of one-point losses to #24 Pius XI Catholic.
Pius XI Catholic was ranked first in the Bound Wisconsin/Zaleski Sports Media Poll midway through the year, but a five-game losing streak dropped the Lady Popes out of the rankings before a strong late season surge. Veteran head coach Scott Herrick has a strong group of juniors and sophomores that lead the way.
Upset Alert
New Berlin Eisenhower is the four-seed in the lower half of the bracket, but the Lions got a favorable draw, away from Woodland-West foes Piux and Wisconsin Lutheran. In fact, the Lions are the top-ranked team in the subsectional in the Bound Power Rankings. They take on Greendale in the first playoff game, having split those matchups.
The bottom portion of the bracket also features second-seeded Milwaukee Bay View, who went just 10-7 against only City Conference teams. They would be vulnerable in most non-city matchups, including potentially against Cudahy.
Top Potential Match-Ups
Please note the emphasis on potential.
Pius XI Catholic vs. Wisconsin Lutheran, Regional Semifinal: These teams met twice already this year, with Pius XI Catholic scoring a pair of one-point victories. That means a home game for Pius.
My Sectional Pick: Whitefish Bay
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].