Girls Basketball Division 4 Preseason Top 10

Regis battled to a three-way tie atop the Cloverbelt-West standings with Fall Creek and McDonell Central last season, and the teams figure to be going toe-to-toe with each other again this year. Unfortunately all three are in the same half-sectional. Regis gets the slight edge behind the return of WBCA All-State junior EllaMay Cooper, who poured in 24.2 points per game last year while shooting better than 44% from the three-point line. Izzy Reichert is another solid returning regular for the Ramblers and head coach Teddy Joas, who do have to replace three starters from a year ago. Keep an eye out for a couple talented freshmen being contributors.

Valders was a very young team last year but still put together an outstanding season, finishing 17-9 overall and second in the Eastern Wisconsin Conference. With four starters back and the top five scorers from last season returning, the Vikings figure to be among the division’s elite teams. Megan Hochkammer, Zoey Siders, and Audrey Wagner all averaged at least 9.5 points per game last year.

Neillsville continues to be one of the most consistent and successful programs in the state under longtime head coach John Gaier, who is just one win shy of 500 for his career. The Warriors finished 23-4 last season, advancing into sectional play while going unbeaten in the Cloverbelt-West Conference. Madi Davel is among the returnees after a strong sophomore season.

McDonell Central finished tied atop the Cloverbelt-West Conference last season and should slug it out with Regis and Fall Creek for control of the league once again. Head coach Sally Williams has some talented juniors returning this year, including Anne Siegenthaler and Emily Hartman.

Colfax was well off the pace in the Dunn-St. Croix last year, finishing a distant third in the standings. However, they got hot in the playoffs, advancing to sectional play after a regional final victory over Shell Lake. A strong senior core is back to lead the way for the Vikings, including Jordyn Bowe, Sierra Shipman, and Brynn Sikora.

Shell Lake had an outstanding season, winning an outright Lakeland-West Conference title and winning 23 games. However, they’d fall in a regional final against Colfax. Athena Lehmann is back after leading the team with more than 17 points per game as a sophomore. Quinn Schenkenberg averaged a double-double as a freshman for the Lakers and has loads of promise.

Pardeeville has a trio of double-digit senior scorers coming back as they try to defend their Trailways-West Conference title. Winning 22 games last year and claiming a regional championship, the Bulldogs can turn to Bronte Hulberg, Ava Wagner, and Lexi Hughes for dependable production.

Stratford finished three games behind Assumption in the Marawood-South last season, but the Tigers still won 20 games in one of the toughest conferences in the entire state. Leading scorer Carly Pankratz and second-leading scorer Tria Tubbs are among the returning starters for the Tigers.

Manitowoc Lutheran advanced to within a game of the state tournament last season, falling to fellow Big East-North co-champ Saint Mary Catholic in a sectional final. The Lancers return a pair of double-digit scorers in seniors Marissa Melhorn and Makiah Krause.

Kewaunee was the champion of the Packerland last year, going 21-5 overall after exiting in the sectionals. Veteran head coach Lynn Geier is coming up on 400 career victories, currently sitting at 388 against just 145 losses. The Storm should get there quickly with a talented and experienced lineup. Jade Kroll is a returning Honorable Mention All-State choice from the WBCA after averaging 19.5 points per game.

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].