Girls Basketball Division 5 Preseason Top 10

Pacelli was #1 in our preseason rankings last year and would go on to win the CWC-South. The Cardinals tested themselves outside the league, which definitely paid dividends. They’d survive a wild regional final against Columbus Catholic and go on to the WIAA state tournament for the first time in program history. Wins over Barneveld and Eleva-Strum lifted them to a Division 5 state title. A solid nucleus returns, including leading scorer Jaedyn Zdroik, who posted a triple-double in the championship game. Haylee Ciesewski and Maddy Piontek are returning double-digit scorers as well.

Columbus Catholic had an up-and-down 2025-26 season, including dropping four of the final six games during the regular season. However, the Dons were in a strong spot in a regional final against eventual champion Pacelli before a heart-breaking ending. With the return of 20-point per game scorer Elly Gardner, one of the top freshmen scorers in the state, as well as junior Isabella Holz and five of the top six scorers, the club has designs on improving upon last year.

The Crusaders took some lumps in the Big East-South Conference a year ago, going 7-5 in league play. Dropping down to Division 5, they made a nice run into sectionals, setting the stage for what could be a big 2026-27 season. Leading scorer Maddie Thomas is back, along with a strong sophomore class that saw a number of players make key contributions a year ago.

Shullsburg was sitting at 4-7 in early January, but they’d go 13-2 down the stretch. While the Miners fell in a low-scoring game to Barneveld in a regional final, it sets the stage for big things this year behind the return of most of last year’s roster. The team graduates just one senior and brings back the top three scorers, including league Player of the Year McKinley Russell.

Independence/Gilmanton finished second in the Dairyland-Large behind Eleva-Strum and advanced to within a game of the state championship game before falling to Barneveld in a sectional final. Longtime coach John Zilla loses leading scorer Arabelle Kniseley but the next six leading scorers from last season are back.

De Soto claimed the title in the Ridge & Valley Conference last season, but didn’t find the same level of success outside the league. The team did advance to sectional play, however, falling to Independence/Gilmanton. First Team All-Conference selections Kylee Venner and Sylvia Krueger lead the returnees.

Lourdes Academy shared the Trailways-East Conference crown with Valley Christian, but won the rubber match in a regional final. The Knights got within a game of the state tournament but went out to Fall River in a sectional final. Top scorer Aubrey Schettle graduates, but there is a strong group of young players back, including sophomore Naomi Liabwill.

Solon Springs ran away with the Northern Lights title last year and finished 21-3 during the regular season. Unfortunately the Eagles closed the year the same as they started it, with a loss to Webster. Every player from last year’s roster is back, as the top seven scorers were either freshmen or sophomores. That includes league Player of the Year Kalli Nelson plus First Team pick Claire Beerntsen.

After dropping six of the first eight games of the year, Valley Christian got red-hot to close out the season, winning 16 of the next 17 games before going out to rival Lourdes Academy in a regional final. Lisa Van Wyk takes over as the head coach, inheriting a roster that includes 23-point per game scorer Mya Moran. The Warriors figure to battle it out for the Trailways-East with Lourdes Academy again this year.

Barneveld dropped four straight games in mid-January, but not surprisingly, the Eagles rebounded to make an excellent run. With an emphasis on defense, they advanced all the ay to the state tournament, going out in the semifinals to eventual champ Pacelli. Losing program great Izabel Durst will hurt, and Rowan Valcheff is the top returning scorer at 6.5 points per game, but you know that the state’s all-time winningest girls basketball coach Jim Myers will have the Eagles competing at a high level.

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 as website & communications coordinator. 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].