In the realm of prep girls' basketball, a bevy of underclass athletes aren't afforded that extra year or two to soak in the elements. It's time to grow up right now. Tonight.
From Monroe to Pecatonica, Brodhead to Darlington, youthful exuberance gets set aside for grit and determination as the WIAA tournaments tip off and true thoughts of a state championship can begin to form.
Seniors like the Monroe Cheesemakers' defensive specialist Calyn Bidlingmaier or the Brodhead Cardinals' long-range gunner Paige Hoeper will be there for guidance, but it's going to be that youngster who decides to make her presence felt that will take a team to victory.
Here's a breakdown of tonight's nine games with implications for area teams and predictions to boot.
DIVISION 2>
VERONA REGIONAL>
No. 8 Edgerton at No. 1 Monroe>
Key players - EDGE: >Meggie Schmidt, 5-7, fr.; Bri Cox, 5-7, sr. MON: >Kyleigh Sellnow, 5-8, fr.; Ashley Hermanson, 6-0, soph.
Outlook: >The top-seeded Cheesemakers come into the postseason with a sour taste in their mouths after Friday's 54-44 loss to Waunakee. The horde of underclass players look to make its first postseason impressions in the post-Marissa Young, Sydnee Wyss era. Hermanson has been tough for opponents to contain on the blocks in the later part of the season, while freshman guard Sellnow has put her slow start to the season behind her. Sellnow can score and, better yet, create for the Cheesemakers. Bidlingmaier and junior Emily Rufenacht should have no problems keeping Schmidt (12.1 points per game) and Cox (8.1) in check defensively.
Prediction: >Monroe 59, Edgerton 36
No. 6 McFarland at No. 3 Brodhead>
Key players - MCF: >Julia Thorson, 6-2, jr.; Kirsten Walker, 5-10, soph. BROD: >Dana Lewis, 6-1, soph.; Kristen Ruchti, 6-1, jr.
Outlook: >Brodhead is as hot as it's been this season, rolling into the playoffs with a five-game winning streak and taking seven out of its last eight games. Cardinals head coach Chris Medenwaldt should give forwards Lewis (10.6 per game) and Ruchti (13.8) plenty of post touches against a Spartans squad that went 2-10 in the Badger South and 6-14 overall. No McFarland player averages more than nine points per game, but six players score more than five per game. With Lewis and Ruchti, coupled with Paige Hoeper's marksmanship from beyond the arc, Brodhead should continue its roll into the second round.
Prediction: >Brodhead 53, McFarland 38
DIVISION 3>
MONROE REGIONAL>
No. 5 Belleville at No. 4 Darlington>
Key players - BELL: >Jessica O'Connor, 5-10, jr.; Quinn Rear, 5-9 fr. DAR: Ashley Martin, 5-7, soph.; Cassie Fink, 5-5, jr.
Outlook: >Darlington head coach Kurt Cohen's deep bench should come handy in what likely will be a nip-and-tuck game throughout. The Redbirds have a gunner in Fink, but will need everyone to pitch in. Ashley Martin, Katie Martin and Kari Blosch have to erase the 66-26 defeat by Cuba City on Friday from their memory and focus on the co-Capitol Conference champion Wildcats, who have won six straight. O'Connor can fill the hoop with regularity at 14 points a contest, but the freshman Rear has turned some heads and might be the X-factor in the game.
Prediction: >Darlington 49, Belleville 44
No. 6 New Glarus at No. 3 Parkview>
Key players - NG: >Shanna Karls, 5-7, sr.; Dani Pickett, 5-6, sr. PARK: Jenna Larsen, 5-10, soph.; Maggie Danielson, 5-4, sr.
Outlook: >In the battle of co-conference champions, the Capitol South's Glarner Knights have a tough draw in the Rock Valley's Parkview. New Glarus needs big games from guard Pickett, who can reach unconscious level from 3-point land. Unfortunately, the Vikings have too much depth and can rely on a number of players to light up the scoreboard.
Prediction: >Parkview 54, New Glarus 47
DIVISION 4>
DARLINGTON REGIONAL>
No. 8 Benton at No. 1 Pecatonica>
Key players - BENT: >Danielle Dixon, 5-9, jr.; Megan Neis, 5-7, sr. PEC: >Kimee Chandler, 5-7, soph.; Brittany Kent, 5-10, jr.
Outlook: >If there's one area team to watch this postseason, it's the top-seeded Vikings (17-3 overall), as their roster is built for the long run. Sophomore standout point guard Chandler has the ability to push the tempo in hers and Pec's favor or let the game come to her. The Zephrys' Dixon is a natural talent, but doesn't have the supporting cast to give the Vikings a game.
Prediction: >Pecatonica 62, Benton 35
No. 7 Monticello at No. 2 Black Hawk>
Key players - MONT: >MacKenzie Hilliard, 5-7, sr.; Sadi Hilliard, 5-7, soph. BH: >Kim Wellnitz, 6-0 soph.; Paige Butler, 5-9, jr.
Outlook: >This hasn't been the type of year Ponies' senior MacKenzie Hilliard was hoping to end her prep career on, but she'll hand the keys to the Monticello car to sister Sadi after the Warriors sharpen their skills in hopes for another deep playoff run. Butler and Wellnitz put up big numbers in the box score game in and game out and are ready to push past the sectional semifinals, where they ran into an impassable Burlington Catholic Central last year.
Prediction: >Black Hawk 60, Monticello 32
No. 6 Southwestern at No. 3 Argyle>
Key players - SW: >Haley Jansen, fr.; Julia Bartels, 5-9, sr. ARG: >Amber Thomas, 6-0, sr.; Brittany Flannery, 5-9, sr.
Outlook: >The Orioles are the lone team in the Six Rivers East that relies heavily on a strong senior class, led by 3-point specialist Thomas. Flannery is a perfect complementary piece on the wing, as she can shoot the jumper or drive to the hoop and get to the free-throw line. The Wildcats have Bartels and Jansen, who both score 10 points per game. The home-court advantage should win out in the end for Argyle, which should meet Black Hawk in the second round.
Prediction: >Argyle 47, Southwestern 41
CLINTON REGIONAL>
No. 5 Faith Christian at No. 4 Albany>
Key players - FC: >Rae Brandes, 5-9, soph.; Kara Flikkema, 5-9, soph. ALB: >Hayli Peach, 5-5, fr.; Amy Golz, 5-5, sr.
Outlook: >Don't be fooled by the Eagles' 16-4 record compared to the Comets' 10-10. These two teams are evenly matched and Albany's trek through the strong Six Rivers East Conference should put it over the hump in an exciting tilt. Golz, the Comets' all-time leading scorer, needs to have a big game if she doesn't want to have an early end to her career.
Prediction: >Albany 43, Faith Christian 40
No. 7 Juda at No. 2 Johnson Creek>
Key players - JUDA: >Larrisa Klemm, 5-4, soph.; Rachel Bartels, 5-11, soph. JC: >Kiara Lemminger; 5-7, sr.; Stacey Draeger, 5-9, sr.
Outlook: >The Panthers have been growing together and guard Klemm has emerged as future player to watch as she can attack the rim with ease. The lanky inside-out savvy Bartels provides a presence on the wingsm as well as in the painted area, but this will be another learning experience for Juda. Johnson Creek's senior duo of Lemminger and Draeger boasts too much experience to not take care of business in the first round.
Prediction: >Johnson Creek 57, Juda 40
- John McNally is a sports reporter for The Monroe Times. He can be reached at jmcnally@themonroetimes.com.
