BRODHEAD - Senior Amber Pickel has had the Rock Valley Conference showdown between her sixth-ranked Brodhead Cardinals and top-ranked Whitewater circled on her calendar since before the season tipped off.
Whitewater (9-1), the defending WIAA Division 3 state champions, is ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Division 3 state poll and No. 1 in the WisSports.net Coaches poll. Whitewater defeated Brodhead twice last year, including a 60-43 victory in a Division 3 sectional semifinal game.
Brodhead hosts Whitewater at 7:15 p.m. Thursday.
"It will be a huge game," Pickel said. "We have to come out ready to play, push the ball and get back on defense to stop Myriama (Smith-Traore). It's alumni band night, so there will be an extra 100 people. It will be a great atmosphere and one great sound."
Trying to slow down Smith-Traore will be a tall order. The 6-foot-2 junior is averaging 18.3 points and 15.2 rebounds per game.
"It will be a tremendous challenge," Pickel said of guarding Smith-Traore. "She has six to seven inches on me. I will have to work hard and be aggressive."
Don't expect the Cardinals (10-1) to stay in a man-to-man defense.
"We will have to mix in some zone and double her," Brodhead coach Brian Kammerer said. "If we play her straight up the whole time she will probably score 30 or 40 points against us."
The Cardinals are led by the trio of senior Kylie Moe, Pickel and sophomore Erin Nyhus. Moe is averaging 22.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. Pickel (15.2 ppg) and Nyhus (14.1 ppg) are also proven scorers with the ability to hit clutch shots.
Whitewater also has other capable scorers it can lean on, such as junior Rebekah Schumacher (14.6 ppg) and Ali Ketterhagen (10.5 ppg).
"They are a phenomenal team," Kammerer said. "Their No. 1 ranking is definitely worthy. We will definitely have our hands full. We have to make sure we keep an eye on her (Smith-Traore) and keep an eye on their other shooters as well."
The only loss for the Whippets came against Badger South Conference power Stoughton, a Division 2 team coached by former Brodhead coach Brad Pickett. The Cardinals' only loss was to Cuba City.
Whitewater (9-1), the defending WIAA Division 3 state champions, is ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Division 3 state poll and No. 1 in the WisSports.net Coaches poll. Whitewater defeated Brodhead twice last year, including a 60-43 victory in a Division 3 sectional semifinal game.
Brodhead hosts Whitewater at 7:15 p.m. Thursday.
"It will be a huge game," Pickel said. "We have to come out ready to play, push the ball and get back on defense to stop Myriama (Smith-Traore). It's alumni band night, so there will be an extra 100 people. It will be a great atmosphere and one great sound."
Trying to slow down Smith-Traore will be a tall order. The 6-foot-2 junior is averaging 18.3 points and 15.2 rebounds per game.
"It will be a tremendous challenge," Pickel said of guarding Smith-Traore. "She has six to seven inches on me. I will have to work hard and be aggressive."
Don't expect the Cardinals (10-1) to stay in a man-to-man defense.
"We will have to mix in some zone and double her," Brodhead coach Brian Kammerer said. "If we play her straight up the whole time she will probably score 30 or 40 points against us."
The Cardinals are led by the trio of senior Kylie Moe, Pickel and sophomore Erin Nyhus. Moe is averaging 22.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. Pickel (15.2 ppg) and Nyhus (14.1 ppg) are also proven scorers with the ability to hit clutch shots.
Whitewater also has other capable scorers it can lean on, such as junior Rebekah Schumacher (14.6 ppg) and Ali Ketterhagen (10.5 ppg).
"They are a phenomenal team," Kammerer said. "Their No. 1 ranking is definitely worthy. We will definitely have our hands full. We have to make sure we keep an eye on her (Smith-Traore) and keep an eye on their other shooters as well."
The only loss for the Whippets came against Badger South Conference power Stoughton, a Division 2 team coached by former Brodhead coach Brad Pickett. The Cardinals' only loss was to Cuba City.
