Sauk Prairie picked to finish seventh

The following preview of the Northern Badger Conference was compiled Wissports.net. 2018-19 Recap: Beaver Dam went undefeated in the Badger North and went on to win its third consecutive Division 2 state title, defeating Monroe, 65-46, in the state championship game. The Golden Beavers joined Cuba City (2005-07), Flambeau (2006-08), Milwaukee Vincent (2007-09) and Milwaukee Washington (1994-96) as the only schools with three consecutive state championships. Reedsburg and DeForest each went 10-4 in the league, and were followed by Waunakee (9-5). The rest of the league standings went Portage (5-9), Baraboo (4-10), Mount Horeb (3-11) and Sauk Prairie (1-13). Beaver Dam (27-1) defeated Monroe, 65-46, in the state championship game. DeForest knocked off Monona Grove, 44-42, in a regional final before dropping a 71-54 contest against Monroe in a D2 sectional semifinal. 2019-20 Predicted Order of Finish: 1) Beaver Dam 2) DeForest 3) Reedsburg 4) Waunakee 5) Mount Horeb 6) Portage 7) Sauk Prairie 8) Baraboo Players to Watch (in alphabetical oreder): Trenna Cherney, soph., Reedsburg – Cherney, a 5-foot-9 forward, was voted as a first-team all-Badger North performer as a freshman after averaging 13 points and 7 rebounds per game. Jada Donaldson, sr., Beaver Dam – Donaldson, a 5-foot-5 guard, was named first-team all-Badger North and honorable mention WBCA all-state for the three-time defending D2 state champs. She is committed to Milwaukee. Paige Hodgson, jr., Beaver Dam – Hodgson, a 6-foot-2 wing/forward, will move into an expanded role this season for the Golden Beavers. She averaged 3.5 points per game as a sophomore. She currently holds NCAA Division I offers from Green Bay, North Dakota and Valparaiso. Natalie Jens, jr., Beaver Dam – Jens, a 5-foot-6 guard, will take on a larger role this season after averaging 8.7 points per game as a sophomore for the Golden Beavers. Elena Maier, jr., Waunakee – Maier, a 5-foot-7 point guard, was named first-team all-Badger North as a sophomore, averaging a team-high 12.9 points per game, and adding 2 assists and 2 steals per contest. Julia Magnuson, jr., Mount Horeb – Magnuson, a 6-foot forward, averaged 10.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game for the Vikings as a sophomore. Megan Mickelson, sr., DeForest – Mickelson, a 5-foot-11 forward, averaged 8.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game as a junior for the Norskies. Grace Roth, jr., DeForest – Roth, a 6-foot wing, will take on an expanded role this season after averaging 9.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore. Mahra Wieman, soph., Reedsburg – Wieman, a 5-foot-9 guard, averaged 12 points per game as a freshman for the Beavers. Maty Wilke, jr., Beaver Dam – Wilke, a 5-foot-10 guard, was voted first-team all-Badger North and unanimous WBCA all-state as a sophomore. Wilke averaged 13.6 points, 5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. Wilke is the top-ranked player in the Class of 2021 by WisSports.net. She holds NCAA Division I offers from Colorado State, Green Bay, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, North Dakota, Marquette, Michigan, Michigan State, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Saint Louis, Texas Tech, Utah, and Wisconsin. McKena Yelk, sr., Portage – Yelk, a 5-foot-8 guard, averaged a team-high 13.9 points per game for the Warriors as a junior. Look for her scoring to increase this season. Team Previews 1) Beaver Dam The Golden Beavers are the three-time defending Division 2 state champions. Beaver Dam is one of just five girls’ teams to achieve that feat, and will look to be the first in state history to win four consecutive state titles. They will need to fill the void left with the graduation of a talented senior class that went 104-5 over their four years. That group includes current Division I college players in Tara Stauffacher (Wisconsin), Paige Schumann (Eastern Illinois) and Aly Van Loo (North Dakota). Coach Tim Chase has compiled a 383-162 career record, including posting a 252-95 record in 14 years at Beaver Dam. Chase told WisSports.net that the returning players and new players have a lot to prove after the graduation of one of the best senior classes in state history. The Golden Beavers welcome back plenty of talent, headlined by junior Maty Wilke, a unanimous WBCA all-state selection, who averaged a team-best 13.6 points per game last season. Wilke’s scoring is expected to make a jump this season. Joining Wilke as a returning starter is senior and Milwaukee recruit Jada Donaldson, an honorable mention WBCA all-state pick, who averaged 7.3 points per game. Other top returners include Natalie Jens (jr., 8.7 ppg), Carley Burchardt (sr., 5.3 ppg), Paige Hodgson (6-2, jr., 3.5 ppg) and Avery Stonewall (jr., 2.1 ppg). Additional returners are Anna Streblow (sr.), Gracie Maderios (sr.) and Paige Yagodinski (jr.). Varsity newcomers include sophomores Leila Ashley and Peyton Wietzke, and freshman Emma Wittnebel. The Golden Beavers also added juniors Emma Wendt and Cora Wendt, who are Marinette transfers. 2) DeForest The Norskies welcome back the majority of its roster that went 10-4 in the Badger North and 17-8 overall. DeForest went on to reach Division 2 sectional play before falling to state runner-up Monroe. Coach Jerry Schwenn told WSN that they return 70 percent of their scoring and rebounding. “Competition will be very good in practices,” Schwenn said. Schwenn added that the Norskies’ strengths include depth, athleticism, varsity experience, and interchangeable players. “Development of roles and inside play are the main questions entering this season,” Schwenn said. The Norskies’ top loss to graduation was Aleah Grundahl, a first-team all-league selection, who averaged a team-high 14.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, and is now playing at UW-Whitewater. Highlighting the group of returners is junior Grace Roth, who averaged 9.5 points per game. “Grace has always had a scorer’s mentality, but has improved as a shooter,” Schwenn said. “We expect her to be more of an inside-out player.” Joining Roth as returning starters are seniors Megan Mickelson (8.1 ppg), Maggie Trautsch (6.5 ppg) and Sam Schaeffer (5 ppg). Those three are expected to take on expanded roles this season. Other key returners include seniors Alyssa Laufenberg, Taylor Tschumper and Brooke Buhr, and junior Natalie Compe. Additional returners are seniors Alyson Benkert, Sydney Hahn, Tahlia Hardiman, and junior Morgan Hahn. 3) Reedsburg The Beavers are coming off a second-place finish in the Badger North. Reedsburg (16-7 overall in 18-19) welcomes back a talented sophomore class, but will need to fill the void left with the graduation of four starters, including Ava Douglas and Julia Korklewski. Douglas (UW-Oshkosh) averaged a team-high 13 points per game and Korklewski (UW-Eau Claire) is their all-time leader in three-pointers made. Coach Mark Simon enters the season with a 210-101 career record, which includes guiding the Beavers to their only state tournament appearance (2012). Simon told WisSports.net that strengths are basketball IQ and experience, while weaknesses are size, depth, and rebounding. Headlining the group of returners for Reedsburg is sophomore Trenna Cherney, a first-team all-league pick, who averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds per game. Mahra Wieman, who battled through injuries last season, averaged 12 points per game as a freshman, giving the Beavers two scoring options at the top. Fellow sophomore Macie Wieman (5 ppg) is another key contributor, who started multiple games last season. Additional sophomores in McKenzie Bestor, Grace Benish and Melissa Dietz will take on expanded roles this season, as all three played some varsity minutes last season. 4) Waunakee The Warriors should remain in the top half of the standings despite the graduation of four starters from last year’s team that finished fourth (9-5) in the Badger North and went 14-10 overall. The Warriors also had a change at the top in the offseason with Marcus Richter replacing Tom Lesar, who stepped down following last season and is now the head coach at Mount Horeb. Richter told WSN that overall team speed will be one of Waunakee’s strengths, while team size will be its biggest weakness. “We will be looking for some players to step into new roles, with a new system in place,” he said. Leading the way will be junior Elena Maier, a first-team all-league selection who averaged a team-best 12.9 points per game last season. Senior Melanie Watson will take on an expanded role this season after netting just under 7 points per game a year ago. Other notable returners include Brooke Ehle (sr.) and Lauren Statz (jr.). Additional players who are expected to contribute include sophomores Lauren Meudt, Kylee Grabarski, Ashley Sawicki and Ava Bryan, along with junior Ebba Harrison. 5) Mount Horeb The Vikings should see improvement this season after going 3-11 in the league and 6-17 overall last season. Mount Horeb welcomes back its entire squad, but will have to adjust to a new head coach with former Waunakee coach Tom Lesar taking over the program. This is Lesar’s third stint as head coach at Mount Horeb. He has compiled a 223-209 career record in his 13 years as a girls’ coach. “Experience, chemistry, and the desire to get better are strengths,” Lesar told WSN. Lesar noted that learning a new system, handling ball pressure, and a commitment to playing defense on a consistent basis are weaknesses. Highlighting the group of returners is junior Julia Magnuson (6-0), who averaged a team-high 10.7 points per game. Joining her as returning starters are Kenzie Coulthard (sr., 8.9 ppg), Emma Anderson (jr., 6.6 ppg), Grace Vesperman (jr.) and Olivia Burke (jr.). Additional returning letter-winners are Liv Yanna (sr., 4.4 ppg), Emily Wallace (jr.), Anna Ollendick (jr.) and Catherine Stange (sr.). Lesar also indicated that junior Anna Leibfried, and sophomores Addison Bies, Leah Leibfried and Zoey Parker will also be in the mix for playing time. 6) Portage The Warriors went 5-9 in the Badger North and 9-14 overall last season. Portage welcomes back two starters, but will need to replace the production of MacKenzie Roth, who finished second in scoring and led the team in assists. Coach Jessica Howe told WisSports.net that they return two proven players in seniors McKena Yelk and Katelyn Belleau. “Both have played since their sophomore season and will look to be leaders this year,” added coach Howe. Yelk averaged a team-best 13.9 points per game, while Belleau (3.6 ppg) added complimentary scoring and was tasked with guarding the opponent’s top player. Other returners include Brianna Brandner (sr., 4 ppg), Hilary Nelson (sr.), Genna Garrigan (jr.), Emma Kreuziger (jr.). 7) Sauk Prairie The Eagles will look to take a step forward this season after going 1-13 in the league and 4-18 overall in 2018-19. Third-year coach Amber Fiene told WisSports.net that their strengths will be their defense and balance on the floor. Leading the way for the Eagles are juniors Naomi Breunig and Olivia Breunig, who averaged 10.5 and 9.2 points per game, respectively. Other returning performers are Ella Schad (sr.), Lauren Wideen (sr.), Makenzie Breunig (soph.) and Kassia Marquardt (soph.). That group will help fill the void left with the graduation of three starters. Additional players who are expected to contribute include sophomores Faith Holler, Olivia Paukner and Katelyn Fishnick, seniors Madi Pertzborn and Lexi Tobias, and junior Autumn Hellenbrand. 8) Baraboo The Thunderbirds will be in rebuilding mode after the graduation of all five starters from last year’s team that went 4-10 in the Badger North and 5-18 overall. Coach Michael Behl told WSN that Baraboo will rely on three seniors who played mostly on the JV last year and a few juniors who are ready to make an impact. “In addition, we will rely on some sophomores and freshmen to contribute,” Behl said. Seniors Autumn Klemm, CeCe Oettinger and Carly Moon will move into expanded roles this season, including providing leadership. Additional players who are expected to contribute include Dana Coleman (jr.), McKenzie Gruner (soph.), Claire Bildsten (soph.) and Taylor Pfaff (frosh.).