Wisconsin Heights girls picked for fifth

Editors Note: This preview of the Capitol South Conference girls basketball season was compiled by Wissports.net.   2023-24 RECAP New Glarus (23-3 overall) went a perfect 10-0 to claim the Capitol South title. The Glarner Knights reached a WIAA Division 4 sectional semifinal, losing to eventual D4 state runner-up Cuba City, 70-48. Belleville (16-8, 7-3) and Cambridge (17-10, 7-3) tied for second place in the league.  Cambridge advanced to a sectional semifinal, falling to D4 state qualifier The Prairie School, 68-41. Waterloo (15-12, 4-6), Marshall (10-16, 1-9), and Wisconsin Heights (4-18, 1-9) closed out the conference standings.    2024-25 Conference Preview  Predicted Order of Finish  1) Belleville  2) New Glarus  3) Cambridge  4) Marshall  5) Wisconsin Heights  6) Waterloo    Players to Watch Maddi DeSmet, sr., Belleville – DeSmet, a 5-11 forward, averaged 14 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.8 blocks per game last season en route to being selected first-team all-conference.  Toria DeVoe, jr., Belleville – DeVoe, a 5-7 guard, was named first-team all-Capitol South and honorable mention WBCA all-state last season after averaging 16 points, 3.0 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. She also shot 59-for-141 from behind the arc.  Addison Edge, sr., Belleville – Edge, a 5-7 guard, tallied 11.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.1 steals per game last season, earning second-team all-league honors. She also made 39 three-pointers.  Elle Lancaster, sr., New Glarus – Lancaster, a 5-7 guard, averaged 11.3 points, 1.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game last season, receiving second-team all-conference. She also connected on 49 of 132 from 3-point land.  Makayla Nemec, sr., Marshall – Nemec, a 5-10 guard, will take on a larger role this season. She tallied 9.3 points per game while connecting on 68 three-pointers as a junior.  Brooke Stenklyft, sr., Cambridge – Stenklyft, a 6-0 wing/forward, was named unanimous first-team all-Capitol South and honorable mention WBCA all-state last season, averaging 20.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per contest. Brooke enters the year with 1,305 career points.    1) Belleville  The Wildcats are the favorites to capture the Capitol South championship. Belleville welcomes back its entire roster which finished 7-3 in the conference and 16-8 overall.  “We went from being a team that’s young and without any seniors, to a team with four seniors that have all been playing varsity basketball for three or four years, so hopefully that experience will show and more importantly we can be more consistent,” third-year head coach Eric Liegel told WisSports.net.  Liegel added that Belleville had four players make at least 20 three-pointers last season. And in games the Wildcats won last year, they averaged seven 3-pointers per game.  “With that many scorers on the court, it’s important for us to find the hot hand and understand that on any given night someone can take over,” he said.  Liegel added that on the defensive end of the floor, they need to rebound at a higher rate and limit second-chance opportunities for their opponents. Highlighting the group of returnees for the Wildcats are Toria DeVoe and Maddi DeSmet, who combined to average 30 points per game in 2023-24. Another top returnee is Addison Edge who also scored in double-figures last season. Belleville is in the same half-sectional as Cuba City, last year’s state runner-up in Division 4.  Returning Starters: Toria Devoe (5-7, jr., 16 ppg, 59 3PM, 3 apg), Maddi DeSmet (5-11, sr., 14 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 2 apg, 2.8 bpg), Addison Edge (5-7, sr., 11.4 ppg, 2.7 apg, 2.1 spg), Ellie Doyle (5-10, sr., 5.1 rpg), Nikole Schultz (5-8, soph., started second half of the season), Ava Benash (5-4, sr., missed second half of season due to injury)  Other Returning Players: Khylee Lietz (5-5, soph.), Cora Funseth (5-9, jr.), Taylor Schmidt (5-5, soph.), Demyla Conner (5-3, jr.), Ava Shrader (5-8, soph.), Bryn Prochaska (5-11, soph.), Hayden Caskey (5-10, soph.)   Starters Lost: None    2) New Glarus The Glarner Knights have won at least a share of the last three Capitol South titles, but will have a revamped roster in 2024-25. New Glarus graduated four starters, including three-time conference player of the year Lindsey Schadewalt, who finished her career with 2,328 points (15th on the state’s all-time scoring list).  Kevin Parman, who has a 173-93 record in 11 years as a head coach, has an 89-17 record in four seasons at New Glarus. Parman said that team speed and unselfishness are strengths, while rebounding and establishing team depth are areas of concern.  The Glarner Knights will build around Elle Lancaster, the team’s second-leading scorer last season and lone returning starter.  Returning Starters: Elle Lancaster (5-7, sr., 11.3 ppg, 49 3PM)  Other Returning Players: Eve Maclean (6-0, sr.), Anya Brenkman (5-6, sr.), Ellie Brenkman (5-10, soph.), Kate Parman (5-9, soph.), Kalia Malaise (5-8, soph.)  Newcomers: Kennedy Esser (jr.), Marie Beasley (soph.) Starters Lost: Lindsey Schadewalt (30.3 ppg), Isabella Brenkman, Peyton Schneider, Emma Martinson   3) Cambridge  The Bluejays return two starters from their 2023-24 team, which finished 7-3 in the conference and advanced to a Division 4 sectional, ending the season with a 17-10 overall record.  WBCA Hall of Fame head coach Doug Pickarts is currently 10th on the state’s all-time wins list in girls’ basketball, entering the year with a 541-271 record which includes five WIAA state tournament appearances.  Pickarts told WisSports.net that their strengths heading into the season are outside shooting, size, and strong leadership, while guard play, overall quickness and depth in their rotation are weaknesses. Brooklyn Stenklyft, who led the team in scoring and was second in rebounds and assists last season, headlines the roster for the Blue Jays.  Returning Starters: Brooklyn Stenklyft (6-0, sr., 20 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.7 apg), Macey Robinson (5-11, soph., 5.1 ppg)  Other Returning Players: Megan Bernhardt (6-0, sr.), Haley Bristol (5-10, sr.), Rylee Brattlie (5-10, sr.), Tara Bettenhausen (5-6, soph.), Emillie Behm (5-6, soph.), Kimmy Roidt (5-8, soph.)  Starters Lost: Saveea Freeland (18 ppg), Julie Schneider, Mara Brown   4) Marshall  The Cardinals bring back two starters from their 2023-24 squad which went 1-9 in the Capitol South and 10-16 overall. Third-year head coach Dan Nickel told WSN that they will look to push tempo this year and shoot a lot of three-pointers, while constantly changing things up on defense. Makayla Nemec, the team’s top three-point shooter last season, and Tori Justmann, who will take over the point guard duties, highlight the group of returning players for the Cardinals.  Returning Starters: Makayla Nemec (5-10, sr., 9.3 ppg, 68 3PM), Erin Rateike (5-7, jr.)  Other Returning Players: Tori Justmann (soph., 9.7 ppg), Paige Hill (5-10, jr.), Paige Colden (soph., 6.6 ppg, most likely out for season due to ACL injury) Newcomers: Kaylee Gors (soph.), Iris Fuelling (jr.), Kylie Rateike (soph.), Gracie Bunts (jr., transfer from Lakeside Lutheran) Starters Lost: Wynn Held (11.3 ppg), Lizet Lopez-Montes, Kiersten Hoel (5-8, sr., 15.3 ppg in 10 games played last season; focusing on preparing herself to play college volleyball)    5) Wisconsin Heights  The Vanguards return three starters from last year’s team, which finished 1-9 in the league and 4-18 overall. Third-year head coach Tyler Fuchs told WSN that their team strengths are athleticism, selflessness, and quickness, while shooting and rebounding are weaknesses.  Jocelyn Brabender, the team’s second-leading scorer last season, leads the group of returning players for the Vanguards.  Returning Starters: Jocelyn Brabender (5-8, sr., 8.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg), RJ Kalscheuer (5-10, jr., 5.4 ppg, 5 rpg), Lydia Crowe (5-7, sr.)  Other Returning Players: Sonja Severson (5-8, soph, 6.4 ppg), Abrie Schoenemann (5-1, jr.), Haley Wipperfurth (5-4, jr.), Avery Graham (5-3, jr.), Anya Gresch (5-7, jr.)  Starters Lost: Mikayla Teela (9.7 ppg), Sophia Severson   6) Waterloo  The Pirates will be in a transition year after the graduation of four starters from last year’s team, which finished 4-6 in the Capitol South and 15-12 overall. The Pirates also had a change at the top with Emilee Truman, a 2018 graduate of Jefferson, taking over as head coach.  Truman said Waterloo has some speed and there is good dedication from the players.  “Our defense will be key this season,” Truman said.  The lone holdover from last year’s starting five is Kylie Webster, who will take on a leading role this season.  Returning Starters: Kylie Webster (5-6, sr., 5.3 ppg)  Other Returning Players: Emerson Setz (5-5, sr.), Callie Davison (5-2, soph.), Paytn Hauptli (5-7, soph.), Shelby Shelton (5-9, soph.), Emma Baumann (5-9, jr.)  Newcomers: Harmony Schaefer (frosh.), Callie Davison (soph.), Madi McCarthy (frosh.) Starters Lost:  Brenna Huebner (13.2 ppg), Tess Blundell (10.6 ppg), Briana Lauersdorf (7 ppg), Ashlyn Albrecht.