The road to state for WIAA Girls Basketball continues tonight with Sectional Semifinals in all Divisions.
DIVISION 1
#1 Hortonville (24-1) vs #4 Neenah (21-5) at Kimberly
Hortonville won the first two meetings of the season 82-76 and 76-68. The Polar Bears handed the Rockets 3 of their 5 losses on the season. Hortonville was ranked No. 1 in the WSN Coaches the majority of the season and enter the game on a 14-game winning streak. The team’s lone loss was to Notre Dame (67-66), the defending D2 state champion. The game features three possible future Ms. Basketball award winners. Kamy Peppler is one of the top contenders for Ms. Basketball this year and is averaging 13.8 points a game. The UW-Milwaukee recruit is the second-leading scorer on the team. The leading scorer role goes to Freshman Rainey Welson with 15.8 points a game. Welson has made 70 three-pointers on the season. Senior Lyric Johnson is an Eastern Illinois signee. Hortonville’s regional wins were against Appleton West (82-25) and Hudson (82-41). For Neenah, Allie Ziebell is one of the top sophomores in the nation and has a long list of offers. She averages a state-best 30.5 points per game. Neenah has won its last nine games and posted regional victories versus Stevens Point 64-58 and Wausau West 64-47.
#2 Appleton East (22-4) vs #3 Superior (20-4) at Eau Clarie Memorial
Appleton East was ranked among the top teams all season and spent time as the top-ranked team in the WSN Coaches Poll… the Patriots are the only team to beat defending Division 2 state champion Notre Dame this season. The Patriots lost the first two meetings by scores of 81-66 and 80-64. Marquette bound Emily LaChapell is one of the top contenders for Ms. Basketball. Appleton East earned regional wins over Appleton North 53-35 and Kimberly 70-44. Superior’s lone in-state loss was against Rice Lake and had a notable win over Wausau West. The Spartans’ regional wins were versus D.C. Everest 61-45 and Eau Claire Memorial 59-57.
#1 Germantown (22-4) vs #5 Kaukauna (19-7) at Hartford
Germantown is the defending Division 1 state champion. The Warhawks, co-champions of the Greater Metro, are riding a 15-game winning streak… KK Arnold is one of the top juniors in the nation and is on her way to UCONN. Germantown posted regional victories against Green Bay East 92-38 and Hartford 87-65. Kaukauna competes in the strong FVA. The Galloping Ghosts defeated Fond du Lac 85-71 and Milwaukee King 71-58 in regional play.
#3 De Pere (22-4) vs #7 Divine Savior Holy Angels @ Germantown
De Pere has won 19 of its last 21 games with lone losses in that span were against FRCC champion Notre Dame, the defending D2 state champions. The Redbirds’ regional wins were against Sheboygan South (72-38) and Sheboygan North (84-36). DSHA (7-seed) is the lowest seed remaining. The Dashers knocked off 2-seed Homestead (60-59) in a regional final and their other regional win was against Menomonee Falls (50-43). De Pere is led by Jordan Meulemans with 25.7 points a game. Meulemans is a Butler signee.
DIVISION 2
#1 Notre Dame (25-1) vs #3 Fox Valley Lutheran (20-5) at Green Bay Southwest
Notre Dame is the defending Division 2 state champion and are riding a 24-game winning streak heading into this game. They are the only team to beat Hortonville this season, and their lone loss was against Appleton East, the second week of the season. Sophomores Gracie Grzesk and Trista Fayta each hold Division I offers. The Tritons’ regional wins were against Luxemburg-Casco (73-17) and Menasha (81-32). Fox Valley Lutheran has won its last nine games, with regional victories versus Green Bay Southwest (53-47) and West De Pere (70-64).
DIVISION 3
# Freedom (25-1) vs #3 Xavier (18-8) at Oconto Falls
Freedom claimed the North Eastern title, and was ranked No. 1 in the final WSN Coaches Poll of the season. The Irish won their first 22 games before falling to Mosinee, a D2 sectional qualifier, 61-57. Freedom posted regional victories against Clintonville (52-29) and Wrightstown (56-31). Xavier is the champion of the Bay Conference. The Hawks have won their last six games and had regional wins versus Oconto Falls (72-52) and Amherst (54-52).
DIVISION 4
#1 St. Mary Catholic (25-1) vs #3 Bonduel (22-4) at Crivitz
Matchups: One. St. Mary Catholic posted a 57-42 win on January 17.
St. Mary Catholic claimed the Big East North title. The Zephyrs are riding a 24-game winning streak, with their only loss being against Mishicot (58-53), last year’s D4 state champion, on November 23. SMC defeated Algoma (59-24) and Oconto (66-55) in regional contests. Bonduel earned a share of the CWC-East title and have won their last nine games. The Bears regional wins were versus Crandon (46-44) and Shiocton (83-46).
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