Wisconsin high school girls basketball: Southern Lakes Preview

2025-26 Southern Lakes Conference Preview

Predicted Order of Finish

1) Union Grove
2) Elkhorn
3) Westosha Central
4) Waterford 
5) Badger
6) Beloit Memorial
7) Burlington
8) Wilmot

Players to Watch



Emilyn Bonow, Elkhorn – Bonow received second-team all-Southern Lakes recognition as a junior, averaging 10.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. She also made 60 of 169 from three.

Cardin Johnson, Westosha Central – As a sophomore, Johnson earned second-team all-league honors, tallying 10.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.6 steals per game.

Kyrin Lile, Elkhorn – Lile missed the first 18 games of the season recovering from an ACL injury. In six games, she tallied 10.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.2 blocks per game. The Division I UW-Green Bay recruit scored 19.7 points per game as a sophomore.

Lana Mannetter, Westosha Central – Mannetter is out indefinitely as she recovers from an ACL injury. The Division I prospect was voted first-team all-SLC as a freshman, averaging 17 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks per contest.

Kylie Schultz, Elkhorn – As a junior, Schultz was chosen second-team all-SLC, tallying 9.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 2.0 steals per game.

Camryn Smith, Union Grove – Smith was voted second-team all-Southern Lakes as a junior, averaging 12.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 3.6 steals per contest.



Mia Wilks, Union Grove – Wilks contributed 6.6 points and 1.8 assists per game as a junior for the Broncos.

Team Capsules

Badger 
Coach: Andy Smith, 2nd year (15-10)
2024-25 Record: 15-10
2024-25 Conference Finish: T3rd, 8-6
Returning Starters: Ella Jooss (sr., 7.6 PPG, 2.5 APG, 1.9 SPG), Autumn Carr (sr., 5.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG), Teagan Clausen (jr., 4.9 PPG)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Lilly Butinas (sr.), Sally Gowan (sr.), Meara Heiselmann (sr.), Miah Butinas (soph.)
Newcomers: Addi Jooss (soph.), Bella Metcalf (soph.)

Team Notes: Coach Smith told MaxPreps they have a good mix of youth and returning players. "We are small but quick and should be pretty deep."

Beloit Memorial
Coach:
2024-25 Record: 11-13
2024-25 Conference Finish: T3rd, 8-6
Notable Returnees: Jhalia Barber (5-7, jr., 6.4 PPG, 2 APG, 1.9 SPG), Asharia Koch (5-8, jr., 9.7 PPG, 11.2 RPG), Evelynn Karr (5-9, soph.), Reeasha Burrows (5-9, jr.)

Team Notes: The Purple Knights graduated nearly all of their key players and will also have a new head coach, with Dilonna Johnson stepping down before the season after five years to take an assistant coaching position at Milwaukee Area Technical College.



Burlington
Coach: Jack Schmidt, 3rd year
2024-25 Record: 12-14
2024-25 Conference Finish: 5th, 7-7
Returning Starters: Whitney Schmidt (5-7, soph., 13 PPG, 46 3PM, 1.6 APG, 1.6 SPG), Aubrey Reesman (5-9, sr., 3.9 PPG, 6.5 RPG)
Other Notable Returnees: Sophia Warren (5-6, jr.), Anna Weis (5-11, jr.)

Team Notes: The Demons graduated three of their top four scorers from last season.

Elkhorn
Coach: Michael Storlie, 5th year (58-47)
2024-25 Record: 11-15
2024-25 Conference Finish: 6th, 6-8
Returning Starters: Kyrin Lile (6-1, sr., missed nearly all of last season recovering from ACL injury; 10.5 PPG in 6 games), Emilyn Bonow (5-10, sr., 10.8 PPG, 60 3PM, 2.5 APG), Ayla Saunders (5-4, jr., 10 PPG), Kylie Schultz (5-7, sr., 9.6 PPG, 4.9 APG, 2 SPG), Markie Pedersen (5-7, sr., 4.4 PPG),
Other Returning Letterwinners: Ava Olson (6-0, jr., 7.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG), Kenzie Pedersen (5-10, jr., 5.5 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2 APG), Kendall Kresen (5-6, jr.),
Newcomers: Makenna Guth (5-9, fr.)

Team Notes: The Elks welcomed back all of their key players from last year's team, headlined by Division I UW-Green Bay commit Kyrin Lile. Coach Storlie told MaxPreps they are a good shooting team that also has size inside.

Union Grove
Coach: Rob Domagalski, 26th year (441-161)
2024-25 Record: 25-3, lost to D2 state champion Wauwatosa East in a sectional final
2024-25 Conference Finish: Southern Lakes champion (14-0)
Returning Starters: Camryn Smith (5-8, sr., 12.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.6 APG, 3.6 SPG), Mia Wilks (5-8, sr., 6.6 PPG), Natalie Hammes (5-8, sr., 5 PPG)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Karlie Peterson (5-3, jr.), Abby Johnson (5-4, sr.), Hannah Nowakowski (5-5, jr.), Josie Licht (5-8, jr.), Ava Gonzales (5-4, sr.)
Newcomers: Lila Elsbernd (5-10, fr.), Ruby Christiansen (5-8, soph.), Abby Waterworth (5-7, soph.)

Team Notes: The Broncos have won at least a share of the last six Southern Lakes titles and enter the year with a 58-game league winning streak. Coach Domagalski told MaxPreps they'll need to rely on their speed, athleticism, and defensive intensity, which is the foundation of their program's success. "We take great pride in our relentless defense and fast-paced style of play, which allows us to pressure teams in both the full-court and half-court while creating scoring opportunities in transition."



Waterford
Coach: Dena Brechtl, 15th year (177-160)
2024-25 Record: 10-16
2024-25 Conference Finish: 7th, 4-10
Returning Starters: Jossilyn Allen (5-6, jr., 10.8 PPG, 34 3PM), McKinley Karpinski (5-8, jr., 9.7 PPG, 30 3PM, 5.1 RPG, 1.6 SPG), Evelyn Hoffman (6-0, jr., 5 PPG, 7 RPG)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Caylee Thompson (5-11, soph., 6.2 PPG), Ellie Ketterhagen (5-4, sr.), Taylor Greil (5-8, sr.), Zoe Pomeroy (5-8, sr.)
Newcomers: Mariana Siller (5-9, sr.), Alyson Brechtl (5-9, fr.), Kayla Brechtl (5-9, fr.), Sophia Milosh (6-0, fr.)

Team Notes: Coach Brechtl said that their strengths include depth, shooting, size, and tempo. "We should be able to play at a fast tempo, while defending at a high level."

Westosha Central (Salem)
Coach: Sarah Klahs, 4th year
2024-25 Record: 14-12
2024-25 Conference Finish: 2nd, 9-5
Returning Starters: Lana Mannetter (6-0, soph., 17 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2 SPG, 1.5 BPG; out indefinitely, recovering from ACL injury), Keara Griffin (5-9, jr., 10.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.6 APG, 2.2 SPG), Cardin Johnson (5-6, sr., 10 PPG, 2.5 APG, 2.6 SPG), Lilah Longrie (5-11, jr., 7.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG), Gabby Biehn (5-6, jr., 6.1 PPG)
Other Notable Returnees: Lila Heriford (5-10, sr., 4.9 PPG), Kahlen Willis (5-10, jr., 4.6 PPG), Brielle Schultz (5-8, jr.)

Team Notes: The Falcons welcomed back their entire roster, but Division I prospect Lana Mannetter is out indefinitely as she recovers from an ACL injury.

Wilmot
Coach: Matthew Yarc, 1st year
2024-25 Record: 4-21
2024-25 Conference Finish: 8th, 0-14
Returning Starters: Olivia Lehman (soph., 9 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.9 SPG), Maddy Rosin (5-8, jr., 7.8 PPG, 1.6 SPG), Taylor Walter (6-2, sr., 6.3 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.8 BPG), Elle Drissel (5-11, jr., 6.1 PPG), Kaci Peters (5-10, sr., 4.7 PPG)
Other Notable Returnees: Emma Pferdmenges (5-7, jr.), Ellie Dixon (5-5, soph.)

Team Notes: The Panthers enter the year with a 29-game Southern Lakes losing streak.