Wisconsin high school girls basketball: Mississippi Valley Preview

2025-26 Mississippi Valley Conference Preview

Predicted Order of Finish

1) Aquinas
2) La Crosse Central
3) Onalaska
4) Holmen 
5) Sparta
6) La Crosse Logan
7) Tomah 

Players to Watch



Charley Casey, Holmen – Casey received first-team all-league laurels as a junior, averaging 10.4 points, 11 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game.

Samantha Davis, Aquinas – Davis was named Mississippi Valley Player of the Year and WBCA all-state as a junior. The Division I Bradley University commit averaged 17.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 2.9 steals per game.

Ava Fernholz, Aquinas – As a sophomore, Fernholz earned second-team all-league honors, tallying 8.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.2 steals per contest.

Ellie Gillitzer, La Crosse Central – Gillitzer received second-team all-league recognition as a sophomore, averaging 9.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.6 steals per game.

Kayla Ketelhut, Onalaska – As a freshman, ​​Ketelhut took home second-team all-MVC, averaging 10 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest.

Macy Kline, Holmen – Kline was voted first-team all-conference as a junior, tallying 11.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 3.6 steals per contest.



Olivia Passehl, Onalaska – Passehl tallied 9.6 points per game and knocked down 70 three-pointers last season at Aquinas.

Alahnna Simpson, La Crosse Central – Simpson was named first-team all-MVC and honorable mention WBCA all-state as a junior. The Division I Eastern Illinois University commit posted 20.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 4.1 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game.

Brielle Plueger, Tomah – Plueger was a first-team all-league performer as a sophomore, scoring 12.7 points per game.

Team Capsules

Aquinas (La Crosse)
Coach: Dave Donarski, 12th year (264-30)
2024-25 Record: 23-5, lost to D4 state champion Cuba City in a sectional final
2024-25 Conference Finish: MVC champions (12-0)
Top Returnees: Samantha Davis (6-0, sr., 17.2 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 1.9 APG, 2.9 SPG), Ava Fernholz (5-6, jr., 8.4 PPG, 3.8 APG, 2.2 SPG)
Other Returnees: Alaina Elias (5-9, sr., 4.4 PPG, 2.2 SPG), Eva Willenbring (5-3, jr., 2.5 APG), Liv Dickinson (5-6, jr.), Gabriella Stratman (5-7, jr.), Adelaide Bezemek (5-8, jr.)
Newcomers: Hadley Alderson (5-7, soph.), Ella Hargrove (5-6, soph.), Anna Binsfield (5-9, soph.)

Team Notes: The Blugolds returned two of their top three scorers from last year's team, which finished one win away from the WIAA state tournament. Headlining the roster is Samantha Davis, a Division I Bradley University commit. Aquinas has captured the last 10 Mississippi Valley titles and enters the year with a 114-game league winning streak, the longest active streak in the state.



Holmen 
Coach: Lionel Jones, 1st year
2024-25 Record: 12-12
2024-25 Conference Finish: 3rd, 8-4
Returnees: Macy Kline (5-4, jr., 11.4 PPG, 5 RPG, 4.3 APG, 3.6 SPG), Charley Casey (6-0, sr., 10.4 PPG, 11 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.7 BPG), Makenzie Nunemacher (5-5, soph., 8.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG), Aspyn Archer (5-7, soph.), Reese Tierney (5-4, soph.), Alayna Wood (5-6, soph.), Linley Regan (5-9, jr.), Chiara Theisen (6-0, jr.)

Team Notes: The Vikings returned several key players, but will need to adjust to a new head coach. Coach Jones was previously the head women's basketball coach at Viterbo University and also served as the head girls coach at Durand-Arkansaw, where he guided them to the WIAA state tournament in 2017.

La Crosse Central 
Coach: Quartell Roberson, 9th year (102-84)
2024-25 Record: 18-8
2024-25 Conference Finish: 2nd, 9-3
Returning Starters: Alahnna Simpson (6-0, sr., 20.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.3 APG, 4.1 SPG, 1.3 BPG), Ellie Gillitzer (5-7, jr., 9.3 PPG, 31 3PM, 4.3 RPG, 2.2 APG, 2.6 SPG), Emmerson Keeney (6-0, sr., 4.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG)
Other Notable Returnees: Malayah Simpson (5-8, soph., 4.2 PPG, 1.8 SPG), Chloe Ackerman (5-7, sr.)

Team Notes: The Riverhawks returned three starters, headlined by Division I Eastern Illinois recruit Alahnna Simpson.

La Crosse Logan 
Coach: Abby Warren, 8th year
2024-25 Record: 6-19
2024-25 Conference Finish: 6th, 2-10
Notable Returnees: Lydia Mason (5-8, sr., 9.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG), Kaia Depaolo (6-0, sr., 5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.8 SPG), Lillian Dettwiler 5-7, jr., 4.7 PPG), Kenna Streek (5-7, sr.), Emma Bacon (5-5, jr.), Maria Weber (5-10, jr.)

Team Notes: The Rangers brought back nearly their entire roster from last season, led by Lydia Mason.



Onalaska
Coach: Tom Cowley, 4th year (44-31); 20th overall (239-208)
2024-25 Record: 14-12
2024-25 Conference Finish: 4th, 7-5
Returning Starters: Kayla Ketelhut (5-9, soph., 10 PPG, 4.2 RPG), Finley Walters (5-7, jr., 6.8 PPG PPG), Lauren Pica (5-7, jr., 6 PPG), Natalie Marso (5-10, jr., 4.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG, Olivia Passehl (5-7, jr., 9.6 PPG, 70 3PM; transfer from Aquinas),
Other Returning Letterwinners: Raelyn Cowley (5-10, sr.), Avery Cowley (5-10, soph., 4 RPG), Mara Klein (5-9, jr.), Elodie Most (6-2, soph.), Kenzie Bauer (5-7, soph.)
Newcomers: McKenna Alderman (soph.), Sadie Peterson (5-5, soph.), Amelia Spencer (soph.), Julianna Dunn (soph.), Cali Grosch (soph.), MJ Heit (5-7, soph.)

Team Notes: The Hilltoppers welcomed back the majority of their roster and added Olivia Passehl, who transferred in. Coach Cowley told MaxPreps that experience and depth are strengths, while shooting consistency is a weakness.

Sparta
Coach: Chris Schofield, 1st year
2024-25 Record: 12-14
2024-25 Conference Finish: 5th, 3-9
Returning Starters: Elexa Jones (5-8, sr., 11.4 PPG), Tiana Leis (5-8, sr., 9.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG), Lily Seifert (5-6, sr., 8.7 PPG, 30 3PM, 5.8 RPG, 2.6 APG), Abby Berendes (5-7, jr., 6.2 PPG), Izzy Mickelson (5-8, sr., 4.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2 APG)
Other Returnees: Cecila Hemmersbach (5-6, jr.), Kaylie Church (5-5, sr.), Lillian Berg (5-11, jr.)

Coach: Mark Von Haden, 13th year
2024-25 Record: 2-24
2024-25 Conference Finish: 7th, 1-11
Notable Returnees: Brielle Plueger (jr., 12.7 PPG), Abby Gordon (jr., 6 PPG), Avary Chapman (sr., 6 PPG)

Team Notes: The Timberwolves are 2-22 over the last two years in league play.