2025-26 North Shore Conference Preview Predicted Order of Finish1)
Whitefish Bay2)
Hartford3)
Grafton4)
Homestead5)
Slinger6)
Cedarburg7)
NicoletPlayers to Watch Rowan Counsell, Whitefish Bay – Counsell was named first-team all-North Shore and WBCA all-state as a junior. The Division I prospect averaged 18.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 4.4 steals per contest. Rowan also connected on 44 triples.
Bella Klages Hartford – Klages was voted first-team all-league as a junior. The Division I California Baptist University commit averaged 9.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.
Sage Miskel, Whitefish Bay – As a junior, Miskel received second-team all-league recognition, tallying 11.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.4 steals per game.
Rita Kuepper, Hartford – Kuepper was named second-team all-league and honorable mention WBCA all-state as a sophomore. The Division I UW-Milwaukee commit tallied 10.7 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.0 steals per contest. Rita also made 36 three-pointers.
Alexis Shelsta, Hartford – As a sophomore, Shelsta was chosen as a third-team all-conference performer, tallying 11.3 points and 1.8 steals per game. She also shot 57-for-156 from 3-point land.
Cali Tagliapietra, Grafton – Tagliapietra averaged 10.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.6 steals per game as a sophomore.
Madeline Volpe, Whitefish Bay – Volpe earned third-team all-NSC as a sophomore, averaging 9.9 points, 1.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per contest. She also made 62 of 153 from 3-point land.
Team Capsules CedarburgCoach: Lauren Downs, 1st year
2024-25 Record: 17-8
2024-25 Conference Finish: 4th, 12-6
Returning Starters: Mady Winter (5-6, jr., 6.9 PPG, 37 3PM), Abby Taraboi (6-0, jr., 4.5 PPG)
Other Returnees: Lily Noffke (5-9, sr.), Molly Masse (5-3, jr.), Leah Holton (5-6, sr.), Stella Fernald (5-9, jr.), Kate Regenfuss (5-3, soph.)
Newcomers: Jaymarilyn Luna Ruiz (5-6, soph.), Madyson Suhajda (5-6, soph.), Alyvia Wenthold (5-6, fr.), Elizabeth Bork (5-4, fr.), Ellie LaBlonde (5-5, fr.)
Team Notes: The Bulldogs graduated three starters, including their top two scorers (36 PPG), from last year's team.
GraftonCoach: Matthew D'Amato, 7th year (87-67)
2024-25 Record: 10-15
2024-25 Conference Finish: 6th, 8-10
Returning Starters: Cali Tagliapietra (5-8, jr., 10.2 PPG, 32 3PM, 4.5 RPG, 3 APG, 2.6 SPG), Melanie Morgan (5-8, jr., 10.1 PPG, 56 3PM, 4.4 RPG), Brynlee Hildebrand (5-7, jr., 8 PPG, 31 3PM, 2.3 SPG), Ava Dotson (5-10, jr.), Lili Verplancke (5-10, jr., 6.4 PPG)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Kendyl Conrad (5-5, sr.), Emily Sewell (5-4, sr.), Amber Radtke (5-9, sr., out for the season with a torn ACL)
Newcomers: Madison James (5-6, soph.), Aubry Mangan (5-9, frosh.), Kaylie Van Sluys (5-9, fr.), Tessa Tagliapietra (5-7, fr.), Hadley Klas (6-0, fr.)
Team Notes: The Black Hawks returned five players who saw time in the starting five last season. Coach D'Amato told MaxPreps their strengths are speed and athleticism.
HartfordCoach: Vinny Daniels, 6th year (96-37)
2024-25 Record: 23-4, lost to D1 state champ Kimberly in sectionals
2024-25 Conference Finish: North Shore champion (17-1)
Returning Starters: Alexis Shelsta (5-6, jr., 11.3 PPG, 57 3PM, 1.8 SPG), Rita Kuepper (5-6, jr., 10.7 PPG, 36 3PM, 3.3 APG, 2 SPG), Lauren Voss (5-6, sr., 6.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.9 SPG), Bella Klages (5-11, sr., 9.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.7 SPG)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Regan Resheske (5-3, sr., 2.3 APG, 1.6 SPG), Teaghan Smith (5-6, sr.), Alivia Fischer (5-5, sr.), Jane Becker (5-11, sr.)
Newcomers: Keira Bailey (6-1, soph.), Hayden Hall (5-6, jr.), Ella Stapleton (5-9, jr), Addyson Navarre (5-5, jr.)
Team Notes: The Orioles returned four starters from last year's team, which advanced to sectional play. They will need to fill the void left by the loss of Makena Christian, who is now playing at the University of Minnesota. "We still have the ability to play fast, have a ton of guard play, and get after the offensive glass," coach Daniels told MaxPreps.
Homestead (Mequon)Coach: Tony Gries, 2nd year
2024-25 Record: 19-7
2024-25 Conference Finish: 3rd, 15-3
Returning Starters: None
Other Returnees: Allison Hertz (5-7, jr.), Tessa Lueck (5-8, soph.), Sarah Zehms (5-4, jr.), Cam Suckow (5-8, soph.), Mila Ivancevic (5-8, soph.)
Newcomers: Lizzy Willis (sr.), Alexandra Sterns (soph.), Kiran Albert (soph.), Makenna Landisch (jr.)
Team Notes: The Highlanders have a revamped starting lineup after the graduation of all five starters, which included leading scorer Madison Fitzgibbon, who is now playing at UW-Milwaukee.
Nicolet (Glendale)Coach: James Wright, 3rd year
2024-25 Record: 4-21
2024-25 Conference Finish: 8th, 4-14
Notable Returnees: London McCain (5-10, soph., 9.9 PPG), Amiah Reyes (5-4, jr., 8.3 PPG), Savannah Jewell (5-10, jr., 6.4 PPG), Kaya Bolle-Muraski (5-9, jr., 4.9 PPG), Joran Joiner (5-8, sr.), Kaia Luzano-Belfield (5-7, jr.), Miley Jacobs (5-2, jr.)
Team Notes: The Knights returned several contributors from last season.
SlingerCoach: Miles Bankston, 3rd year (18-34), 4th overall (19-49)
2024-25 Record: 9-17
2024-25 Conference Finish: 7th, 5-13
Returning Starters: Macy Karl (soph., 9.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.5 SPG), Kaylynn Burkel (jr., 8.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2 SPG)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Ella Reichle (soph.), Isabelle Vey (jr.)
Newcomers: Elise Wiedmeyer (soph.), Ally Roemer (soph.), Adie Ourada (soph.), Emily Chvosta (soph.), Kara Hesse (soph.), Cadence Pearson (soph.)
Team Notes: The Owls brought back two starters from last season. ‘Our strengths will be our youth, pace, and ability to play great defense," coach Banks told MaxPreps.
Whitefish BayCoach: Jon Schneider, 11th year, 14th overall (194-124)
2024-25 Record: 24-3, lost to D2 state champ Wauwatosa East in sectionals
2024-25 Conference Finish: 2nd, 16-2
Returning Starters: Rowan Counsell (jr., 18.2 PPG, 44 3PM, 4 RPG, 3.5 APG, 4.4 SPG), Sage Miskel (sr., 11.7 PPG, 36 3PM, 4.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 2.4 SPG), Madeline Volpe (jr., 9.9 PPG, 62 3PM, 1.6 SPG)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Carrington Balthasar (jr., 5.4 PPG, 1.7 SPG), Madonna Helf (jr., 4.1 PPG), Rose Mussoline (jr.), Lucy Paulson (sr.), Elliot Burkemper (sr.), Leyla Burkemper (soph.)
Newcomers: Clara O'Brien (soph.), Karstin McCabe (frosh.)
Team Notes: The Blue Dukes welcomed back three starters from last year's team, which reached Division 2 sectional play before falling to eventual D2 state champion Wauwatosa East. Coach Schneider told MaxPreps their strengths include depth, speed, scoring, and pressure defense. Rowan Counsell, the league's top returning scorer, headlines Whitefish Bay's squad.
