Wisconsin high school girls basketball: Badger Small Preview

2025-26 Badger Small Conference Preview

Predicted Order of Finish

1) Edgewood (Madison)
2) Sauk Prairie (Prairie du Sac)
3) Mount Horeb
4) Stoughton
5) Fort Atkinson
6) Reedsburg
7) McFarland
8) Portage

Players to Watch 

Hannah Baldry, Fort Atkinson – Baldry contributed 9.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.8 steals per contest as a junior.

Macey Faust, Edgewood – As a junior, Faust earned first-team all-Badger Small, tallying 8.2 points per game with 41 three-pointers made.

Mallory Hartwig, Sauk Prairie – Hartwig was voted first-team all-league as a junior, averaging 13.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 3.0 steals per game. Mallory is an NCAA Division I South Dakota State volleyball recruit.

Anna Miller, Edgewood – Miller was named Badger Small Player of the Year and WBCA all-state as a junior. The Wisconsin commit averaged 16.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. Miller also connected on 48 triples.

Courtney Monroe, Mount Horeb – As a sophomore, Monroe tallied 7.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.

Beanie Thompson, Edgewood – Thompson received first-team all-conference and WBCA all-state as a sophomore. She averaged 14.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per contest.

Emma Trautsch, Stoughton – Trautsch contributed 6.6 points, 2.3 assists, and 2.2 steals per game in her debut season for the Vikings.

Lorelei Williams, Reedsburg – Williams scored 10.4 points per game as a freshman for the Beavers.

Team Capsules

Edgewood (Madison)
Coach: Lora Staveness, 33rd year (515-262)
2024-25 Record: 28-2, D2 state runner-up, lost to Wauwatosa East
2024-25 Conference Finish: Badger Small champion (14-0)
Returning Starters: Anna Miller (5-9, jr., 16.8 PPG, 48 3PM, 4.5 RPG, 4.1 APG, 2.5 SPG), Beanie Thompson (5-10, jr., 14.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.2 SPG), Macy Faust (5-6, sr., 8.2 PPG, 34 3PM)
Other Returnees: Alex Moschkau (5-8, sr.), Maggie Iglar (5-5, sr.), Siena Rabach (5-8, soph.), Eva Akpandja (6-0, jr.)
Newcomers: JuJu Thompson (5-4, fr.), Gladys Powless (5-4, soph.), Veronica Seitz (5-9, soph.), Summer Milesko (5-6, jr.), Penny Teigen (5-6, soph.), Mya Hampton (5-4, jr.), Katie Pomraning (5-10, soph.), Berkeley Julian (5-6, jr.)

Team Notes: The Crusaders have advanced to the WIAA state tournament in each of the past two seasons, winning the Division 3 state title in 2024 and finishing as the D2 state runner-up last season. Edgewood welcomed back three starters, headlined by Wisconsin commit Anna Miller.

Fort Atkinson
Coach: Mark Gavigan, 4th year
2024-25 Record: 9-17
2024-25 Conference Finish: 8th in Badger Large, 1-13
Returning Starters: Olivia Knickrehm (5-6, soph., 9.6 PPG), Hannah Baldry (5-5, sr., 9.1 PPG, 2.3 APG, 2.8 SPG), Audrey Wargolet (5-8, sr., 6.3 PPG), Kinley Wargolet (5-6, soph.), Lyla Hintz (5-9, soph., 4.9 RPG)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Emma Norris (5-7, sr.), Layla Kohl (5-5, jr.)
Newcomers: Ellie Norris (5-7, fr.), Sophie Klopcic (5-10, fr.)

Coach: Kaitlynn Eversoll, 1st year
2024-25 Record: 3-22
2024-25 Conference Finish: 6th, 3-11
Returning Starters: Brooke DeShong (5-10, jr., 7.7 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 2 SPG), Charlie Lueder (5-4, jr., 6.1 PPG), Kylie Ganshert (5-6, soph., 5.5 PPG), Annabel Willenbucher (5-9, jr.)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Greysyn Gray (5-7, jr.), Ava Roder (5-8, jr.), Chloe Matz (5-9, soph.), Emma Moran (sr.), Abby Repenshek (5-8, jr.), Jayla Phalen (5-8, soph.)
Newcomers: Alexis Charbonneau (sr.), Ali Charbonneau (fr.) Lila Westrum (fr.), Chloe Matz (soph.)

Team Notes: Coach Eversoll told MaxPreps that they are returning a solid number of players, and possible strengths include speed and depth.

Mount Horeb
Coach: Bart Leibfried, 4th year
2024-25 Record: 12-14
2024-25 Conference Finish: T3rd, 9-5
Top Returnees: Maren Johnson (5-8, jr., 8.1 PPG), Courtney Monroe (5-7, jr., 7.8 PPG, 2.8 APG), Lauren Mester (5-4, soph., 5 PPG, 2 APG)
Other Notable Returnees: Nalia Craven (5-8, sr.), Maddie Niemetscheck (5-6, jr.), Magali Forlines (5-7, jr.)
Newcomers: Isla Odgers (fr.), Rae Olson (fr.), Jami Chapman (fr.)

Team Notes: The Vikings returned two of their top three scorers from last season.

Portage
Coach: Addison Hemming, 2nd year
2024-25 Record: 5-20
2024-25 Conference Finish: 8th, 1-13
Returning Starters: Trinity Williams (5-6, sr., 5.8 PPG, 2.4 SPG)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Josie Kiefer (5-5, jr., 6.3 PPG), Lyla Brown (5-4, jr.), Julia Chilson (5-8, jr.), Matilynn Holtan (5-9, sr.), Hannah Foley (5-10, sr.), Aubrie Kinzler (5-8, sr.)
Newcomers: Maya Petzke (soph.), Makenna Kirkendoll (soph.)

Team Notes: Coach Hemming told MaxPreps that all five of their starters had meaningful varsity minutes last season, and they are more scoring-minded this season.

Reedsburg
Coach: Mark Simon, 20th year (322-142)
2024-25 Record: 11-15
2024-25 Conference Finish: 5th, 6-8
Returning Starters: Lorelei Williams (5-9, soph., 10.4 PPG)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Lily Engel (5-8, soph.), Lanie Delkamp (5-8, soph.), Maddie Miller (5-6, sr.), Sam Laffey (5-6, sr.), Syd Olson (5-5, soph.)
Newcomers: Victoria Powell (fr.), Randi Greendeer (soph.)

Team Notes: The Beavers have won double-digit games in 18 of the last 19 seasons. Coach Simon told MaxPreps that tradition is a strength, while consistent scoring is an area to improve on.

Sauk Prairie (Prairie du Sac)
Coach: Seth Kostroski, 1st year
2024-25 Record: 13-12
2024-25 Conference Finish: T3rd, 9-5
Returning Starters: Mallory Hartwig (5-11, sr., 13.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.9 APG, 3 SPG), Audrey Brickl (5-4, jr., 7.4 PPG), Brooklyn Kaufman (5-7, sr., 2.8 APG, 2.3 SPG),
Other Returning Letterwinners: Haylie Bader (5-11, sr., 5 PPG), Kenzi Kleist (5-6, jr.), Sophia Hanson (5-4, jr.), Savannah Leigel (5-6, jr.)

Team Notes: Coach Kostroski said that they are guard-heavy with the hope of spacing the floor and creating driving lanes. "We also have many athletes, which will help us come up with loose balls and get touches defensively."

Stoughton
Coach: Brad Pickett, 12th year (162-103); 22nd year (311-186)
2024-25 Record: 20-7, lost to D2 state runner-up Edgewood in sectionals
2024-25 Conference Finish: 2nd, 12-2
Notable Returnees: Emma Trautsch (5-7, soph., 6.6 PPG, 2.3 APG, 2.2 SPG), Marlie Burke (5-8, sr.), Kianna Karlen (5-8, sr.)

Team Notes: The Vikings graduated their top four scorers from last year's team, which advanced to sectionals.