Wisconsin high school girls basketball: Division 5 playoff preview

Sectional 1

No. 1 seeds: Webster (22-0), Eleva-Strum (24-0)

No. 2 seeds: Solon Springs (20-3), New Auburn (22-1)

Favorite: Eleva-Strum

The Cardinals are the top-ranked team in the MaxPreps/WBCA Division 5 Coaches Poll and one of two remaining unbeaten teams in the division. Avery Glenz leads the team with 16.9 points per game. Other key players include Maddea Brown and Avaya Zwiefelhofer. Eleva-Strum's lone WIAA state tournament appearance was in 2008.

Top contender: Webster

The Tigers, ranked No. 4 in the coaches poll, are the other unbeaten squad in the Division 5 field. Leading the way for Webster is Avery Hetfeld, who tallies 13.6 points per game. Other notable contenders include Brooke Wolf and Elle Treague. Webster is looking to reach the state tournament for the first time in program history.

Dark horse: Owen-Withee

The Blackhawks, a state qualifier last season, are led by Madi Muller's 11.5 points per game. Owen-Withee is 17-7 overall, and its only losses to Division 5 teams are against Cloverbelt East foe Columbus Catholic (twice), which is in a different sectional.

Top players:
Avery Glenz, Jr., Eleva-Strum
Avery Hetfeld, Jr., Webster
Nora Jensen, Sr., New Auburn
Madi Mueller, Sr., Owen-Withee
Kalli Nelson, Fr., Solon Springs

Sectional 2

No. 1 seeds: Independence/Gilmanton (19-5), Argyle/Pecatonica(19-4)

No. 2 seeds: Blair-Taylor (17-6), Shullsburg (16-8)

Favorite: Argyle/Pecatonica

Argyle/Pecatonica, ranked No. 2 in the latest MaxPreps/WBCA Coaches Poll, advanced to the WIAA state tournament two seasons ago. The co-op is highlighted by Kylie Butler, a UW-Milwaukee signee, and Brooke Wellnitz, who average 21 and 18 points per game, respectively. Other key players include Avari Steiner and Loretta Tisch. Argyle/Pecatonica posted notable non-league wins, Laconia (56-53) and Lancaster (66-50), both ranked in Division 3. Three of the team's four losses were against Division 4 teams; the only loss to a Division 5 team was Barneveld (59-56), which they could meet in a sectional semifinal.

Top contender: Barneveld

The third-seeded Golden Eagles, Division 5 state runner-up last season, are 18-7 and enter the postseason on a nine-game winning streak, including earning victories against Albany/Monticello and Argyle/Pecatonica after falling the first time around in Six Rivers East play. Izabel Durst headlines the roster for Barneveld, averaging around 20 points per game. Other key players include Hannah Esch and Erin Lasse. WBCA Hall of Fame head coach Jim Myers, the winningest coach in girls basketball state history, enters the postseason with 738 career victories and six WIAA state titles, which is the second-most in state history, trailing just Jeff Pustina, who won nine titles at Cuba City.

Dark horse: De Soto

The Pirates, 18-6 overall, enter the postseason winners of nine of their last ten games. Pacing the squad is Kylee Venner, who averages 20 points per contest. Other notable contributors include Sylvia Krueger and Ella Koch.

Top players:
Kylie Butler, Sr., Argyle/Pecatonica 
Izabel Durst, Sr., Barneveld 
McKinley Russell, So., Shullsburg
Kylee Venner, Jr., De Soto 
Brooke Wellnitz, Jr., Argyle/Pecatonica

Sectional 3

No. 1 seeds: Florence (19-4), Pacelli (19-4)

No. 2 seeds: Lena (20-3), Almond-Bancroft (20-4) 

Favorite: Pacelli

The Cardinals, ranked No. 3 in the coaches poll, are looking for their first trip to the WIAA state tournament. All four of their losses were against teams in larger divisions, including two top-five teams in Division 3: Aquinas and Wittenberg-Birnamwood. Headlining the Cardinals' roster is Jaedyn Zdroik, who nets 16.1 points per game, while Ella Van Order adds 15.2 points per contest. Other notable contributors include Maddy Pionek and Haylee Ciesewski.

Top contender: Almond-Bancroft

The Eagles, ranked No. 5 in the latest MaxPreps/WBCA Coaches Poll, have won 13 of their last 15 games, with the only losses in that span coming against Pacelli (47-43, 71-61). Highlighting Almond-Bancroft's squad are Mya Dernbach and Aaliyah Newby, who average 23.8 and 16.3 points per game, respectively.

Dark horse: Assumption

The Royals, No. 8 in the coaches poll, are the defending Division 5 state champions. Jordyn Jaglinski, an NCAA Division II Augustana University signee, averages a team-best 17.9 points per contest. Other key contributors for the 16-8 Royals include Leire Sainz de Rozas and Breanna Aue.

Top players:
Mya Dernbach, Sr., Almond-Bancroft
Jordyn Jaglinskii, Sr., Assumption
Madilyn Thomson, Sr., Lena

Sectional 4

No. 1 seeds: Sheboygan Area Lutheran (16-6), Chesterton Academy (18-4)

No. 2 seeds: Valley Christian (15-7), Fall River (12-10)

Favorite: Sheboygan Lutheran

The Crusaders have played a strong schedule, which includes Oostburg (Division 3 favorite) and Kohler (ranked in Division 4), and, like a few others mentioned earlier, they have not lost to a Division 5 team this season. Maddie Thomas and Megan Walz lead a balanced scoring attack, netting 12.4 and 9.9 points per game, respectively. Other notable contributors include Sanantha Gilchrist and Grace Leibham. Sheboygan Lutheran is seeking its first trip to the WIAA state tournament.

Top contender: Fall River

The Pirates have won 10 of their last 13 games. Leading the way in scoring are Natalie Fietz and Emma Sampson, who tally 19.5 and 17.2 points per game, respectively. Fall River's last trip to the state tournament was in 2019.

Dark horse: Randolph

The Rockets, 14-10 overall, are led by Madelynn Medema and Lexie Zemlo, who average 18.3 and 14.4 points per game, respectively. Randolph's most recent trip to the state tournament was in 2022, when they claimed the Division 5 state championship.

Top players:
Maddie Medema, Sr., Randolph
Mya Moran, Sr., Valley Christian
Emma Sampson, Sr., Fall River 
Maddie Thomas, Sr., Sheboygan Lutheran 
Samantha Veldkamp, Sr., Sheboygan Christian
My tournament picks

Sectional finals
Sectional 1: Eleva-Strum over Webster
Sectional 2: Argyle/Pecatonica over Independence/Gilmanton
Sectional 3: Pacelli over Lena

Championship
Argyle/Pecatonica over Pacelli