The 50th annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) girls basketball state tournament will be held from Thursday through Saturday, March 12-14, at Resch Center in Green Bay.
Read on for previews of Divisions 3-4-5.
Division 3 state semifinals — Thursday, March 12 No. 1 seed Oostburg vs. No. 4 seed Mosinee Tipoff: 1:35 p.m.
Oostburg Flying Dutchmen Record/Conf.: 28-0, Big East South champions (12-0)
Coach: Isaiah Ketterhagen, 9th year - 200-39 — 22nd year overall 348-178
Sectional final: Def. Winneconne 62-43
Winning streak: 34, second-longest in state
Points per game: 71.2
PPG allowed: 36.8
Final MaxPreps/WBCA ranking: 1
MaxPreps preseason ranking: 1
WIAA state tournament appearances: 12th
WIAA state titles: 4 — 1990, 1994, 2008, 2025
Top playersMosinee Indians Record/Conf.: 24-4, Great Northern champions (14-0)
Coach: Josh Hau, 2nd year - 40-11
Sectional final: Def. St. Croix Central 69-53
Winning streak: 19
Points per game: 59.6
PPG allowed: 38.9
Final MaxPreps/WBCA ranking: NR
MaxPreps preseason ranking: 10
WIAA state tournament appearances: 6th
WIAA state titles: 1 — 2000 (D2)
Top playersMy pick: Oostburg
No. 2 seed Kettle Moraine Lutheran vs. No. 3 Wisconsin Dells
Tipoff: Approx. 3:15 p.m.
Kettle Moraine LutheranRecord/Conf.: 27-1, Glacier Trails champions (12-0)
Coach: Jason Walz, 21st year - 390-137
Sectional final: Def. Milwaukee Academy of Science 70-43
Winning streak: 16
Points per game: 69.5
PPG allowed: 37.9
Final MaxPreps/WBCA ranking: 2
MaxPreps preseason ranking: 6
WIAA state tournament appearances: 4th
WIAA state titles: 1 — 2014
Top playersMya Mayer, So. (14.7 points per game);
Brooklyn Luehring, So. (13.7);
Hayden Lauer, Jr. (10.8);
Emma Wagner, Jr. (7.4);
Natalie Nolte, Sr. (6.2);
Elizabeth Ehlke, Sr. (5)
Wisconsin Dells Record/Conf.: 28-0, South Central champions (14-0)
Coach: Bob Buss, 13th year - 238-66
Sectional final: Def. Edgerton 57-51
Winning streak: 28
Points per game: 74.7
PPG allowed: 36
Final MaxPreps/WBCA ranking: 3
MaxPreps preseason ranking: 8
WIAA state tournament appearances: 2nd
WIAA state titles: 0
Top playersMy pick: Kettle Moraine Lutheran
Notes
Oostburg will look to become the first D3 team to repeat as state champions since Marshall in 2018-19. Kettle Moraine Lutheran has just three losses over the past two seasons: Pius XI Catholic and Oostburg last season and Hartford this year.
State championship prediction Oostburg over Kettle Moraine Lutheran
Previous meeting: None this season. Oosburg def. KML 59-49 in sectional semis last season.
Division 4 state semifinals — Thursday, March 12 No. 1 seed Neillsville vs. No. 4 seed Lomira Tipoff: 6:35 p.m.
Neillsville Warriors Record/Conf.: 27-1, Cloverbelt East champions (14-0)
Coach: John Gaier, 24th year - 516-81 — 29th year overall - 581-124
Sectional final: Def. Cameron 42-30
Winning streak: 19
Points per game: 60.2
PPG allowed: 27.9
Final MaxPreps/WBCA ranking: 2
MaxPreps preseason ranking: 7
WIAA state tournament appearances: 7th
WIAA state titles: 1 — 2012
Top playersMadilyn Davel, Jr. (17 points per game);
Eden Marg, Fr. (10.3);
Braelyn Anding, Jr. (8.1);
Tessa Warren, Jr. (6.9); J
Jessica Kuhn, Sr. (6);
Laylah Walk, Jr. (5.1)
Lomira Lions Record/Conf.: 22-6, 2nd in the Flyway (10-4)
Coach: Liz Cook, 5th year - 74-55 — 10th year overall - 144-102
Sectional final: Def. Kenosha St. Joseph 61-57
Winning streak: 5
Points per game: 59.5
PPG allowed: 47.5
Final MaxPreps/WBCA ranking: NR
MaxPreps preseason ranking: Honorable mention
WIAA state tournament appearances: 3rd
WIAA state titles: 1 — 1978
Top playersJosie Christian, So. (26.3 points per game);
Kennedy Goebel, So. (10);
Lily Christian, So. (7.4);
Jadalee Luedtke, Jr. (4.4)
My pick: Neillsvlle
No. 2 seed St. Mary Catholic vs. No. 3 seed Albany/Monticello Tipoff: Approx. 8:15 p.m.
St. Mary Catholic Record/Conf.: 25-3, Big East North (12-0)
Coach: Jeff Chew, 26th year - 477-167 — 31st year overall 560-208
Sectional final: Def. Kewaunee in a sectional final 58-56 OT
Winning streak: 5
Points per game: 64
PPG allowed: 41.4
Final MaxPreps/WBCA ranking: 4
MaxPreps preseason ranking: 9
WIAA state tournament appearances: 4th
WIAA state titles: 1 — 2009
Top playersAutumn Crowe, Jr. (21.9 points per game);
Luci Nackers, Jr. (12.6);
Gabby Guerrero, So. (10.5);
Bitsy McCauley, Jr. (6.1);
Lucy Norville, Jr. (3.9)
Albany/Monticello Record/Conf.: 26-2, Six Rivers East co-champions (12-2)
Coach: Derik Doescher, 9th year - 192-45 — 21st overall - 320-184
Sectional final: Def. Pardeeville 60-30
Winning streak: 6
Points per game: 62.4
PPG allowed: 33.6
Final MaxPreps/WBCA ranking: 6
MaxPreps preseason ranking: HM
WIAA state tournament appearances: 2nd
WIAA state titles: 1. 2024 (D5)
Top playersHeidi Olson, So. (16.9 points per game);
Molly Olson, Sr. (13.2);
Emersen Butts, Fr. (10.4);
Annie Olson, Fr. (7.4);
Emma Thompson, So. (6.7)
My pick: St. Mary Catholic
Notes
St. Mary Catholic was the state runner-up last season. Albany/Monticello took home the D5 crown in 2024.
State championship predictionSt. Mary Catholic over Neillsville
Previous meeting: None
Division 5 state semifinals — Friday, March 13 No. 1 seed Eleva-Strum vs. No. 4 seed Fall River Tipoff: 9:05 a.m.
Eleva-Strum Cardinals Record/Conf.: 29-0, Dairyland Large champions (18-0)
Coach: Dave Hazuga, 2nd year - 50-7 — 12th year overall - 143-150
Sectional final: Def. Webster 64-44
Winning streak: 29
Points per game: 65.2
PPG allowed: 35.4
Final MaxPreps/WBCA ranking: 1
MaxPreps preseason ranking: 5
WIAA state tournament appearances: 2nd
WIAA state titles: 0
Top playersAvery Glenz, Jr. (17.8 points per game);
Maddea Brown, Jr. (11.9);
Avaya Zwiefelhofer, Jr. (9.2);
Aliza Kulig, Sr. (7.9);
Brenley Bauer, So. (6.6);
Avery Spangberg, Jr. (5.9)
Fall River Pirates Record/Conf.: 17-11, T-3rd in Trailways West (8-4)
Coach: Jim Doolittle, 14th year - 266-104 — 27th year overall - 472-193
Sectional final: Def. Lourdes Academy 58-48
Winning streak: 4
Points per game: 61.8
PPG allowed: 48.7
Final MaxPreps/WBCA ranking: NR
MaxPreps preseason ranking: 9
WIAA state tournament appearances: 4th
WIAA state titles: 0
Top playersNatalie Fietz Sr. (19.9 points per game);
Emma Sampson, Sr. (17.1);
Neveah Schultz, So. (8.4);
Alyssa Bittner, So. (4.9)
My pick: Eleva-Strum
No. 2 seed Pacelli vs. No. 3 seed Barneveld Tipoff: Approx. 10:45 a.m.
Pacelli Cardinals Record/Conf.: 23-4, CWC South champions (10-0)
Coach: Allison Smaglik, 3rd year - 66-13
Sectional final: Def. Florence 75-46
Winning streak: 8
Points per game: 67.1
PPG allowed: 39.8
Final MaxPreps/WBCA ranking: 2
MaxPreps preseason ranking: 3
WIAA state tournament appearances: 1st
WIAA state titles: —
Top playersJaedyn Zdroik, Jr. (17.6 points per game);
Ella Van Order Sr. (15.9);
Haylee Ciesewski, Jr. (12.2);
Maddy Pionek, Jr. (11.3);
Kinsley Schurk, Fr. (5.3)
Barneveld Golden Eagles Record/Conf.: 22-7, 3rd in Six Rivers East (10-3)
Coach: Jim Myers, 40th year - 742-153 — 42nd year overall - 790-161
Sectional final: Def. Independence/Gilmanton 38-34
Winning streak: 14
Points per game: 59
PPG allowed: 39
Final MaxPreps/WBCA ranking: 5
MaxPreps preseason ranking: 2
WIAA state tournament appearances: 13th
WIAA state titles: 6 — 1995, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2014, 2015,
Top playersIzabel Durst, Sr. (20.2 points per game);
Hannah Esch, Sr. (11.3);
Rowan Valcheff, So. (6.8);
Erin Lasse, Sr. (6.2);
Aleea Norton, Sr. (5.6)
My pick: Barneveld
Notes
Barneveld was the state runner-up last season. WBCA Hall of Fame coach Jim Myers, the winningest coach in girls basketball state history, has guided Barneveld to six WIAA state titles. Only Jeff Pustina, who guided Cuba City to nine WIAA state titles, has more titles than Myers. Pacelli, which lost to eventual D5 state champion Assumption in sectional semis last season, is making its first appearance at the WIAA state tournament in team history.
State championship predictionBarneveld over Eleva-Strum
Previous meeting: None this season. Barneveld def. Eleva-Strum 60-39 in a sectional final last season.
