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.
Division 1 state semifinals — Friday, March 13No. 1 seed Wauwatosa East vs. No. 4 seed Notre Dame Academy Tipoff: 6:35 p.m.
Wauwatosa East Red Raiders Record/Conf.: 28-0, Greater Metro champions (16-0)
Coach: Mary Merg, 8th year - 126-80
Sectional final: Def. Kenosha Bradford 97-60
Winning streak: 40, longest in state
Points per game: 82.6
PPG allowed: 42.6
Final MaxPreps/WBCA ranking: 1
MaxPreps preseason ranking: 4
WIAA state tournament appearance: 5th
WIAA state titles: 2 — 1981 (Class A), 2025 (D2)
Top playersMikaia Litza, Sr., DePaul signee (18.1 points per game);
Emma Close, Sr., Northern Illinois signee (13.2);
Ellie Deprey, Sr., D-II Purdue Northwest signee (12.5);
Audrey Sellinger, Sr. (10.3);
Ellie Pudelko, So. (9.8);
Lyndia Kalumbula, (4.7)
Notre Dame Academy Tritons Record/Conf.: 24-4, FRCC champions (16-0)
Coach: Sara Rohde, 15th year - 324-78
Sectional final: Def. Stevens Point 69-54
Winning streak: 8
Points per game: 65.8
PPG allowed: 39
Final MaxPreps/WBCA ranking: 6
MaxPreps preseason ranking: 7
WIAA state tournament appearance: 13th
WIAA state titles: 6 — 2001, 2013, 2014, 2021, 2022, 2023 (all in D2)
Top playersKaia Waldrop, Sr., D-II Grand Valley State signee (15.5 points per game);
Destiny Webster, Sr. (10.8);
Aspen Abel, Sr., D-II Bemidji State signee (10.7);
Brianna Breese, Jr. (9.2);
Ava Cumicek, Fr. (8);
Maisie Hinz, So. (6.9)
My pick: Wauwatosa East
No. 2 seed Arrowhead vs. No. 3 seed Pewaukee Tipoff: Approx. 8:15 p.m.
Arrowhead Warhawks Record/Conf.: 26-2, Classic Eight champions (14-0)
Coach: Ron Reichle, 10th year - 174-74
Sectional final: Def. Brookfield East 74-51
Winning streak: 6
Points per game: 77.8
PPG allowed: 54.5
Final MaxPreps/WBCA ranking: 2
MaxPreps preseason ranking: 1
WIAA state tournament appearance: 13th
WIAA state titles: 3 — 1988, 1991, 2024
Top playersNatalie Kussow, Sr., Minnesota signee (26.9 points per game);
Sidney Zehner, Jr. (12);
Libby Gilmore, Sr. (10.9);
Karina Klemz, Jr. (8.2);
Presly Samz, Sr., Lipscomb signee (7.5);
Elly Petersen, Jr. (6.2)
Pewaukee Pirates Record/Conf.: 24-4, Woodland West champions (12-0)
Coach: Jim Reuter, 8th year - 192-31
Sectional final: Def. Hartford 67-58
Winning streak: 10
Points per game: 67.6
PPG allowed: 40.6
Final MaxPreps/WBCA ranking: 3
MaxPreps preseason ranking: 6
WIAA state tournament appearance: 5th
WIAA state titles: 1 — 2024 (D2)
Top playersGiselle Janowski, Sr., Wisconsin signee (15.3 points per game);
Vanessa Johnson, Sr., D-II Florida Southern signee (12);
Kylie Pieper, Sr. (8.3);
Maggie Ratelis, Sr. (7.2);
Peace Petzold, Fr. (6);
Kendall Pieper, Jr. (4.5)
My pick: Arrowhead
NotesThree of the four qualifiers are historically Division 2 programs, including Wauwatosa East, last year’s D2 state champion. Tosa East will try to become the first Division 1 team to go undefeated since Appleton North achieved the feat in 2017. A potential rematch against Arrowhead, the Division 1 state champion two years ago, could happen in the state final. The other two qualifiers, Notre Dame and Pewaukee, also have state championship experience, which should make for an exciting three games.
State championship predictionArrowhead over Wauwatosa East
Previous meeting: Tosa East def. Arrowhead (76-66 OT) on Jan. 27
Division 2 state semifinals — Friday, March 13
No. 1 seed Rice Lake vs. No. 4 seed Beaver DamTipoff: 1:35 p.m.
Rice Lake Warriors Record/Conf.: 25-3, Big Rivers co-champions (12-2)
Coach: Darla Olson, 10th year - 150-101
Sectional final: Def. Shawano 59-45
Winning streak: 7
Points per game: 71.8
PPG allowed: 49.2
Final MaxPreps/WBCA ranking: 2
MaxPreps preseason ranking: 2
WIAA state tournament appearance: 2nd
WIAA state titles: 0
Top playersAdaline Sheplee, Sr., Wisconsin signee (28.3 points per game);
Addison Schmidt, Jr., UW-Green Bay commit (18.3);
Abby Doebereiner, Jr. (8.3);
Brielle Balts, Fr. (5.7);
Harper Schommer, Jr. (4.2)
Beaver Dam Golden BeaversRecord/Conf.: 22-6, 2nd in Badger Large (11-3)
Coach: TJ Julka, 2nd year - 36-16
Sectional final: Def. Xavier 67-53
Winning streak: 5
Points per game: 64.3
PPG allowed: 46.7
Final MaxPreps/WBCA ranking: 3
MaxPreps preseason ranking: HM
WIAA state tournament appearance: 7th
WIAA state titles: 3 — 2017, 2018, 2019
Top playersNataya Donaldson, Sr., UW-Milwaukee signee (17.3 points per game);
Emma Julka, Sr. (11.1);
Sheamarie Ashley, Sr. (9.8);
Joelee Droznek, Jr. (6.5);
Brooklynn Karol, Jr. (5.3);
Luciana Gonzalez, Jr. (5.1)
My pick: Beaver Dam
No. 2 seed Whitefish Bay vs. No. 3 seed Elkhorn Tipoff: Approx. 3:15 p.m.
Whitefish Bay Blue Dukes Record/Conf.: 25-3, North Shore co-champions (11-1)
Coach: Jon Schneider, 11th year - 178-95 — 14th year overall - 217-127
Sectional final: Def. Whitnall 78-51
Winning streak: 5
Points per game: 72.4
PPG allowed: 46.8
Final MaxPreps/WBCA ranking: 1
MaxPreps preseason ranking: 3
WIAA state tournament appearance: 9th
WIAA state titles: None
Top playersRowan Counsell, Jr. (21.4 points per game);
Sage Miskel, Sr. (17.7);
Madeline Volpe, Jr. (11.8);
Carrington Balthasar, Jr. (6.3);
Madonna Helf, Jr. (4.4);
Elliot Burkemper, Sr. (3.7);
Leyla Burkemper, So. (2.6)
Elkhorn Elks Record/Conf.: 24-4 overall, Southern Lakes champion (13-1)
Coach: Michael Storlie, 5th year - 82-51
Sectional final: Def. Milton 66-47
Winning streak: 14
Points per game: 60.8
PPG allowed: 46.2
Final MaxPreps/WBCA ranking: 4
MaxPreps preseason ranking: 10
WIAA state tournament appearance: 2nd
WIAA state titles: 1 — 1997
Top playersKyrin Lile, Sr., UW-Green Bay signee (16.3 points per game);
Ayla Saunders, Jr. (8.5);
Emilyn Bonow, Sr. (7.8);
Kenzie Pedersen, Jr. (7.3);
Ava Olson, Jr. (7);
Kylie Schultz, Sr. (6.7)
NotesTop seeds Rice Lake and Whitefish Bay are both in search of their first state title in program history. Beaver Dam, albeit with a different coaching staff, has had the most recent success at the state tournament, winning a historic three consecutive state titles from 2017-19.
My pick: Whitefish Bay
State championship predictionWhitefish Bay over Beaver Dam
Previous meeting: None
