Wisconsin high school girls basketball: Heart O'North Preview

2025-26 Heart O'North Conference Preview

Predicted Order of Finish

1) Cameron
2) Northwestern
3) Hayward
4) Ladysmith
5) Barron
6) St. Croix Falls
7) Unity 
8) Spooner
9) Cumberland
10) Ashland

Players to Watch

Holly Froemel, Hayward – Froemel earned second-team all-Heart O'North as a junior, averaging 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per contest.

Marika Gago, Ladysmith – Gago was named first-team all-HON as a junior, averaging 12.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.8 steals per contest.

Melody Isham, Hayward – As a junior, Isham was voted second-team all-HON, tallying 11.8 points, 2.0 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. She also made 41 three-pointers.

Jillian Kunert, Northwestern – Kunert was selected first-team all-Heart O'North as a sophomore, averaging 11.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 6.1 blocks per game. She also connected on 32 triples.


Avery Voeltz, Spooner – Voeltz took home second-team all-conference recognition as a sophomore.

Catherine Williams, St. Croix Falls – As a sophomore, Williams received second-team all-league honors, averaging 11.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 3.0 steals per contest.

Team Capsules

Ashland
Coach: Joe Corbine, 4th year
2024-25 Record: 2-22
2024-25 Conference Finish: 10th, 0-18

Team Notes: The Oredockers went winless in the HON last season.

Barron
Coach: Kim Weber, 2nd year; 10th overall
2024-25 Record: 14-12
2024-25 Conference Finish: T4th, 11-7
Returning Starters: Izzy Donica (6-0, sr., 8.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG), Hailey Fick (5-5, sr., 7.7 PPG, 2.3 APG, 2.6 SPG)
Other Notable Returnees: Natalee Dahlberg (5-9, sr.), Ellie Edwards (5-5, soph.)

Team Notes: The Golden Bears graduated three starters, including their leading scorer from last year's team.

Cameron
Coach: Chloe Wanink, 3rd year
2024-25 Record: 23-4, lost to McDonell Central in D4 sectionals
2024-25 Conference Finish: HON co-champions (17-1)
Returning Starters: Bailey Olson (5-7, jr., 15.3 PPG, 72 3PM, 2.5 SPG), Bridgette Mohns (5-5, jr., 7.8 PPG, 2.3 SPG), Inez Schmidt (5-9, jr., 7.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, 2.7 SPG)
Other Notable Returnees: Anna Baribeau (5-6, sr., 5.3 PPG), Addy Ebner (6-0, soph.), Abbie Olson (5-6, jr.), Ashlynn Candler (5-4, jr.), Cyleigh Cherney (5-9, jr.), Payten Severt (5-3, jr.)

Team Notes: The Comets welcomed back three starters from their 2024-25 team, which advanced to sectionals.

Cumberland
Coach: Tim Obr, 2nd year; 13th overall
2024-25 Record: 5-20
2024-25 Conference Finish: T8th, 4-14
Returning Starters: Raegan Beecroft (5-5, jr., 9.8 PPG, 8 RPG)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Avery Johnson (soph.), Wren Ruppel (soph.), Abby Schultz (soph.), Lily Murphy (soph.), Kennedy Campbell (soph.)
Newcomers: Alazae Gonzalez (sr.), ​​Anahi Gonzalez (soph.)

Team Notes: "We are going to be a very young team with little varsity experience," coach Obr told MaxPreps.

Hayward
Coach: Joe Brennan, 13th year (189-88)
2024-25 Record: 13-12
2024-25 Conference Finish: 3rd, 12-6
Returning Starters: Melody Isham (sr., 11.8 PPG, 41 3PM, 2 APG, 2.5 SPG), Holly Froemel (sr., 8.3 PPG), Grace Schmidt (sr., 6 PPG, 6 RPG, 1.8 SPG)
Other Notable Returnees: Charley Christian (sr.), Ryley Quaderer (sr.), Kendal DeCora (sr.), Kordelia Geissler (soph.)

Team Notes: The Hurricanes brought back three starters from last season.

Ladysmith
Coach: Tim Prince, 2nd year
2024-25 Record: 15-11
2024-25 Conference Finish: T4th, 11-7
Notable Returnees: Marika Gago (sr., 12.5 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.8 APG, 2.8 SPG), Elli Tucker (jr., 9.1 PPG), Braylee Wiles (jr., 8.7 PPG), Mya Gago (sr., 7.4 PPG, 2.4 APG, 1.9 SPG), Kortney Millin (jr., 5.4 PPG), Bristol Ptacek (jr.)

Team Notes: The Lumberjills welcomed back nearly their entire roster from last season.

Northwestern (Maple)
Coach: Paul Eberhardt, 9th year (121-49)
2024-25 Record: 20-6
2024-25 Conference Finish: HON co-champions (17-1)
Returning Starters: Jillian Kunert (6-1, jr., 11.8 PPG, 32 3PM, 8.1 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 6.1 BPG), Shelby Hessel (5-8, sr., 8 PPG, 2.5 APG, 2.6 SPG), Claire Nielcen (5-9, sr., 6.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Reagan Eberhardt (5-11, sr.), Genna Kreuser (5-5, soph.)
Newcomers: Carmyn Thompson (5-5, fr.), Addie Harms (6-0, soph.), Abbie Bobula (5-5, jr.)

Team Notes: The Tigers returned three starters from last year's team, which captured a share of the Heart O'North title. They will need to fill the void left with the graduation of Abby Johonson, last year's HON Player of the Year. "We have decent athletes that should be able to attack the basket and make open shots," coach Eberhardt told MaxPreps.

St. Croix Falls
Coach: Angie Maternowsky, 23rd year (371-151)
2024-25 Record: 10-16
2024-25 Conference Finish: 6th, 9-9
Returning Starters: Catherine Williams (5-8, jr., 11.5 PPG, 2.3 APG, 3 SPG), Lucy Braund (5-4, sr., 6.5 PPG), Olivia Shimon (5-8, jr., 6.5 PPG, 5.1 RPG), Madi Johnson (5-4, sr., 5.8 RPG)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Lexi Arneson (5-4, soph.), Jocelyn Shimon (5-8, jr.)

Team Notes: The Saints brought back four starters from last year's squad. Coach Maternowsky told MaxPreps that strengths include speed, ability to drive, and defense.

Spooner
Coach: Erik Ruport, 3rd year
2024-25 Record: 4-19
2024-25 Conference Finish: T8th, 4-14
Notable Returnees: Layla Thompson (sr.), Avery Voeltz (jr.), Kate Reedy (jr.), Ava Thompson (sr.), Ellarae Luell (soph.)