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MCDONALD'S GAME OF THE WEEK (Girls Basketball): Girls Dream Tournament 1st round results
Girls Bracket 2nd round

NOTE: The first round results of the SWNews4U.com SW Wisconsin Girls Dream Tournament were published in the Grant County Herald Independent, The Platteville Journal, Fennimore Times, Republican Journal, Tri-County Press and the Richland Observer May 13-14. Second round results will be published in the same area newspapers May 27-28.

West Regional

1) 2007 Cuba City 69, 16) 1988 Iowa–Grant 43
CUBA CITY — The 2007 Cubans continued their domination with a 69-43 victory over 16th-seeded 1988 Panthers.

Senior Tami Gleason, a 6’2” center and two-time SWAL Player of the Year, scored 17 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked five shots to anchor Cuba City’s outstanding defense, which held the I–G to just 13 second-half points.

The Cubans used a 18-2 run to open the second half to build a 54-30 lead. Junior Brianna Kaiser added 12 points and four steals, senior Molly Moor finished with 10 points and four assists and senior guard Kaitlyn Pustina chipped in 10 points and four steals to lead coach Jeff Pustina’s balanced Cubans (28–0), who won three state titles from 2015-17 and posted a combined record of 80-1 during that span.

Division 1 Western Illinois recruit Gail Diask scored a team-high 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in her head-to-head battle with Gleason, but it wasn’t enough for coach Mike Williams’ Panthers (20–6), who trailed 36-28 at the half. Classmate Gina Grimm added 11 points and five assists.


8) 1993 Bloomington 57, 9) 2011 Prairie du Chien 52
BLOOMINGTON — Senior forward Jessica Edwards, a future D3 1,000-point scorer at UW–La Crosse, scored a team-high 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead coach Caron Townsend’s 1993 Bluejays to a narrow first-round victory over the 2011 Blackhawks.

Senior center Angie Bohringer, who went on to play at D2 Winona State, scored in the post to give 1989 Bloomington (22–4) a 53-50 lead with 2:12 remaining. Bohringer scored 14 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the win.

Prairie du Chien junior Morgan Banasik made it a one-point game with 1:03 left to play, but sophomore Ellie Nies, who later played at UW–Platteville, made 4 of 5 free throws in the final 43 seconds to close out the win. Nies finished with 10 points. Sophomore Lori Mergan added eight points and nine rebounds.

Banasik scored a team-high 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead coach Paula Shedivy’s Blackhawks (21–7), who reached the 2011 D3 state semifinals after a third-place finish in the SWC. Fellow senior Courtney Lewis finished with 13 points and five rebounds.


12) 2012 Fennimore 58, 5) 1995 Barneveld 54 (OT)
BARNEVELD — Sophomore Alexi Needham scored with 21 seconds left in overtime to give 2012 Fennimore a two-point lead, then on the ensuing possession senior Breland Prochska came up with a clutch steal and a breakaway layup to seal a four-point upset victory over 1995 D4 state champion Barneveld in a thrilling battle of the Golden Eagles.

Fennimore led by as many as 16 points in the first half at 28–12, before Barneveld battled all the way back to tie the game at 50–50 on a 3-pointer by senior Jodi Wright with 12 seconds left in regulation.

Prochaska, the two-time SWAL Player of the Year, who went on to play NAIA basketball at Clarke University in Dubuque, finished with a game-high 30 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals. Needham (2014 SWAL MVP) added 14 points and six boards, and senior sisters Kaitlyn and Allison Klug scored five points apiece for coach Jim Prochaska’s 2012 Fennimore (23–3) team, which fell to eventual  D4 state champion Neillsville 46-45 in overtime in the sectional semifinals.

Wright, who hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 30 seconds left in 1995 Barneveld’s state championship overtime victory over Gilman, finished with a team-high 16 points to lead the 1995 Eagles (26–2). Classmate Kelly Parman added 10 points and six rebounds, and junior Jennifer Lease added nine points. Fellow junior Mandy Wood added eight points and seven rebounds.


4) 2020 Platteville 55, 13) 2001 Darlington 40
PLATTEVILLE — Senior Sami Martin, the two-time SWC Player of the Year and a D1 Bradley University recruit, scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the 2020 D3 state co-champion Hillmen (27–0) to a commanding 15 points lead.

Fellow senior Becca Hoyer, a UW–Platteville recruit, added 14 points and five steals to lead Platteville’s defensive effort. Senior point guard Josie Nies, a D3 UW–Stevens Point recruit, hit a pair of 3-pointers and finished with 12 points and six assists. 

Classmate Izzy Carroll chipped in eight points and six rebounds and helped hold two-time SWAL 2 Player of the Year Shannon Boatman to 14 points and six rebounds. Boatman who went on to play at UW–Platteville averaged 17 points and nine rebounds per game in 2001 to help coach Steve Fink’s Redbirds win the SWAL 2 title and reach the D3 sectional semifinals.

Senior Laura McConnell scored 12 points and had five rebounds for 2001 Darlington (21–4) in defeat. Fellow senior Amy Wilson added eight points, while class Brittany Reiger chipped in five.

The #1-ranked 2020 Hillmen advanced to the D3 state title game with a 48-45 win over Arcadia, but never got the chance to face #2 Wrightstown for the title when the rest of the state tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


3) 2005 Barneveld 58, 14) 1987 Richland Center 45
BARNEVELD — Junior Inger Hodgson did it all to lead the 2005 Golden Eagles to a comfortable win over the 1987 Hornets.

Hodgson, a D2 North Dakota State recruit, finished with a game-high 22 points, nine rebounds, six assists and five steals to lead coach Jim Myers 2005 D4 state champion Golden Eagles (26–2), who also went to state in 2006 and finished as the 2007 D4 state runner-up.

Sophomore Katie Sutter added 19 points and seven rebounds, and senior Brianna Strelow chipped in eight points and four boards for 2005 Barneveld, which outscored 1987 Richland Center 30-19 in the second half.

Senior Abby Haag scored a team-high 17 points to lead coach Brad Johnsrud’s Hornets (21–4), who won the 1987 SWAL title and reached the Class B sectional semifinals.

Junior Gail Halnik, who led the 1987 Richland Center volleyball team to a state title and later played D1 volleyball at Purdue, added 13 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in the loss. Senior Sarah Beggs finished with nine points.


6) 1999 Potosi 69, 11) 2017 Shullsburg 61 
POTOSI — Potosi senior forward Tiff Flesch and junior center Brianna Leahy had a heck of a one-on-one battle, but senior guard Jamie Nebel stole the show, pouring in a game-high 21 points to lead the Chieftains to an eight-point win in a first round contest that came right down to the wire.

Leahy, the 2016 SRW Player of the Year who went on to play at UW–River Falls before transferring back to UW–Platteville, finished with a near-triple-double of 19 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocks and gave coach Nathan Russell’s Miners (22–5) a one-point lead at 59-58 with just over three minutes to play.

Flesch, who went on to play at UW–Platteville, answered Leahy’s basket with one of her own, then corralled a rebound and threw an outlet pass to a streaking Nebel, who converted the open court layup to give coach Eric Briehl’s Chieftains a 62-59 lead with 1:58 remaining.

Potosi then made 7 of 10 free throws in the final 1:40 to close out the eight-point victory.

Nebel, who went on to play at D2 UW–Parkside, finished with seven rebounds, five assists and four steals to go along with her 21 points. Flesch had a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Megan Koeller chipped in 11 points, and classmate Gena Edge added nine for 1999 Potosi (27–1).

Senior Hattie Rennert made four 3-pointers and finished with 16 points, six rebounds and four assists for the 2017 Miners. Seniors McKailah Strang and Cora Holland added nine points each.


10) 1985 Ithaca 62, 7) 2002 Pecatonica 54
BLACHARDVILLE — Junior Chris Biser was an unstoppable force, finishing with a game-high 25 points and 18 rebounds to lead the No. 10 seed Bulldogs to a first-round upset of 2002 D4 state runner-up Pecatonica.

Biser, who went on to a Hall of Fame college career at Fort Hays University (Kan.) scored 12 of her 25 points in the final 6:37 as the coach Ron Donahoe’s Bulldogs (24–1) outscored the Vikings (20–7) 19–6 over that span to erase a 48–43 deficit in the final seven minutes.

Junior Jennifer Anderson made 4 of 6 free throws in the final 1:16 as the Bullodgs made 7 of 10 in the final two minutes combined. Anderson finished with 14 points and five rebounds. Senior Shawn Clary added 10 points. 

Ithaca’s only loss during the 1985 season came in the Class C sectional final to eventual state champion Fall Creek.

Seniors Michelle Hardyman and Stacy Carlson, who both went on to play at UW–Platteville, scored 15 and 14 points respectively to lead coach Mitch Wainwright’s balanced Vikings. Senior Kami Lockard added 12 points and juniors Stephanie Hendrickson finished with eight points and six rebounds in the loss.


2) 1993 Cuba City 72, 15) 1990 Southwestern 55
CUBA CITY — Senior Shey Roth scored a team-high 16 points to lead five Cubans in double figures as 1993 Cuba City dominated 1990 Southwestern in opening-round play.

Senior point guard Aimee Tranel (three-time SWAL 1 Player of the Year) added 13 points, seven assists and five steals for coach Jeff Pustina’s Cubans (24–3), while seniors Holly Klein and Sarah Busch scored 11 points apiece. Senior Natalie Bussan added 10 points. 

The Cubans built a 46–23 halftime lead and led by as many as 28 midway through the second half.

Senior Krisit Bartz score 12 of her team-high 15 points in the second half to lead coach John Klein’s 1990 SWAL 2 champion Wildcats (21–2). Junior Della Klein added 14 points and sophomore Sarah Hendricks finished with 11 points and nine rebounds, but Southwestern struggled with the Cubans’ defensive pressure for three quarters of the game.

Klein’s 1990 Wildcats suffered regional final loss to SWAL 2 rival Mineral Point, a year after advancing to the 1989 Class C sectional finals. The 1991 Wildcats won a second straight SWAL 2 title, but fell to Cuba City’s 1991 Division 3 state championship team in the regional opener, 71–52.

Tranel helped Pustina’s Cubans win state titles in 1990, 1991 and 1993.


South Regional

1) 2015 Cuba City 68, 16) 2012 Belmont 49
CUBA CITY — Hall of Fame coach Jeff Pustina’s 2015 Cuba City squad got off to a fast start in their Dream Tournament opener and rolled over the 2012 Belmont Braves 68-49.

Senior center Mollie Wedige teamed with guards Chloe Pustina and Jessi Marti to score 31 of the Cubans’ first-half point en route to a 39-20 lead by the intermission, and the Cubans put it on cruise control in the second half.

Marti, who went on to play for D2 Northern State University (S.D.), finished with a team-high 18 points, while Wedige tallied a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds and Pustina, a future UW–Oshkosh Titan, added 12 points and six assists. Senior Shay Lierman chipped in with 10 points and junior Kaitlyn Kaiser netted eight for the Cubans (29–0).

Belmont’s all-time leading scorer Kailee Kamps, a future D1 track and field athlete at Minnesota, went off for a game-high 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds for Coach Kaleen McGettigan’s Braves (21–5).

Fellow senior Molly Bockhop scored eight points, while junior Cassie McCarthy and freshman Keegan Kamps added six points apiece for Belmont.


9) 2001 Richland Center 54, 8) 2005 Kickapoo 47
KICKAPOO — Senior sisters Karen and Kim Fruit combined to score 32 points to help the 2001 Richland Center Hornets sting the host 2005 Kickapoo Panthers 54-47 in an opening round showdown.

Kickapoo junior Pearl Wallace, who went on to star at Concordia University, won the battle in the post with RC junior Anne Wilson (future Viterbo standout), tallying 18 points and 12 rebounds to Wilson’s 12 points and eight boards; however the Panthers had no answer for the Fruits, who led Steve Board’s Hornets (23–2) with 18 points from Karen and 14 from Kim.

Seniors Kyla Torkelson and Abilene Koch netted 11 and eight points, respectively, for Kickapoo (25–2), whose coach Eric Wiegel was also an assistant coach of Shullsburg’s 1996 girls’ state runner-up team in this tournament and a player of the 1991 Shullsburg state championship team in the boys’ Dream Tournament.


5) 1984 West Grant 71, 12) 2018 Darlington 60
PATCH GROVE — The balanced offensive attack of the 1984 West Grant squad was a bit too much for the 2018 Darlington Redbirds to keep up with as the Falcons soared to a 71-60 opening round victory.

Four players scored in double figures to lead coach Bob Barr’s Falcons (25–2), who bolted out to an early 16-4 advantage and maintained a comfortable lead the rest of the game.

Senior Maureen Vorwald paced the Falcons with 17 points, followed by Lacey Meyers with 16, Tracy Wheeler with 15 and Vickie Meyers with 13. Both Vorwald and Lacey Meyers were AP honorable mention All-State selections.

Senior Kaylee Meyers poured in a game-high 19 points to lead Kelly Rose’s Lady Redbirds (19–6). Senior Kathleen Mathias netted 15 points and senior Kennedy Rankin added 12 for the ‘Birds.


4) 1991 Monticello 58, 13) 2019 Prairie du Chien 48
MONTICELLO — The 2019 Prairie du Chien team gave the D4 state champions a run for their money, but the 1991 Monticello Ponies used a late surge to ward off the Blackhawks (20–3) 58-48.

The Ponies (27–1) held a slim 47-44 lead with just over four minutes remaining before netting six straight points to open up a nine-point advantage. Coach Ken Bartelt’s squad put the game away at the free throw line down the stretch.

Senior Shana Komprood scored 10 of her game-high 21 points from the free throw stripe to lead Monticello, while senior Mindy Rosenstiel poured in 14 points and junior Michelle Rosenstiel chipped in with 11.

Freshman Lily Krahn scored a game-high 24 points and senior Gabby Ritchie registered a double with 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead coach Paula Shidevy’s Blackhawks.


3) 1977 Cuba City 53, 14) 2019 River Ridge 42
CUBA CITY — A 3-pointer by River Ridge senior Skylar White gave the 2019 Timberwolves a 35-33 lead over Coach Syd Sincock’s Cuba City squad midway through the second half, but the 1977 state champion Cubanettes used a late 20-7 scoring run to rally for a 53-42 victory.

Senior Mary Kay Leifker hit a pair of free throws following White’s trey to put the Cubanettes (24–0) back into the lead for good, and then they steadily pulled away down the stretch.

Leifker matched her season average with a game-high 17 points, while senior Deb Tranel netted 13 points and freshman Lynn Timmerman flirted with a double-double with 10 points and nine boards.

White finished with 15 points and senior Taylor Langmeier chipped with 14 points and nine rebounds after battling her way through early foul trouble for Hall of Fame coach Caron Townsend’s Timberwolves (21–4).


6) 2009 Potosi 48, 11) 1988 Benton 43

POTOSI — Senior guard Thresia Elskamp poured in 10 of her game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter to rally the 2009 Potosi Chieftains past the 1988 Benton Zephyrs 48-43 in a thrilling first-round match-up. Senior Ellen Sincock’s basket at the third quarter buzzer gave the Zephyrs (21–5) a 36-33 lead heading into the final frame, but Elskamp outscored Benton all by herself in the stanza to lift the Chieftains (26–2) to a five-point win.

Senior Morgan Lass scored 10 points and fellow senior Alison Tobin registered eight points and eight rebounds for Darby Blakely’s Chieftains.

Junior Michelle Korish netted 13 points and classmate Nikki Leibold added 11 points and nine boards for Paul Raley’s Zephyrs. Fellow junior Jan Stoffel scored nine in the game.


10) 1989 Mineral Point 52, 7) 2011 River Ridge 51
PATCH GROVE — UW–Milwaukee recruit Janet Schubert sank a runner in the lane at the buzzer to lead the 10th seeded 1989 Mineral Point Pointers to a 52-51 upset of the seventh seeded 2011 River Ridge Timberwolves.

Schubert tallied 18 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals to lead Pointers (25–2) to their thrilling victory. Senior Carolyn Kinch chipped in with 13 points and junior Jenny Kinch added 10 for coach Chuck Bennett’s squad.

Senior Jessica Mergen led the T’Wolves (20–9) with 15 points and nine boards. Junior Traci Kirschbaum added 10 points and six rebounds, while seniors Megan White and Mickey Breuer netted eight points apiece for coach Caron Townsend’s team.


2) 1999 Barneveld 59, 15) 2020 Wauzeka–Steuben 32
BARNEVELD — Senior Jess Arneson pumped in a game-high 19 points to lead Barneveld’s offensive attack and the 1999 Golden Eagles flexed their defensive muscle en route to a 49-32 victory over the 2020 Wauzeka–Steuben Hornets.

Arneson went off for 12 of her points in the first half to lead Hall of Fame coach Jim Myers’ Golden Eagles (28–0) to a 28-14 halftime advantage.

Senior Liz Meyer and sophomore Shannon Clerkin scored eight points apiece to aid the balanced Barneveld attack. Senior Megan Hodgson (future UW–Stevens Point player and UW–Platteville women’s basketball head coach) and junior Staci Dimpfl chipped in with six points each, while seniors Heidi Hodgson and Casey Thousand (future University of Illinois–Springfield women’s basketball head coach) scored five points each.

Sophomore Maddie Reichmann scored 12 points and senior Ravyn Krachey added 10 points for coach Ben McCullick’s Hornets (21–6).


North Regional

1) 2014 Barneveld 73, 16) 2002 Albany 51
BARNEVELD — Six Rivers East rival schools Barneveld and Albany squared off in the opening round with the 2014 WIAA Division 5 state champion Golden Eagles using a 24-point performance from sophomore guard Hannah Whitish and an 18-point effort from junior forward Rachel Slaney to roll to a 73-51 victory over the 2002 Comets.

Whitish, who would go on to a record-setting career at D1 Nebraska, knocked down four first-half 3-pointers to shoot coach Jim Myers’ Golden Eagles (29–0) to a 43-23 halftime lead.

Slaney, who played in college D1 at Cleveland State, added 12 of her points in the first half. Junior Maggie Oimoen, who later starred at D3 Ripon College, chipped in with eight points, while senior McKenzie Sporle and freshman Mia Whitish netted seven apiece for the Eagles.

Juniors Jessi Briggs and Torrie Mauerman scored 14 and 11 points, respectively, for coach Gary Armitage’s Comets (21–3). Freshman Katie Graves and Nikki Freeman added six apiece in the game.


9) 1983 Seneca 45, 8) 1996 Cuba City 39
CUBA CITY — In a battle of state qualifiers, the 1983 Seneca Indians got a big second-half effort from the senior duo of Karen Green and Lori Olson to slip past the 1996 Cuba City Cubans 45-36 in a defensive sluggfest.

Hall of Fame coach Jeff Pustina’s Cubans (23–4) battled their way to 20-18 halftime lead, but coach Donald “Ole” Peterson’s Indians (22–4) used 13 points from Green and eight from Olson in the second half to rally from a six-point victory.

Green finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double, and Olson added 15 in the win.

Senior Kari Kaiser and junior Hillary Kowalski netted 10 points each to pace the Cubans. Senior Missy VanNatta and junior Tina Klein scored six apiece and senior Holly Pint added five points.


12) 2006 Lancaster 59, 5) 1991 Prairie du Chien 56 (OT)
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN — The 2006 Lancaster Flying Arrows outscored the 1991 WIAA Division 2 state champion Prairie du Chien Blackhawks in the overtime period 8-5 to pull out a stunning 59-56 upset.

Lancaster senior Megan Starrett’s putback with 3.3 remaining in regulation tied the game at 51-51, and the Blackhawks’ three-quarter court desperation heave at the horn caromed off the backboard to send the game into overtime.

Baskets by seniors Mary Lynn Driscoll and Brianna Klaas to open OT session put coach Brett Rollins’ Flying Arrows (23–2) ahead to stay, and the team went 4 for 7 from the foul line in the final 90 seconds to seal the victory. Driscoll finished with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Klass followed with 12 points. Starrett added nine points and senior Beth Larson netted eight for the Arrows.

Senior Gretchen Trautsch poured in a game-high 17 points to lead Dave Kasey’s Blackhawks (23–4). Senior Crystal Boylen tallied 10 points and five assists, and senior Jill Ashby registered eight points and eight boards for PdC.


4) 1984 Platteville 77, 13) 1997 Mineral Point 71
PLATTEVILLE — Platteville’s 1–2 punch of senior Anja Hellman and junior Erin Stoffregen was just a bit better than Mineral Point’s duo of seniors Karla Gribble and Jamie Eckles as the 1984 Hillmen outlasted the 1997 Pointers 77-71 in a high-scoring affair.

The teams swapped the lead seven times in the first half and five more times in the third quarter until a late six-point scoring burst by Hellman, a Finnish exchange student who went on to play at D1 California, put the Hillmen ahead for good heading into the fourth quarter. Coach Clay Shaffer’s Hillmen (24–2) went 11 of 15 from the foul line in the final stanza to seal the win.

Hellman scored a game-high 24 points with seven boards and five assists, while Stoffregen added 18 points and seven assists and junior Debbie Malone chipped in with 12 points and eight rebounds for Platteville.

Gribble finished with a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Eckles tallied 16 points, four assists and four steals for coach Chuck Bennett’s Pointers (21–5).


3) 1976 Lancaster 65, 14) 1986 Prairie du Chien 55
LANCASTER — Four Lancaster players scored in double figures to counter a 25-point performance by Prairie du Chien senior Michelle Kozelka as the 1976 Class B state champion Flying Arrows flew past the 1986 Blackhawks 65-55 in a first-round clash.

Junior Jodi Eissens led the way for coach Jewel Henke’s Arrows (21–2) with a team-high 15 points. Senior Kim Pecinovsky followed with 14 points, while senior Linda Shaw chipped in with 11 and junior Darcia Davies tallied 10. Junior Karla Lambert added eight for the Arrows, who outscored PdC in the second half 36-29 to break open a tight game.

Kozelka, a future four-year starter with the Wisconsin Badgers and WBCA Hall of Fame selection as a player, added 15 rebounds in the game. Seniors Stacey and Tracey Boylen netted eight points apiece for coach Dave Kasey’s Blackhawks (20–4).


6) 2010 Black Hawk 56, 11) 2015 Dodgeville 51
SOUTH WAYNE — Kim Wellnitz and Rachel Rygh combined to score 18 of Black Hawk’s 32 second-half points to rally the 2010 WIAA D4 state runner-up Warriors from behind to drop the 2015 Dodgeville Dodgers 56-51.

Wellnitz pumped in 10 of her game-high 16 points in the second half and Rygh netted eight of her 11 points over the final two quarters to rally coach Michael Flanagan’s Warriors (28–2) from a five-point 29-24 halftime deficit to a five-point victory.

Wellnitz also pulled down eight rebounds, while her junior sister, Melissa, chipped in with nine points. Senior Katie Place recorded eight points and nine boards for Black Hawk.

Senior Taylor Stanek scored 15 points to lead Mark Dooley’s Dodgers (21–4). Sophomore Kara Crowley, a future Wisconsin Badger, added 13 points and freshman Hannah Jones, a future D1 player at IUPU–Fort Wayne (Ind.), contributed 11 points in the loss.


10) 2012 Richland Center 45, 7) 1976 Bloomington 39
BLOOMINGTON — Senior Kelsey Collins scored a game-high 19 points and the 2012 Richland Center Hornets used a strong defensive effort to sting the 1976 Bloomington Bluejays 45-39 in an upset.

Collins scored 10 of her points in the first half to lead the Hornets (23–4) out to a 21-18 halftime lead, and then added nine more points in the second half to keep her team in front.

Emily Anderson chipped in with eight points and fellow seniors Kelley Lynch and Abbey Beranek added six apiece to aid the win for coach Steve Board’s Hornets.

Senior Ginny Vorwald, a future Wisconsin Badger, posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead coach Adele Jacobson’s Bluejays (20–4). Junior Kris Paulus scored 10 points and sophomore Nora Patterson added seven for the 1976 Class C runner-ups.


2) 2010 Cuba City 58, 15) 2017 Riverdale 34
CUBA CITY — The 2010 WIAA D3 state champion Cuba City Cubans got off and running against SWAL foe Riverdale, building up an early 18-5 lead en route to a 58-34 victory over the 2017 Chieftains to open the tournament.

D3 Loras recruit Katie Langmeier poured in a game-high 18 points to lead the offensive attack for coach Jeff Pustina’s Cubans (30–0). Senior Emily Kaiser, who went on to play volleyball at UW–Platteville, netted 13 points, while senior Danielle Matuszak chipped in with eight points, junior Grace Stotmeister scored seven points and senior Megan Pickel added five in the win.

Junior Macy Mau finished with a team-high 10 points for her coach/father Scott’s Chieftains (21–6). Macy Klebesadel scored eight points, while fellow seniors McKenzie Couey and Autumn Noble chipped in with seven and six points, respectively, for Riverdale.


East Regional

1) 2019 Black Hawk 80, 16) 1986 River Valley 55
SOUTH WAYNE — Black Hawk’s three-headed scoring machine was too much for River Valley (20–4), which was dependent on one of the best players this part of the state has ever seen in senior Shelly Coyle.

The Warriors (29–0) flexed their muscle in a lopsided first-round victory over the visiting Blackhawks (20–4), as Natalie Leuzinger, Bailey Butler and Hannah Butler combined to score 56 points of their team’s 80 points.

Leuzinger, a four-time Six Rivers East Player of the Year, and preferred walk-on at Wisconsin, led the Warriors with 25 points and eight rebounds. Bailey Butler, a three-time all-state selection and UW–Green Bay recruit, chipped in 17 points and a team high seven assists, while Hannah Butler, a two-time all-state selection and UW–Platteville recruit, added 14 points and a team high nine rebounds.

Coach Mike Flanagan’s Warriors jumped out to an early 14-2 lead, provided by their aggressive and suffocating defense. They ended the first half with a comfortable 56-25 advantage, then cruised in the second half to victory.

River Valley, which won its play-in game over 2003 North Crawford four nights earlier, was led by Wisconsin State Journal Player of the Year, and D1 Iowa-State recruit Shelly Coyle (6’1”), who netted a game high 38 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in defeat. 


8) 2012 Seneca 57, 9) 1985 Cuba City 53
SENECA — After falling in the 2012 D5 state semifinals, coach Kim Redman’s Indians (27–1) were determined to make up for it in the Southwest Wisconsin Dream Tournament, by putting together a come-from-behind victory over visiting 1985 Cuba City.

The Cubans (21–5) took a 48-45 lead on a Julie Slaats bucket with 3:46 to play in the game, but from that point on, were outscored by the Indians, 12-5, down the stretch.

The Indians tied the game at 48-48 on a three-point play by all-state selection Kalli Boland, and took their first lead of the second half on a bucket by junior Logan Lessard with 2:34 to play in the game.

A missed field goal attempt by the Cubans led to a loose ball and foul, sending Seneca senior Taylor Redman to the line, where she knocked down two free throws for a 52-48 lead. Down the stretch, Seneca knocked down 5 of 6 free throw attempts to secure the victory,

Boland led Seneca with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Lessard chipped in 15 points and senior Sawyer Robert seven.

The Cubans were led by senior Mary Timmerman, who finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, while fellow seniors Julie Slaats (13), Karen Tranel (7) and Pam Banfield (5) combined to score 25 points.


5) 1979 Lancaster 56, 12) 2000 Cassville 44
LANCASTER — The 1979 Flying Arrows (24–2) came out victorious over the 2000 Comets in a low-scoring contest at Lancaster.

In the end, the Arrows had too much firepower behind the scoring of senior Jenna Vesperman, juniors Donna Freese, Colleen Eissens and Denise Croft, along with sophomore Laurie Shaw.

The biggest individual battle was between Freese (6’3”) and Cassville sophomore Claire Faurote (6’4”), the Comets’ all-time leading scorer and D1 Fairfield University recruit. 

Faurote led the Comets (20–6) with 15 points before fouling out late in the contest, while Freese finished with 12 points and five blocks for Lancaster’s balanced attack.

Shaw led Lancaster with 18 points, while Vesperman chipped in eight points, and Croft and Eissens each had seven.

Cassville senior Tanya Adrian finished with 10 points and six rebounds, while sophomore Maggie Lou added five.


4) 2016 Mineral Point 77, 13) 2013 Benton/Shullsburg 62
MINERAL POINT — It’s going to take a special team to knock out the 2016 state champions from Mineral Point (27–2), and the 2013 Benton/Shullsburg co-op team was their first casualty in the Southwest Wisconsin Dream Tournament.

Led by senior Jessica Schultz, a first-team all-state selection and three-year starter at Division 2 Northern Michigan, the Pointers are loaded with talent and a tough out for anyone.

Schultz led the Pointers to victory with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while senior teammate Clara Chambers, an WBCA D4 honorable mention all-state selection and D3 Concordia University recruit, chipped in 15 points. Junior Sydney Staver, the 2017 SWAL Player of the Year and D1 UW–Milwaukee recruit, finished with 13 points.

Benton/Shullsburg (23–4), which trailed 47-28 at the half, got 17 points from senior Blaire Lutes, the Six Rivers West Player of the Year and UW–Platteville recruit. Sarah Redfearn chipped in 10 points, while Stephanie Roberts added six


3) 1980 Cuba City 55, 14) 1988 Boscobel 39
CUBA CITY — The 1980 Class B state champions from Cuba City (26–0) rolled by visiting 1988 Boscobel (21–4) in the first round of the girls’ Dream Tournament, limiting the Bulldogs to just 15 field goals and 9 of 14 free throw attempts.

In a low-scoring contest, senior Linda Brown, the 1980 Southern Eight Player of the Year, led Cuba City with 17 points. Sophomore Jackie Slaats, future player, coach and Athletic Director at Lake Forest College (Ill.), wasn’t far behind with 14, while senior Lynn Timmerman chipped in eight.

Getting off to a slow start, the Cubans held a 12-8 lead midway through the first quarter, but closed out the first half on a 20-8 scoring run to give them a 32-16 lead at the half. 

Boscobel got a team-high 12 points from senior Cherryl Mayne, while fellow senior Kaye Krogen added 10. Georgia Conner chipped in six and Penny Marks added five in the loss for coach Keri Hutchens Bulldogs.


6) 2004 Richland Center 63, 11) 1987 Bloomington 55
RICHLAND CENTER — Making 7 of 10 free throw attempts in the final two minutes, provided the 2004 Hornets (24–3) with an eight-point victory over the 1987 Bluejays, and advanced them into the second round of the Southwest Wisconsin Dream Tournament.

Coach Jeff Savatski’s Bluejays (22–3) pulled as close as 56-51 before beginning to foul and send the Hornets to the line with 1:57 to play.

Richland Center senior Erin Templin, a second-team all-state selection and D1 UW-Green Bay recruit, led the Hornets with 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Fellow senior Katie Mueller added 11 points, while juniors Leah Tenney had nine and Jennifer Salisbury seven.

Bloomington senior Heidi Benish, an honorable mention all-state selection and UW–Platteville recruit, led the Bluejays with 24 points and eight rebounds, while sophomore Jody Bloyer, a D2 UW–Parkside recruit, chipped in 13 points and five boards.


10) 2004 River Ridge 53, 7) 1996 Shullsburg 50
SHULLSBURG — A sensational 18-point performance from River Ridge junior Stacia Nemitz led the 2004 Timberwolves (24–3) to a three-point upset of the 1996 state runner-up Shullsburg Miners.

The battle between Nemitz, a future first-team All-WIAC player at UW–Platteville, and Shullsburg senior Heidi Carley didn’t disappoint, as the UW-Oshkosh recruit from Shullsburg scored a team-high 17 points for the Miners (24–4).

With her team clinging to a 51–50 lead with 5.4 seconds remaining, Nemitz pulled down a defensive rebound on a Shullsburg miss, and was immediately fouled and sent the line. The River Ridge junior calmly knocked down both free throw attempts, which was followed by a desperation 3-pointer by Carley that bounced off the rim as the buzzer sounded.

Rounding out coach Caron Townsend’s top scorers were senior Frankie Weber (9), junior Kelly Kalinowski (6), sophomore Vanessa Nemitz (6) and senior Rachel Wegmann (5).


2) 1993 Pecatonica 67, 15) 2011 Darlington 44
BLANCHARDVILLE — The 1993 state champions from Pecatonica weren’t about to entertain any talk of an upset by the 2011 Redbirds (21–6), who were sectional qualifiers 18 years later.

The Vikings (28–0) had too much fire power for Darlington to contend with, as six different players average eight or more points for Pecatonica.

Leading the charge was junior Tracey Powell with 16 points, while senior Nicole Jeglum added 13 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Barb Kapke finished with 11 points, and Steph Jorenby chipped in 10, while Kristine Lee and Tami Norton each added eight.

Darlington coach Mike Chambers got a team-high 14 points from Cassidy Chambers, while Amy Jorgenson added 12. Elizabeth Mathias finished with seven and Carley McDonald six.