EDITOR'S NOTE: The SWNews4U.com SW Wisconsin Dream Tournament is 68-team March Madness-style high school basketball tournament (for both boys and girls), consisting of the greatest teams in Southwest Wisconsin history, since 1960.
We introduced the girls' bracket and teams April 22-23 and 29-30. Beginning last week (May 6-7), with the boys' first-round selections, we will pick the winners for each round in our area newspapers, until we crown the All-Time champions for both tournaments. We will publish the girls' first-round winners this week (May 13-14).
Below are the team capsules for the girls teams in the West Regional.
1) 2007 Cuba City
2007 Division 3 state championCoach: Jeff Pustina
Record: 27-0, 14-0 SWAL champion
Tournament run: The Cubans rolled to their third straight WIAA Division 3 state championship crown by besting Wisconsin Heights 87-25, Orfordville Parkview 83-39, and Mineral Point in regionals, Lancaster 61-44 and Markesan 54-26 at sectionals, then previously unbeaten Oostburg 51-42, in a state semifinal game, before routing Amherst 70-28 to win the 2007 title.
Key Players:
Tami Gleason (Sr) 16.7 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 apg, two-time SWAL Player of the Year, 1st-team All-SWAL, AP 2nd-team All-State, WBCA D3 1st-team All-State, WBCA D3 All-Star, WIAA All-Tournament team, finished her career with 1,188 points, went on to play D2 volleyball at UW–Parkside
Briana Kaiser (Jr) 13 ppg, 3 rpg, 2.3 spg, 1st-team All-SWAL, went on to play D3 volleyball at UW–Platteville
Molly Moor (Sr) 9 ppg, 2 apg, 1st-team All-SWAL, 2006 All-Tournament selection, WBCA All-Star
Kaitlyn Pustina (Sr) 8.7 ppg, 2 spg, 1st-team All-SWAL, AP honorable mention All-State, WBCA All-Star
Brianna Droessler (Jr) 6 ppg, honorable mention SWAL, went on to play at D3 Edgewood College.
Kelsey Pustina (Jr) 5.3 ppg, 3 spg, honorable mention SWAL
Dynasty Note: Coach Pustina, Gleason, Moor and Kaitlyn Pustina led the Cubans to a 80-1 overall record during a three-year span that saw them capture three straight WIAA Division 3 state championships and three straight SWAL titles with 14-0 marks. Liz Wisdom was a starter and All-SWAL player on the 2005 and 2006 championship teams and later played at UW–Platteville. Pustina’s Cubans went 27-0 in 2005 and defeated Wausau Newman Catholic 48-37, in the 2005 title game, then went 26-1 in 2006 and topped Ozaukee 56-52 for the 2006 title contest.
2) 1993 Cuba City
1993 Division 3 state championCoach: Jeff Pustina
Record: 23-3, 12-0 SWAL 1 champion
Tournament run: The #7-ranked Cubans captured their third state title in four seasons after posting a 63-42 victory over Prentice in the WIAA Division 3 championship game. The Cubans had a first-round bye, then defeated Southwestern 74-33 and Evansville 61-33 to win a regional title, then Mount Horeb 65-56 and Lancaster 63-28 in sectional play, before opening the state tournament with a 74-49 win over Lomira.
Key Players:
Aimee Tranel (Sr) 11.3 ppg, 5.7 apg, named SWAL 1 MVP for the third time and to the All-Tournament team for the second time, finished career as school's all-time leading scorer with 1,466 points, went on to play at D3 UW-Whitewater.
Holly Klein (Sr) 10.3 ppg, 9 rpg, 1st-team All-SWAL 1, All-Tournament team
Shey Roth (Sr) 15.4 ppg, 1st-team All-SWAL 1
Sarah Busch (Sr) 10.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1st-team All-SWAL 1
Natalie Bussan (Sr) 7.1 ppg, honorable mention All-SWAL 1
Dynasty Note: In 1990, Coach Pustina and the Cubans edged Monona Grove 40-35, in a WIAA Class B state semifinal contest, and then defeated Bloomer 56-44, to earn the state title and finish off a 23-3 season. In 1991, the Cubans (25-2, 12-0) won their second straight state title by defeating Markesan 59-39 in the D3 championship game. Pustina’s team took down Glenwood City 59-45 in the semifinal round.
3) 2005 Barneveld
2005 Division 4 state championCoach: Jim Myers
Record: 25-2, 12-0 SRE champion
Tournament run: The Golden Eagles defeated Belmont 62-37, Argyle 39-34 and Ithaca 70-43 in regionals, then Monticello 50-30 and Rio 62-43 in sectional play, then rolled Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 63-30 and Owen-Withee 73-32 to win the 2005 state title. It was the program’s fourth of six state titles under Coach Myers.
Key Players:
Inger Hodgson (Jr) 18.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.7 apg, Six Rivers East Player of the Year, 1st-team All-SRE, AP 3rd-team All-State, 2006 WBCA All-Star, finished her career as Barneveld’s all-time leader in points, steals and assists, went on to play D2 college basketball at North Dakota State
Katie Sutter (So) 13.1 ppg, 6 rpg, 1st-team All-SRE
Brianna Strelow (Sr) 6.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, honorable mention SRE
Lacey Reeson (Sr) 4.4 ppg, honorable mention SRE
Kaitlyn Buol (Sr) starter who was injured in regionals and missed the rest of the tournament
Dynasty Note: Coach Myers and the Golden Eagles made four appearances in the D4 state tournament over five seasons. The 2006 Eagles were beaten by Owen-Withee 48-39 in a semifinal game in 2003 and bested by Wausau Newman Catholic 59-48 in the D4 state semifinals. In 2007, Barneveld earned a silver trophy after defeating Burlington Catholic Central 49-43 in a semifinal contest before falling to Flambeau 53-44 in the title game. Hodgson was a starter on the ’03, ’05 and ’06 state teams, and Sutter starred on the ’05, ’06 and ’07 state squads.
4) 2020 Platteville
2020 Division 3 state co-championCoach: Mike Foley
Record: 26-0, 12-0 SWC champion
Tournament run: After a first-round bye, the #1-ranked Hillmen defeated Lodi 75-40 and Madison Edgewood 47-38 to win a D3 regional title, then beat SWC rival Prairie du Chein 49-44 and 2-time defending state champion Marshall 50-34 to win the Baraboo sectional to earn the program’s first trip to state since 1984. The Hillmen defeated #4 Arcadia in the D3 state semifinals, but never got the chance to face Wrightstown in the state championship when the rest of the state tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key Players:
Sami Martin (Sr) 17.4 ppg, 10.7 rpg, SWC Player of the Year, 1st-team All-SWC, WBCA D3 1st-team All-State, WBCA D3 All-Star, finished her career as Platteville's all-time leading scorer with 1,571 points, has committed to play D1 basketball at Bradley University.
Josie Nies (Sr) 14 ppg, 5.4 apg, 2.2 spg, 1st-team All-SWC, WBCA D3 honorable mention All-State, WBCA D3 All-Star, will play D3 basketball at UW–Stevens Point.
Becca Hoyer (Sr) 11.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 spg, 1st-team All-SWC, will play D3 basketball at UW–Platteville
Izzy Carroll (Sr) 6.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2nd-team All-SWC
Camyrn Nies (Fr) 6.7 ppg, honorable mention SWC
Courtney Budden (Sr) 1.7 ppg, defensive standout
Dynasty Note: Martin, Nies, Hoyer and Carroll were four-year varsity players, leading Platteville to a 21-5 mark in 2017, 20-5 in 2018 and 20-5 in 2019. The Hillmen won four straight regional titles, two conference titles (2017, 2020) and played in the sectional final three times (2017, 2019, 2020).
5) 1995 Barneveld
1995 Division 4 state championCoach: Jim Myers
Record:26-1, 13-1 State Line League co-champion
Tournament run: The Golden Eagles defeated Benton 52-40, Pecatonica 47-46 and Shullsburg 48-43 in regional play, then Albany 60-50 and Hilbert 56-47 to win a sectional title. Barneveld took home the D4 state title by defeating Clayton 44-40 in the semifinal round, then edging Gilman, 51-49, in overtime in a thrilling state finale after erasing an early 19-point deficit to win the title on a 3-pointer by senior guard Jodi Wright with 30 seconds remaining in OT.
Key Players:
Jodi Wright (Sr) 14.4 ppg. 3.2 rpg, 3.6 apg, 4.2 spg, SLL Player of the Year, 1st-team All-SLL, honorable mention All-State, WBCA D4 All-Star
Kelly Parman (Sr) 9.6 ppg. 5 rpg, 1st-team All-SLL
Mandy Wood (Jr) 7.7 ppg. 6.5 rpg, 3 apg, 2.7 spg, 2nd-team All-SLL
Jennifer Lease (Jr) 8.5 ppg. 4.3 rpg
Emily Johnson (Sr) 5.2 ppg. 3.1 rpg
6) 1999 Potosi
1999 Division 4 state runner-upCoach: Eric Briehl
Record: 26-1, 12-0 SRW champion
Tournament run: The #2-ranked Chieftains defeated Ithaca 55-52 Highland 74-42 and Cassville 64-41 in regional action, then Wonewoc-Center 79-47 and Loyal 75-54 at sectionals. Potosi defeated previously unbeaten Flambeau 72-58 in double overtime in a state semifinal before losing to #1-ranked Barneveld 49-42 in the D4 state championship game. Was first state tournament berth in program history.
Key Players:
Jamie Nebel (Sr) 16.8 ppg, Six Rivers West Player of the Year, 1st-team All-SRW, honorable mention All-State, played college basketball at D2 UW-Parkside
Tiff Flesch (Sr) 13.3 ppg, 1st-team All-SRW, AP honorable mention All-State, played college basketball at UW-Platteville
Megan Koeller (Sr) 8 ppg, honorable mention All-SRW
Jena Edge (Sr) 6 ppg, honorable mention All-SRW
Kylie Droessler (Jr) 6 ppg, 3 rpg
Shena Rojemann (So) 6 ppg, 2 apg
7) 2002 Pecatonica
2002 Division 4 state runner-upCoach: Mitch Wainwright
Record: 20-6, 11-3 SRE runner-up
Tournament run: After a first-round bye, the top-seeded Vikings beat SRE foes Barneveld 69-47 and Black Hawk 61-45 to win the regional title, then defeated Potosi 47-42 and Hillsboro 53-41 in sectional play. Pecatonica rolled over South Shore 71-45 in its D4 state semifinal before falling to Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah 76-69 in the 2002 state championship game to hoist the silver ball for the second year in a row.
Key Players:
Michelle Hardyman (Sr) 13.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1st-team All-SRE, went on to play D3 college basketball at UW–Platteville
Stacy Carlson (Sr) 11.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1st-team All-SRE, went on to play in college at UW-Platteville.
Kami Lockard (Sr) 9.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2nd-team All-SRE
Carmen Jeglum (Sr) 4.7 ppg, 4 rpg, honorable mention SRE
Kristin Langfoss (Sr) 2.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg
Stephanie Hendrickson (Jr) 8.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg
Dynasty Note: Coach Wainwright, Lockard, Carlson, Hardyman led the 2001 Vikings to a 21-6 mark and a trip to the D4 state finals before losing to Gilmanton 58-50.
8) 1993 Bloomington
1993 Division 4 state qualifierCoach: Caron Townsend
Record: 21-4, 13-3 Blackhawk runner-up
Tournament run: The Bluejays defeated Highland 65-49 and West Grant 54-45 in regional action, then Weston 48-43 and Eleva-Strum 60-40 in sectional play before losing to Pecatonica 59-58 in the D4 state semifinals.
Key Players:
Jessica Edwards (Sr) 19.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg, Blackhawk Conference Player of the Year, 1st-team All-Blackhawk, WBCA All-Star, went on to play D3 college basketball at UW–La Crosse and was a 1,000-point scorer for the Eagles
Angie Bohringer (Sr) 13 ppg, 7 rpg, 1st-team All-Blackhawk, went on to play D2 college basketball at Winona State
Ellie Nies (So) 11 ppg, honorable mention All-Blackhawk, went to D3 college basketball play at UW–Platteville, mother of 2020 Cuba City boys’ Brady and Carter Olson, wife of 1993 Dodgeville boys player Aaron Olson
Becky Bohringer (So) 3.8 apg, honorable-mention All-Blackhawk, went on to play at UW–La Crosse
Lori Mergen (So) 6.7 ppg
Brooke Skaife (Sr) 5.4 ppg
Tournament run: The Bluejays dominated the Blackhawk Conference in the early 90s and advanced it to sectionals five straight years from 1991-95. Edwards, Angie Bohringer and the 1991 Bluejays went 17-6 and lost to Independence in the sectional finals. They finished 22-2 in 1992 and lost to Weston 56-55 in the D4 sectional semifinals before breaking through and advancing to state a year later in 1993. In 1994, Nies and Becky Bohringer led the Bluejays to a 19-5 mark and lost to Weston 61-56 in the D4 sectional semis. Nies, Bohringer and Bloomington went 21-4 in 1995 and lost to Augustana in the sectional finals.
9) 2011 Prairie du Chien
2011 Division 3 state qualifierCoach: Paula Shedivy
Record: 21-6, 7-3 third in SWC
Tournament run: The Blackhawks, who were making their second state appearance in school history and first in two decades, had a first-round bye, then beat Platteville 48-21 and Richland Center 34-31 in regionals, then Westfield 40-26 and Edgerton 47-34 in sectional play, before falling to eventual D3 champion Altoona 48-34, in a WIAA state semifinal game.
Key Players:
Morgan Banasik (Jr) 17.5 ppg, 8.6 rpg, SWC Player of the Year, 1st-team All-SWC, WBCA D3 All-State, WBCA D3 All-Star
Courtney Lewis (Sr) 12.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1st-team All-SWC
Taylor Lawrence (Sr) 5.6 ppg, honorable mention SWC
McKenzie Banasik (Fr) 5.5 ppg
Haley Nicholson (Sr) 5.4 ppg
10) 1985 Ithaca
1985 Class C sectional runner-upCoach: Ron Donahoe
Record: 23-1, 14-0 Ridge & Valley champion
Tournament run: The Bulldogs defeated Weston 62-12, Wonewoc-Center 50-13 and Seneca 51-38 in regional play, and Bloomington 54-42 at sectionals, before losing to eventual Class C state champion Fall Creek in the sectional finals 55-44.
Key Players:
Chris Biser (Jr) 20.6 ppg, 12 rpg, 1st-team All-R&V, had 22 points and 22 rebounds in regional final win over Seneca, went to have a Hall of Fame college career at D2 Fort Hays State (Kan.)
Jennifer Anderson (Jr) 1st-team All-R&V
Shawn Clary (Sr) 1st-team All-R&V
Geri Parduhn
Eileen Durkin
Kim Wanless
Dynasty Note: Ithaca went 65-5 from 1984-86, going 21-1 and losing in the 1984 Class C sectional semifinals to West Grant, then 21-3 and losing to Fall Creek in the sectional final for a second straight year in 1986.
11) 2017 Shullsburg
2017 Division 5 sectional runner-upCoach: Nathan Russell
Record: 22-4, 12-0 SRW champion
Tournament run: The Miners defeated Southwestern 53-12, Potosi/Cassville 59-43 and Benton 55-40 in regional play, then Riverdale 43-34 to advance to the D5 sectional final game, where they lost to Bangor 63-49.
Key Players:
Brianna Leahy (Jr) 18.1 ppg, 11.9 rpg, 4.9 bpg, three-time 1st-team All-SRW, 2016 SRW Player of the Year, 2018 WBCA D5 1st-team All-State, 2018 WBCA D5 All-Star, finished career as school’s all-time leading scorer and also grabbed over 1,000 career rebounds, played freshman year in college at UW-River Falls, but transferred to UW-Platteville.
Hattie Rennert (Sr) 14.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg,3.2 apg, 1st-team All-SRW, won the 2017 WIAA 3-point shooting contest at the state girls’ basketball tournament.
McKailah Strang (Sr) 7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.5 apg, honorable mention SRW
Cora Holland (Sr) 5.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, honorable mention SRW
Faith Ubersox (Jr) 3.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg
Nicole Teutschmann (Jr) 3.1 ppg
Dynasty Note: Coach Russell and Leahy led the Miners to back-to-back SRW titles and appearances in the D5 sectional final game where they lost to Bangor in back-to-back seasons. In 2017 and 2018. The 2018 Miners posted a 21-6 overall record with a 10-2 SRW title mark, edging River Ridge, 36-34, in a sectional semifinal game before falling to the eventual state champion Bangor Cardinals by a score of 55-41. Shullsburg went 21-4 and won a SRW title in 2016.
12) 2012 Fennimore
2012 Division 4 sectional qualifierCoach: Jim Prochaska
Record: 22-3, 13-1 SWAL co-champion
Tournament run: The Golden Eagles returned to sectionals for the second time in three seasons by beating Whitehall 80-40 and Mondovi 58-43 in regional play, before falling to eventual D4 state champion Neillsville 46-45 in an overtime thriller in a D4 sectional semifinal game.
Key Players:
Breland Prochaska (Sr) 23.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.4 apg, 5.1 spg, two-time SWAL Player of the Year, first-time SWAL, WBCA D4 first-team All-State, WBCA D4 All-Star, finished her career at Fennimore's all-time leader in points (1,678), assists and steals, went on to play NAIA college basketball at Clarke University.
Alexi Needham (So) 15.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1st-team All-SWAL, 2014 SWAL Player of the Year, 2014 WBCA D4 All-Star
Kaitlyn Klug (Sr) 5.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg,3.2 spg, 1st-team All-SWAL
Allison Klug (Sr) 6.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.6 apg, 3.4 spg, honorable mention SWAL
Morgan Gunderson (Sr) 3 ppg, 4.7 rpg
Courtney Gundlach (Sr) 2.1 ppg
Dynasty Note: Coach Prochaska and daughter Breland led the Golden Eagles to a 66-10 record over a three-year span with two sectional appearances and back-to-back SWAL titles in 2011 and 2012. In 2010, the Eagles defeated Pittsville 48-23 to advance to the sectional final game where they fell to eventual D3 state champion Cuba City 52-22. In 2011, top-seeded Fennimore was upset by SWAL rival Darlington, 60-48 in a D4 regional championship game.
13) 2001 Darlington
2001 Division 3 sectional qualifierCoach: Steve Fink
Record: 21-3, 11-1 SWAL 2 champion
Tournament run: After winning the SWAL II title for the fourth season in a row, the #9-ranked Redbirds advanced to sectional play for the first time in school history with regional victories over Dodgeville 66-30, Brodhead 45-43 in OT and Evansville 47-45. Darlington eventually lost to D3 state champion Lakeside Lutheran 72-56 in a sectional semifinal showdown.
Key Players:
Shannon Boatman (Sr) 17 ppg, 9 rpg, two-time All-SWAL 2 MVP and a three-time 1st-team All-SWAL 2 selection, WBCA D3 All-Star, went on to play D3 college basketball at UW-Platteville
Laura McConnell (Sr) A three-time 1st-team All-SWAL 2 selection.
Amy Wilson (Sr) A three-time 1st-team All-SWAL 2 selection.
Brittany Reiger (Sr) A two-time 1st-team All-SWAL 2 selection.
14) 1987 Richland Center
1987 Class B sectional qualifierCoach: Brad Johnsrud
Record: 21-3, 11-1 SWAL champion
Tournament run: The Hornets defeated River Valley 45-32, Dodgeville 62-39 and Cuba City 48-45 in overtime to win the program’s first regional title, then lost sectional semifinal to Waunakee 45-43.
Key Players:
Abby Haag (Sr) 1st-team All-SWAL
Sarah Beggs (Sr) 2nd-team All-SWAL
Gail Halink (Jr) 1988 1st-team All-SWAL, 14.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 3.4 bpg as a senior, led Hornets’ volleyball team to 1987 state title as a senior, went on to play D1 college volleyball at Purdue.
Ann Nowak (Sr)
Traci Hansen (Sr)
Dynasty Note: The 1988 Hornets advanced to the Class B sectional semifinals for a second straight year before a 38-35 loss to Monona Grove.
15) 1990 Southwestern
1990 Class B regional runner-upCoach: John Klein
Record: 21-2, 12-0 SWAL 2 champion
Tournament run: The Wildcats defeated Highland 41-37 and Iowa-Grant 53-51, before a 63-58 D3 regional final loss to SWAL 2 rival Mineral Point.
Key Players:
Kristi Bartz (Sr) 1st-team All-SWAL 2
Della Klein (Jr) 1st-team SWAL 2, 1991 SWAL 2 Player of the Year, 17.2 ppg in 1991
Sarah Hendricks (So) 1st-team All-SWAL 2, 16 ppg, 9 rpg in 1991
Julie Runde (So)
Dynasty Note: The 1989 Wildcats, with senior Shelly Hendricks, posted a 17-7 mark and advanced to the Class C sectional finals before a 64-37 loss to Fall River. Coach Klein, daughter Della and Hendricks led the 1991 Wildcats to a 17-4 mark and a share of a second straight SWAL 2 title, but had the misfortune of drawing eventual D3 state champion Cuba City (25-2) in the first round of the Division 3 regional playoffs and fell 71-52.
16) 1988 Iowa-Grant
1988 Class C regional finalistCoach: Mike Williams
Record: 19-5, 10-2 SWAL 2 champion
Tournament run: The Panthers went 10-2 in the SWAL 2 to win the program’s first conference title, then defeated Bloomington 37-34, Fennimore 55-36 and West Grant 53-34 to win a Class C regional title, before a 65-56 loss to Benton in the sectional semifinals.
Key Players:
Gail Diask (Sr) 21.8 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1st-team All-SWAL 2, went on to play at Division 1 Western Illinois
Gina Grimm (Sr) 14.5 ppg, 7 apg, 1st-team All-SWAL 2
Carrie Day (Sr) Honorable mention SWAL 2
Lana Wunderlin (Jr)
Karri Jinkins (Jr)
Dynasty Note: Diask, Grimm and the 1987 Panthers fell in the Class C regional finals to #7-ranked Bloomington 35-26.
16) 2019 Argyle
2019 Division 5 regional finalistCoach: Nicole Allison
Record: 19-6, 10-2 second in SRE
Tournament run: The Orioles set a record for victories in a season, then defeated Madison Country Day 70-12 and Waupun Central Wisconsin Christian 76-34 before a 59-47 regional final loss to Randolph.
Key Players:
Jena Saalsaa (Sr) 17.1 ppg, 1st-team All-SRE
Kirsten Ostby (Sr) 9.7 ppg, 2nd-team All-SRE
Alysabeth Lantz (Sr) 9.2 ppg, honorable mention SRE
Victoria Lantz (Fr) 8.8 ppg
Lexi Leigh (Jr) 4 ppg
McKenzee Granberg (Jr) 3.1 ppg
Dynasty Note: Saalsaa led the 2018 Orioles to a 17-6 mark and a tie for second-place in the SRE.
