Team Takeaways From the KM Classic
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After posting the takeaways from the 39 players I saw at the KM Classic, I wanted to talk about some teams. I won’t talk about every group I saw, just a few that I found interesting at Kettle Moraine. Let’s…
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Continue ReadingAfter posting the takeaways from the 39 players I saw at the KM Classic, I wanted to talk about some teams. I won’t talk about every group I saw, just a few that I found interesting at Kettle Moraine. Let’s talk about a few teams and their prospects for this season.
Hortonville
The Polar Bears like to fly up and down the floor and play in transition whenever possible. I don’t think there is a better lead guard this team could have than Trinity Mocadlo Trinity Mocadlo 5'8" | PG Hortonville | 2023 State WI , who’s known to sprint everywhere on the floor. When she puts pressure on defenses, it makes the other four players’ lives easier. Kyra Funk Kyra Funk 5'7" | SG Hortonville | 2023 State WI filled the role as their fifth starter and did her thing both days by making perimeter jumpers and stretching out the defense. Kallie Peppler Kallie Peppler 6'0" | PF Hortonville | 2024 State WI and MiKayla Werner MiKayla Werner 6'0" | PF Hortonville | 2024 State WI did an excellent job using their size and athleticism to make plays that most players can’t. It also helps when a team boasts one of the most talented 2025s in the region in Rainey Welson Rainey Welson 5'9" | CG Hortonville | 2025 State WI , who has been on an absolute heater since she stepped foot on Hortonville’s campus last season.
Neenah
The Rockets downsized a little by necessity this season with loads of new talented guards. Even though Allie Ziebell Allie Ziebell 5'11" | SG Neenah | 2024 State WI isn’t as ball dominant as she was a season ago, she’s done a lot of creating and got her teammate’s open looks around the basket and from the 3-point line. Sammie Buss Sammie Buss 5'5" | PG Neenah | 2023 State WI seems like an ideal off-ball guard to pair with Ziebell because her range is limitless, and the same goes for Ava Kok Ava Kok 5'6" | CG Neenah | 2023 State WI , who poured in 21 points against Brookfield East. Amaya Jones Amaya Jones 6'1" | C Neenah | 2024 State WI ‘ size was crucial, and she is a proven offensive rebounder and created extra possessions all night. The Rockets and Polar Bears feel like they’re on a collision course that will come to a head on March. 4th at Appleton East.
Notre Dame
Trista Fayta Trista Fayta 5'8" | PG Green Bay Notre Dame | 2024 State WI made a massive difference in their win against Verona. Her ability to create for herself and others can’t be understated. She finished the game with 25 points and eight assists, and it felt like more. Gracie Grzesk Gracie Grzesk 6'0" | SF Green Bay Notre Dame | 2024 State WI continued to do what she does best in the post and made some 3-pointers to punish the 2-3 zone. Peyton Musial Peyton Musial 5'11" | SG Notre Dame | 2025 State WI looked excellent again, and it helped that she didn’t have to initiate offense and slid back into a more natural role. I loved watching Sydney Whitehouse Sydney Whitehouse 5'9" | SF Green Bay Notre Dame | 2024 State WI expand her game and continue to show her two-way prowess. Every basketball nerd would love seeing Hope Barington Hope Barington 5'10" | SF Green Bay Notre Dame | 2023 State WI continue to make the right decisions with every possession. She’s more significant to the Tritons than people would think.
Verona
Although the Wildcats were missing Taylor Stremlow Taylor Stremlow 5'8" | PG Verona | 2024 State WI , which contributed significantly to the Wildcats not being able to beat Notre Dame’s full-court press, I think they’re were a fair amount of positives. Regan Briggs looked much better than she did a year ago and seemed more aggressive when she got the ball. Paige Lambe Paige Lambe 6'2" | PF Verona | 2023 State WI created problems for the Tritons that they never solved throughout the game. Once they got the ball over halfcourt more consistently, I thought that Megan Murphy Megan Murphy 5'6" | CG Verona | 2023 State WI looked like a kid who could help them win games in February and March. Her shooting and threat on the weakside is legit.
Wausau West
The Warriors two games at KM reminded me of De Pere’s last season. They got shelled by a Germantown team that overwhelmed them and put them in foul trouble. However, the following day they came back and battled with an elite team out for blood this season in Hortonville. Even though they lost that game, their main four contributors: Lexie White Lexie White 5'11" | SG Wausau West | 2023 State WI , Kelly Kray Kelly Kray 6'2" | PF Wausau West | 2024 State WI , Kenzie Deaton, and Molly Anderson Molly Anderson 6'0" | PF Wausau West | 2023 State WI , all played well. I still believe this team can shock some people in March if they aren’t careful. Not everyone can rip off a run like Hortonville did to beat them in the second half.
Germantown
The Warhawks will go through KK Arnold KK Arnold 5'10" | PG Germantown | 2023 State #8 Nation WI until she graduates, which is fair. However, I thought the “others” played well at KM. Rachel Murphy did a lot of little things to help them gain advantages. Jaycee Mani had the Warhawk bench going crazy against Wausau West. Lucy Leininger Lucy Leininger 5'11" | PF Germantown | 2024 State WI looked even better than I saw her last, which seems to be a trend. They’ll have to beat some tall FVA teams this spring, but I can’t wait to see them lock horns with teams like Kaukauna.
Homestead
I think the loss to Hortonville will be a good thing in the long run for the Highlanders. That was the first legitimate state contender that the 2025 Highlanders have played in high school. That game shows them the level they need to be at to win at the D1 level, and in the long run, it’ll get this team to where it can be. It probably hurt for the 24 hours before they played on Saturday, but they know what it takes now.