Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

Many high school basketball standouts in Wisconsin go on to big things at the college level and in the pros, and this is our spot to recognize those athletes each week and help you keep up with what is going down on some of your favorite players from the past. If you have alumni news, please send it to Colton Wilson by 6 p.m. on Tuesdays.

After taking a one week hiatus, the girls basketball alumni round-up is back. Sectional week is here in Wisconsin girls basketball and many D3 and D2 colleges are finishing up their regular season and conference tournaments. Of course, the phenomenal play didn’t take a break from the past two weeks.

Arike Ogunbowale has been mentioned time and time again in past issues of the alumni round-up. This week the former Divine Savior Holy Angels standout accomplished yet another incredible feat. After scoring 20 or more points in three straight games, Arike etched her name in Notre Dame history. In an 89-61 win over Duke, Arike passed Skylar Diggins to become Notre Dame’s all-time leading scorer in women’s basketball history.

The WIAC women's basketball conference tournament was last week and UW-Oshkosh took home gold. In a 61-58 semi-final win over UW-Stout, Isabella Samuels (Green Bay Preble) and Melanie Schneider (St. Mary’s Springs) combined for 23 points to lead the Titans. In the 69-40 win over UW-Whitewater in the finals, Samuels, Schneider, Leah Porath (New London), and Nikki Arneson (Mount Horeb) all scored in double figures. Samuels had a big week the previous week as well as she was named the WIAC Player of the Week as she helped UW-Oshkosh clinch the WIAC regular season title.

Speaking of players of the week, Chloe Wanink garnered those honors yet again in the Southern Conference. Wanink, a Cameron High School grad, delivered back-to-back 20 point games to lead Wofford to two tight wins. Chloe has been named the Southern Conference Player of the Week three times this season.

Last Sunday, UW-Marathon won its second consecutive WCC tournament championship. Marathon High School’s Morgan Rachu was apart of the previous years team before transferring to Iona. Over the past two weeks, Morgan, who was dominant at UW-Marathon, averaged 14 points and 5 rebounds a game for Iona.

Jessica Kelliher continues to tear up all of D2 basketball for Lewis College. Over the past two weeks, Jessica averaged over 32 points and 11 rebounds as Lewis picked up four straight wins. Kelliher, a Waukesha North grad, shot 52 of 74 from the field in those games. That’s an incredible 70%. Jessica was named the Great Lakes Valley Player of the Week for both weeks, making it three straight weeks she’s been honored with the award. Jessica currently has 2,661 points and 978 rebounds in her collegiate career. She sits fifth all-time in D2 history in scoring.

Kathryn Kirkwood had an incredible game off the bench for South Carolina Upstate despite a 66-58 loss to Presbyterian. The former Milwaukee Vincent standout had 17 points and 14 rebounds in the loss.

UW-Green Bay and Youngstown State squared off in a Horizon League matchup with many in-state athletes included. Youngstown State came away with a 70-59 win behind former Westby standout Chelsea Olson. Chelsea had 19 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists to lead her team to victory. UW-Green Bay was led by Carly Mohns (Brodhead) with 24 points and 7 rebounds.

In other Horizon League play, Akaylah Hayes (Milwaukee King) had a game high 23 points as UW-Milwaukee beat Oakland 83-53. Teammates Jamie Reit (Stanley-Boyd) and Sydney Levy (Appleton North) each scored in double figures for the Panthers.

Minot State came away with a tight 78-77 double-overtime win over Minnesota-Crookston in Northern Sun action. Kari Clements of Wilmot had 16 points for Minot including drilling a game-tying three pointer with five seconds left in regulation to force the first overtime. Crookston’s Caitlin Michaelis (Marshfield) was on absolute fire from beyond the arc as she scored a season high 29 points. Caitlin connected on 7 of 10 shots from three-point land.

In other Northern Sun action, Rachel Novotny recorded back-to-back double-doubles for Winona State. First in a 70-68 loss to Sioux Falls, the former New Berlin West athlete had 19 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks. She followed that up with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks in a 79-68 win over Southwest Minnesota State.

Milwaukee King’s Shakeela Fowler has steadily been playing some good basketball for Dayton. Over the past two weeks, Shakeela scored in double figures in three of four games.

With D3 and D2 seasons coming to an end, next week will be the last installment of the Girls Basketball Alumni Round-up. However, there will be a special edition round-up that will highlight those athletes that received post-season awards.