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

2023-24 Recap

Westfield (23-4 overall) captured the South Central title with a perfect 10-0 record and advanced to a Division 4 sectional semifinal before falling to Neillsville, 52-38. Wautoma (19-7) and Wisconsin Dells (19-7) tied for second, each going 7-3. Mauston (16-10, 4-6) took fourth while Adams-Friendship (6-20, 2-8) and Nekoosa (4-20, 0-10) closed out the league standings. 

2023-24 Season Information (Standings, Stats, and All-Conference)

2024-25 Conference Preview 

Predicted Order of Finish 

1) Westfield 
2) Wisconsin Dells 
3) Mauston
4) Adams-Friendship 
5) Wautoma 
6) Nekoosa 

Players to Watch

Natalie Backhaus, jr., Wisconsin Dells – Backhaus, a 6-1 forward, was voted first-team all-South Central last season as a sophomore. She is committed to NCAA Division II Augustana University. 

Natalie Field, sr., Wisconsin Dells – Field, a 6-0 forward, received second-team all-SCC last season for the Chiefs. 

Holly Goodwin, sr., Westfield – Goodwin, a 5-9 guard, contributed 7.5 points per game, earning second-team all-conference last season. 

Bre Heller, jr., Mauston – Heller, a 6-0 guard, tallied 10.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 2.9 steals per contest last season. She also connected on 47 three-pointers. 

Kylie Heller, sr., Mauston – Heller, a 5-10 guard, received first-team all-SCC last season, averaging 13.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. She also made 37 three-pointers. 

Molly Johnson, jr., Adams-Friendship – Johnson, a guard, contributed 9.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game as a sophomore for the Green Devils. 

Haddie Showen, sr., Westfield – Showen, a 5-10 point guard, was named South Central Co-Player of the Year and honorable mention WBCA all-state last season. The NCAA Division II Northern Michigan recruit averaged 16.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. Haddie also connected on 43 three-pointers. She enters her senior year with 1,113 points, 402 assists, and 208 steals. 

2024-25 Team Previews 

1) Westfield is the four-time defending South Central champion, going unbeaten for the last three seasons, and enters the year winners of its last 30 conference games. The Pioneers welcome back four starters but will need to fill the void left with the graduation of three-time SCC Player of the Year Carly Drew. Luke Showen enters his eighth year at the helm, compiling a 128-51 record, including guiding them to both of the program’s WIAA State Tournament appearances (2021, 2022). Coach Showen told WSN that experience and guard play are strengths while post play is a weakness. Haddie Showen, who shared conference player of the year honors with Drew last season, headlines the Pioneers’ roster. Westfield has notable non-conference games against Waupun (Nov. 26, away), Wisconsin Lutheran (Nov. 30 at Kettle Moraine Thanksgiving Classic), and Marshfield (Feb. 7, home). The Pioneers are in the same half-sectional as Poynette and the other half includes The Prairie School, a state qualifier last season. 

Returning Starters: Haddie Showen (5-10, sr., 16.3 ppg, 43 3PM, 4.7 apg, 2.1 spg), Holly Goodwin (5-9, sr., 7.5 ppg), Natalie Grant (5-6, sr.), Lacy Halverson (5-5, sr.) 
Other Returning Players: Halle Drew (5-9, jr.), Kaeden Hockerman (5-5, jr.), Madyson Bitsky (5-8, sr.), Kylie Barton (5-8, sr.) 
Newcomers: McKayla Vanderwerf (5-8, sr.), Libbie Showen (frosh.), Brooklyn Stankiewicz (frosh.) 

Starters Lost: Carly Drew (20.8 ppg) 

2) Wisconsin Dells will compete for the SCC title. The Chiefs return four starters from last year’s team which tied for second (7-3) in the league and went 19-7 overall. Robert Buss, who has a 191-63 record in 11 years as head coach, guided them to a WIAA State Tournament appearance in 2018, the program’s only trip to state. Coach Buss told WisSports.net that team chemistry, toughness, and experience are strengths while overall shooting is a weakness. Natalie Backhaus and Natalie Field highlight the roster for the Chiefs. Wisconsin Dells opens the season with a non-conference game at home against Reedsburg on November 21. The Chiefs first meeting against Westfield is on December 19. They are in the same half-sectional (Division 3 Sectional 1) as Elk Mound and the other half of the sectional features Baldwin-Woodville, last year’s sectional champion. 

Returning Starters: Natalie Backhaus (6-1, jr.), Natalie Field (6-0, sr.), Josie Griffin (5-8, jr.), Ashiya Hopkins (5-9, jr.) 
Other Returning Players: Maia Marsich (5-0, jr.), Madi Gussel (5-8, jr.) 
Newcomers: Jazlyn Alwin (frosh.), Carlie Goodrich (jr.) 

Starters Lost: Maya Michalsky

3) Mauston brings back four starters from last year’s squad which went 4-6 in the South Central and 16-10 overall. Randy Marschall, who enters his third season as head coach, guided the Golden Eagles to their most victories in a season in the WSN Era (since 2002) last season. Kylie Heller, the fifth-leading scorer in the SCC last season, headlines the returning group. Mauston begins SCC play at Wisconsin Dells on December 13. 

Returning Starters: Kylie Heller (5-10, sr., 13.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.1 spg), Bre Heller (6-0, jr., 10.1 ppg, 47 3PM, 5 rpg, 4.2 apg, 2.9 spg), Catie Lavold (5-7, jr., 9.4 ppg, 2.2 apg, 2.8 spg), Ella Franek (5-6, jr., 6.7 ppg, 7.5 ppg)
Other Returning Players: Ellie Pouillie (5-9, jr.), Rylea Mehne (5-4, jr.), Eden Finucan (5-4, soph.), Emalee Bohnert (5-6, jr.), Mallory Kastner (5-5, sr.), Kaylee Schnell (5-4, jr.), Samantha Zenthoefer (6-0, sr.) 

Starters Lost: Carly Onsager (5-11, sr., 8 ppg) 

4) Adams-Friendship returns two starters from last year’s squad which went 2-8 in the SCC and 6-20 overall. Benjamin Pease, fourth-year head coach, told WisSports.net that their strengths include players with multiple years of varsity experience, and a good freshmen group, two of which will be on varsity. Molly Johnson leads the group of returning players for the Green Devils. 

Returning Starters: Molly Johnson (jr., 9.7 ppg), Makena Kirsenlohr (jr., 8.1 ppg)
Other Returning Players: Gwen Gransee (jr.) 
Newcomers: Piper Moyer (frosh.), Bianca Smith (frosh.), Morgan Pare (jr.), Ellie Schwabe (jr.)

Starters Lost: Evelyn Shaw, Maya Kautzer, Mia Moore

5) Wautoma will be in a transition year after going 7-3 in the conference and 19-7 overall last season. The Hornets will need to replace the production of their top two scorers which accounted for over 32 points per game last season. At the time of publication, Wautoma has yet to officially hire a head coach; the school's AD Adam Vaughan told WSN they are waiting for board approval on the new hire. 

Notable Returnees: Aspen Groskreutz (5-5, jr., 7.9 ppg), Maddy Meyer (5-4, sr.), Larissa Piechowski (5-8, sr.) 

Notable Losses: Montana Groskreutz (16.6 ppg), Alayna Panich (15.5 ppg) 

6) Nekoosa (4-20 overall last season) enters the year with a 24-game South Central losing streak. 

Notable Returnees: Hallie Anderson (sr.), Addison Lepak (jr.), Laura Koehler (sr.), Kalli Cassel (soph.), Dixie Strege (sr.)