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Four players were unanimous selections to the 12-player WBCA Division 2 All-State Team as New Berlin Eisenhower junior Nicole Bauman, Delavan Darien senior Alana Cesarz, Cudahy junior Taylor Gradinjan and Luxemburg-Casco senior Janelle VandenPlas all earned unanimous All-State honors.

Bauman led the 23-3 Lions to their third straight Woodland Black Conference title and back to the Division 2 sectional final this season after last year’s Division 2 championship run. The 5-9 junior guard averaged 15.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists this season, but increased her offensive output in March averaging 21.8 points per playoff game.

Cesarz crossed the 500-point single-season scoring mark for the second time in her high school career this year, in doing so scoring just less than half of her Delavan-Darien team’s points.  The 6-2 senior post player, who has really worked on her outside game this season, ranked second in Division 2 scoring with 21.8 points per game and added 6.1 rebounds, more than two steals, a block and an assist per game.  She will continue her basketball career next season at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Gradinjan ranked fourth in Division 2 scoring, averaging 20.9 points per game her junior year. The 5-10 versatile swing player proves a threat from inside and out while leading the Packers to a 16-8 record and second place finish in the Woodland Blue Conference at 13-5—Cudahy’s best league mark since 2003.

VandenPlas did more than enough to throw her name into the ring of state player of the year discussion as one of the most dominant true post players in the state. The 6-1 senior center led Division 2 in scoring and ranked fourth overall with 22.1 points per game. The 20111 Bay Conference Player of the Year also added 6.7 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, leading the Spartans to their second straight league title.

The rest of the first team consists of Liz Eide, Sr., Milton; Katilynn Eversoll, Sr., McFarland; Tara Knapstein, Jr., New London; Cady Roedl, Jr., Beaver Dam; Mackenzie Reese, Sr., Madison Edgewood; Jordyn Swan, Jr., Pewaukee; Samantha Terry, So., Baraboo and Alyssa Thomas, Sr., Union Grove.

Eide has battled through injury for much of her high school career, but overcame that adversity to lead the Badger South Conference in scoring and the Red Hawks’ first ever league title. The 6-2 forward averaged 15.4 points per game her senior year, and led Milton to its third ever trip to the state tournament.

Eversoll’s 21 points per game were third-best in Division 2 this season as the 5-6 guard also added five assists, 2.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals consistently this season. One of the deadliest 3-point shooters in the state, the senior recorded the state’s highest single-game output this season—a 45-point outburst against Clinton.

Knapstein led the Bulldogs with 12.3 points per game this season, and led New London to its best overall record since 2007, as well as the school’s third trip to the state tournament and first since that same year. Also a First Team All-Bay member this season, the 5-10 junior forward consistently provided a force down low for the 23-3 Bulldogs.

Reese’s versatility and athleticism was evident from her three-sport attack, and on the court she proved quite a difficult matchup. The 5-11 forward ran the floor, possesses a great leaping ability and was relentless on the glass, all while averaging 13.5 points per game her senior year.

Roedl has been stellar for the Golden Beavers’ success the past couple years, running the offense for the two-time Wisconsin Little Ten champs. The 5-7 junior guard averaged 10.5 points this season and led her squad to the state quarterfinals—this year coming as a Division 2 sectional finalist—for the second straight season.

Swan led the Pirates to their second straight Woodland Black Conference title and 22-win season this year. The 6-0 junior forward averaged 15.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, two steals and an assist per game, also shooting over 50 percent from the floor and 80 percent from the free throw line this season.  

Terry might only be a sophomore, but the Baraboo standout blasted onto the state scene this season by leading the Thunderbirds to their first conference title in at the last decade.  The 6-1 forward averaged 15.4 points per game this season and is one of the top prospects from the Class of 2013.

Thomas may not have been on the radar before this season, but the 5-9 guard did all she could this season to change that. Thomas led the Broncos in scoring all four years on varsity, this year tallying 15.8 points per game on 52 percent field goal shooting, as well as guided Union Grove to its second straight Southern Lakes Conference title.   

WBCA D2 All-State
Nicole Bauman, Jr., New Berlin Eisenhower*
Alana Cesarz, Sr., Delavan-Darien*
Liz Eide, Sr., Milton
Kaitlynn Eversoll, Sr., McFarland
Taylor Gradinjan, Jr., Cudahy*
Tara Knapstein, Jr., New London
Mackenzie Reese, Sr., Madison Edgewood
Cady Roedl, Jr., Beaver Dam
Jordyn Swan, Jr., Pewaukee
Samantha Terry, So., Baraboo
Alyssa Thomas, Sr., Union Grove
Janelle VandenPlas, Sr., Luxemburg-Casco*
* Unanimous selection

Honorable Mention
Alyssa Anderson, Sr., Rice Lake
Becky Gilbreath, Sr., Saint Francis
Lauren Gruber, Sr., West Bend East
Anna Hahn, Sr., New Berlin Eisenhower
Kaitlyn Hoffman, Sr., Plymouth
Kennedy Johnson, Jr., La Crosse Logan
Sophie Lichte, Jr., Reedsburg
Faith Lois, Sr., Westosha Central
Larenda Maulson, Sr., Lakeland
Prevale McLin, So., Milwaukee Juneau/Morse-Marshall
Anika Whiting, Sr., Ashland

Voting Committee
David Crane, Baraboo; Rob Domagalski, Union Grove; Greg Dull, Sparta; Todd Hansen, Pewaukee; Troy Krause, New London; Brett Killion, Luxemburg-Casco; Bob Marondee, Grafton; Gary Schmidt, New Berlin Eisenhower.