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MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2012

IG

IGHT

ONFERENCE

IRLS

ASKETBALL

REVIEW

Parker tabbed league favorite

Middleton picked to finish third
Editors Note: The following girls basketball preview of the Big Eight Conference is from WisSports.net.

Predicted Order of Finish

1) Janesville Parker 2) Sun Prairie 3) Middleton 4) Verona 5) Janesville Craig 6) Madison La Follette 7) Madison West 8) Madison East 9) Madison Memorial 10) Beloit Memorial

do that. Yentz committed to Marquette over the summer after earning first-team all-conference honors last year. Yentz led the team in scoring at nearly 17 points per game, although no one else averaged more than seven per contest. The Cardinals got solid contributions from several players last year, but will need someone to step into that second scorers role. Theres also work to be done on defense after Sun Prairie allowed 49 points per game last year.

3) Middleton
The Cardinals have been the leagues dominant program for a number of years, winning a share of six straight conference titles, including two straight outright championships. The Cardinals have also advanced to five straight state tournaments. Head coach Jeff Kinds program should be solid once again, but may have a hard time extending those streaks following the loss of four starters from years group. We will have to replace a lot of the scoring punch and experience provided by last years seniors, Kind said. The one starter coming back for Middleton is outstanding however. Liz McMahon exploded onto the scene as a sophomore, leading the Cardinals in scoring at 12 points per game on her way to second-team allconference recognition. Shannon McCauley, Darcy Dean, Natalie Staples and Anna Bunyan all had a fair amount of playing time last year, but will have to step into more significant roles, added Kind.

Players to Watch
Jenna Conom, Jr., Sun Prairie: The teams second-leading scorer a year ago, Conom will need to push for double-digits to help take the load off McKayla Yentz. Kristi Crandall, Sr., Janesville Craig: A second team all-conference pick last season, Crandall averaged just less than 10 points per game. Dani Fugate, Sr., Janesville Parker: Fugate received honorable mention all-conference recognition last season. Amelia Grahn, Jr., Madison La Follette: Grahn averaged about 7 points per game, but will need to increase that number following the graduation of the teams top three scorers. Ashley Hartwig, Sr., Janesville Parker: A first team all-conference pick, Hartwig averaged 12 points per game last year for the Vikings. Jamie Hintz, Sr., Verona: Hintz was the second-leading scorer for the Wildcats last year. Alysha Justice, Jr., Madison East: Justice missed a big part of last year but when healthy, did average more than 15 points per game. Shannon McCauley, Sr., Middleton: McCauley was a reserve last year, but will need to step into a much larger role this season. Liz McMahon, Jr., Middleton: McMahon was a secondteam all-conference choice after leading the league champion Cardinals in scoring last season. McKayla Yentz, Sr., Sun Prairie: A Marquette recruit, Yentz was a first-team all-conference selection last season after averaging nearly 17 points per game.

4) Verona
The Wildcats have continually finished towards the top of the conference, but head coach Angie Murphy will face some big-time challenges in 2012-13. Gone is 17-point per game scorer and league Player of the Year Ashley Bartow. A number of juniors got playing time last year, including Jamie Hintz, who heads into her senior year as the teams leading returning scorer at six points per game. The Wildcats have traditionally been strong defensively, allowing just 38 points per game last year.

Times-Tribune photo by Mary Langenfeld

Cole Jordee and Middletons girls basketball team have been picked to finish third in the Big Eight. average a little more than 10 points per game last season and will be integral players to the teams success in 2012-13. junior standout Alysha Justice only played in nine games as well. Besides Dyer, all other players are back.

10) Beloit Memorial

The Purple Knights have nowhere to go but up after finishing 3-21 and 1-17 in the Big Eight. The good news is that last years team had no seniors, so everyone is back.

9) Madison Memorial 8) Madison East

The Purgolders had big hopes last year, but went just 4-14. Makailah Dyer, who is now with the Wisconsin Badgers, was the teams pulse, averaging 24.6 points per game. However, she missed time early in the year, and The Spartans have struggled to remain competitive in the Big Eight, with no winning seasons since 200405. Marissa Hoyer was the teams leading scorer last year about about seven points per game and is back for her senior season.

5) Janesville Craig
The Cougars should be a factor in the Big Eight race after finishing 12-6 last year. Kristi Crandall should be one of the top players in the league after earning second-team all-conference honors last season. Nicole Kelly and Allison Calkins were key contributors as sophomores and should be ready to step into even larger roles as juniors.

2012 Team Previews

1) Janesville Parker
The Vikings have been one of the leagues most consistent programs for years, posting double-digit conference wins for nine straight years. That streak should certainly run to 10 as the Vikings return a talented group from last season. The gifted senior duo of Ashley Hartwig and Dani Fugate provides head coach Tom Klawitter with leadership and production. Hartwig was a first-team all-conference selection last year after averaging 12 points per game. Fugate added 11 points per game and was an honorable-mention selection. In addition to senior Jackie Shepler, a quartet of players that saw action as freshmen are back for the Vikings.

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6) Madison La Follette
The Lancers have made solid improvements under head coach Liz Hrodey, highlighted by a 12-6 finish in the Big Eight last season. The top three scorers are gone from last year: Rani Singh, Clare Gloede, and Emily Baltisberger. However, Amelia Grahn and Megan Meiller saw plenty of action last year and will be looked to for much bigger roles this season.

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7) Madison West
The Regents made an impressive turnaround last year, going from 6-12 in 2010-11 to 14-4 in league play. Unfortunately, theyll be starting over this year, as all five players that earned some form of all-conference recognition have graduated. The Regents do return a pair of talented sophomores however. Ebony NettlesBey and Shaquita Lee combined to

2) Sun Prairie
The Cardinals are poised to make a big jump in the standings after finishing 6-12 in the league a year ago. The return of five starters, including allstate candidate McKayla Yentz will

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