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How a troubling trend is impacting girls high school basketball in Wisconsin

“He literally said, ‘I have talent, kids who played basketball in the past, who decided not to go out, and that group is more talented than the group I’m putting on the floor right now,’” Schindler said. Schindler has talked to other coaches and athletic directors about the problems he sees at Deerfield, and they’re […]

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How a troubling trend is impacting girls high school basketball in Wisconsin

“He literally said, ‘I have talent, kids who played basketball in the past, who decided not to go out, and that group is more talented than the group I’m putting on the floor right now,’” Schindler said.
Schindler has talked to other coaches and athletic directors about the problems he sees at Deerfield, and they’re in the same position. He said one athletic director told him that they could put a group of girls together from the student body and beat the varsity team.
Most girls already had played anywhere between 250 to 300 basketball games by the time they entered Don Schindler’s girls basketball program at Deerfield.

How teams are seeded in this year's state boys basketball tournament

“If we don’t have girls going out for the feeders, then we’re not gonna end up having girls playing at the high school level,” she said.

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Edgewood’s Anna Miller looks for someone to pass the ball to during Friday’s WIAA Division 2 state semifinal against Rice Lake.
Girls now will play their last volleyball match on a Friday or Saturday, then go to basketball practice Monday.

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Madison East







Madison East's Valerie Richardson


But development comes at a cost. Justice spent time this season teaching her varsity players how to dribble the ball and other basic basketball skills instead of using the time to game plan against an upcoming opponent or teach more advanced techniques.




With a young family of her own, Justice understands that there are more important things in life than basketball. She tells her players that family and school come before basketball, and her flexible approach to practice allows more players to stay involved with the team while working a part-time job or taking care of younger siblings.
Without a connection to the high school program or understanding of local rivalries, high school basketball isn’t always worth sticking around for, especially when players already are exhausted.
Deerfield, a Division 4 school with 205 students, had 10 players on its varsity girls basketball team this season.
The lack of a youth program also made it harder for Justice to coach her varsity team to victories. Girls are entering high school with no previous basketball experience and no grasp of the sport’s fundamentals.

Edgewood girls basketball can't finish in WIAA's first triple-overtime state championship game

Sara Mallegni remembers a few years ago one of her varsity girls basketball players quit to focus on her club volleyball season.
Unlike Madison East, Deerfield has a thriving youth program run by the town’s community center. However, community center basketball is only the start for girls who play there. Many soon join club teams and play in tournaments across the state and region, spending about three-quarters of the year playing basketball.
The Purgolders finished the season 7-15 after a loss to Waunakee in the regional round.
Deerfield finished 22-4 this season and won the Trailways South Conference. Schindler saw people in the bleachers he hadn’t seen in a few years who were excited by the team’s success.

Abundant Life boys basketball seals second straight state appearance

Madison East’s Valerie Richardson is one of the state’s top scorers, partly because of her ability to shoot from 3-point range.
The youth sports scene has completely changed over the past 20 years. Seasons that used to be six to eight weeks now last up to 24 weeks, which can exhaust young players, Schindler said.
Edgewood’s Beanie Thompson drives to the basket during Friday’s WIAA Division 2 state semifinal against Rice Lake.
Traveling so far for competition has another impact.

Marshall boys basketball falls to defending state champion Mineral Point in sectional final

Edgewood’s Mya Tomlinson (middle) tips the ball to a teammate during Friday’s Division 2 state semifinal.
“Kids have to provide for their family sometimes, so you’re having kids that have to go from practice to work, or they can’t come to practice on the weekend because they have to work and make money to provide for their family at home,” she said.
Mallegni was a three-sport athlete in high school, playing tennis, basketball and softball. Her daughter, Teagan, a freshman with the University of Iowa women’s basketball team, played basketball and volleyball in high school.
The declining girls basketball numbers have impacted local schools in a variety of ways. Some have had to cut JV programs, while others have suffered from a short bench for their varsity program.
Edgewood’s Erin Schauer attempts a 3-pointer during Friday’s WIAA Division 2 state semifinal.

Waunakee boys basketball doesn't shrink in big moment to punch ticket back to state tourney

Edgewood’s Beanie Thompson attempts a shot against Rice Lake.
Edgewood’s Macey Faust (14) looks to take a shot down low during the first half.
However, girls also need to be willing to make an effort for their high school teams.
“They are actually watching games on TV, they show up at games,” Mallegni said about her youth program players. “I think there’s something there that we’ll build on and we’ll get girls that are excited about the game of basketball.”
“I think it becomes too much too fast for third-, fourth-, fifth-grade girls, and that drives the wear-out or burn-out you start to see,” he said.

Waunakee girls basketball falters late in OT sectional final loss to Hartland Arrowhead

The key to encouraging multi-sport athletes is ensuring a break between seasons to rest and re-group. When Mallegni was in high school, she always had a few weeks between sports seasons, something she looked forward to immensely.
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The coaches don’t want to blame volleyball, she said. Many coaches, including Mallegni, are willing to be flexible and allow athletes the option of participating in both club volleyball and high school basketball.

7 girls basketball players who play lockdown defense

For Justice, there’s no clear answer to increasing participation in girls basketball. She suggested shortening the season could help retain the girls who can’t commit four to five months of the school year to basketball, but barriers like money and the cost of living are much harder to solve.
By the time these players reach high school, the number of games played and time spent on their sport can wear them out, which makes them less likely to continue playing.
Beyond getting help from parents to alleviate burnout, Schindler wants to motivate girls to keep playing basketball in high school by showing them the excitement of rivalry games and having classmates and community members cheer them on in the stands.
“They feel like they have to pick and choose, and unfortunately here, they feel like they need to play club volleyball in order to play school ball,” she said.

5 high school girls basketball stars of the week: regionals edition

There are plenty of circumstances that have led to the decline in girls basketball participation over the past 15 years, but a growing wave of young girls have a new reason for joining the sport.
“It just kind of deteriorated, but COVID-19 didn’t help that,” Justice said. “It just wiped everything away, and now it’s up to the head coaches of these schools to bring that back on top of trying to develop their own program.”






McFarland's Teagan Mallegni passes the basketball


“You have to take what you can get,” Justice said. “If girls want to come out, of course I want them. I’m going to help develop them.”




Rebuilding the Madison East youth program isn’t something Justice can do by herself. She needs the assistance of volunteer coaches and investment from the community. But time is a valuable commodity.
Edgewood’s Maren Schmotzer (25) goes up for a shot during the first half of Friday’s Division 2 state semifinal.
Mallegni participated in a round-table discussion with other coaches in the state before this girls basketball season to discuss declining participation. The 12 coaches on the committee all were frustrated by the consequences of early sports specialization and prioritization of club sports.
Five girls basketball teams were crowned state champions over the weekend in Green Bay, concluding a season that saw the continuation of a troubling trend for the sport in Wisconsin.

Madison Edgewood girls basketball earns No. 1 seed in Division 2 state bracket

“It’s really gotta be driven by the parents,” he said. “Pull them back, give them the opportunity to take a deep breath, play a different sport, be a kid, run around and do something other than play basketball, which is difficult to say when I’m a basketball coach.”
It’s been a struggle for Justice to recruit players without a youth program to feed into the high school teams. There are 1,644 students at Madison East, but the Purgolders had just 15 in their girls basketball program, including 10 on the varsity team.
Edgewood’s sutdent section takes time to do pushups during the second half.

'Once-in-a-lifetime player' has over 20 Division-I offers, scored 46 in first high school game

McFarland’s Teagan Mallegni passes during a game in January. 
While Schindler believes in the importance of club sports for players who genuinely love them, he knows they are not for everyone.
“We can sell to the kids, say, ‘Listen, there’s some really exciting times. The community will back you.’ I think that’s when a kid’s eyes will light up and get excited again about the sport,” he said.

5 high school girls basketball stars of the week: Feb. 27 edition

There is no single reason for the drop in participation. Different factors have played a role in the decline in participation for teams in the Madison area. Here are some of the stories from schools facing decreasing participation in girls basketball.
Legendary beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh Jennings won high school state championships in basketball and volleyball. Star basketball players Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark both played multiple sports in high school — Clark played two years of soccer, while Reese was an outside hitter in volleyball.
The girl was adamant that she needed to play club volleyball to be a part of the junior varsity volleyball team at McFarland.

40-point games by one of state's best scorers not drawing Division-I interest, which fuels her

“It used to be that they might leave 15 minutes early from practice,” she said. ”Now we’ve had girls miss school games to go to club practices. It’s not good for team morale when you have people leaving or not showing up.”
Schindler estimates that by high school, only 20 to 30% of girls who play basketball stick with it. Even then, keeping them for all four years of high school is a challenge.

Edgewood cruises to Division 2 state final with win over Rice Lake

Madison East coach Alysha Justice grew up playing in the Purgolders’ youth program. But it disappeared sometime between her graduation in 2014 and return to the school as its varsity coach in 2022.


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Edgewood’s Makayla Foley gets fouled trying to go for a shot.

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High School Sports

United Way NSV Highlights the Power of NonProfit Partnerships

In the latest edition of ‘The Valley Today,’ host Janet Michael sat down with Andy Gail, CEO of United Way Northern Shenandoah Valley, and Holly Roberts, founder of Love To Nic, to discuss their impactful and collaborative efforts to support the homeless and needy communities in Northern Shenandoah Valley and beyond. Holly shared that Love […]

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United Way NSV Highlights the Power of NonProfit Partnerships

In the latest edition of ‘The Valley Today,’ host Janet Michael sat down with Andy Gail, CEO of United Way Northern Shenandoah Valley, and Holly Roberts, founder of Love To Nic, to discuss their impactful and collaborative efforts to support the homeless and needy communities in Northern Shenandoah Valley and beyond.

Holly shared that Love To Nic was founded in memory of her late son, Nic, who struggled with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder before dying in a car accident a decade ago. The nonprofit primarily focuses on providing shoes but has since expanded to include winter jackets, boots, and other essential items like non-slip shoes and steel-toed boots to help the homeless secure jobs. Holly’s heartfelt story included her travels to NFL stadiums. During these trips, the organization hands out numerous pairs of shoes, socks, hats, and gloves to the homeless.

Janet remarked on how powerful and touching Holly’s mission is, particularly the ripple effect that one act of kindness can provoke. Holly recounted a poignant story about a recipient who reached out to his mother after receiving shoes, which led to a cascade of donations from various states.

The discussion then shifted to the collaborative aspect of their work. Andy explained how United Way emphasizes collaboration among nonprofits through their impact grants, requiring partnerships among applicants to address community needs more holistically. He noted that they had received over $800,000 in requests from 50 nonprofits.

In a surprise announcement, Andy revealed that United Way had received an additional grant to support basic needs in rural counties. Holly was overjoyed to learn that Love To Nic would be receiving $5,000 from this fund to continue their important work in providing shoes and meals to the needy.

Holly also discussed the logistics of her operations, highlighting partnerships with companies like Bombas for socks and various brands for affordable footwear. Despite the challenges, Holly’s determination and her support network have allowed Love To Nic to make a significant impact.

Andy talked about how United Way leverages community connections and data to secure funding and support for various initiatives. He emphasized that their success is a community effort, showcasing how collaborative efforts can drive meaningful change.

The discussion ended on a high note with Holly thanking United Way and the community for their support, while Andy promised continued backing for her vital work. Janet encouraged listeners to engage and support such initiatives.

Learn more about Love to Nic: https://lovetonic.org/

Learn more about United Way Northern Shenandoah Valley: https://www.unitedwaynsv.org/

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Devils' Lindahl secures podium spot

The Indiana High School Athletic Association state track and field meet was held at North Central High School in Indianapolis on Friday, June 6. Among the talented athletes in the field were Masson Heiny from Richmond High School competing in the discus, Maddox Pritchett from Centerville High School competing in the long jump and Jacob […]

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Devils' Lindahl secures podium spot

The Indiana High School Athletic Association state track and field meet was held at North Central High School in Indianapolis on Friday, June 6. Among the talented athletes in the field were Masson Heiny from Richmond High School competing in the discus, Maddox Pritchett from Centerville High School competing in the long jump and Jacob Lindahl from RHS competing in the shot put. The top nine finishers in each event climbed the podium at the conclusion of their event to receive a medal. Only Lindahl reached the podium. 

Heiny placed 27th in the discus with a throw of 147 feet, 5 inches. The state champion was Kaleb Rasheed from Avon High School with a winning throw of 191 feet, 10 inches. 

Pritchett placed 29th in the long jump with a leap of 20 feet, 5.5 inches. The state champion was Jaylen Ramsey from Merrillville High School with a leap of 23 feet, 8.5 inches. 

Lindahl placed seventh in the shot put with a toss of 58 feet, 2.5 inches. The state champion was Benjamin Brown from Southport HS with a toss of 63 feet, 2 inches. 

Lawrence North won the meet with 47 points, Bloomington North was second with 45 points and Merrillville was third with 40 points. Lindahl scored 3 points for Richmond.

A version of this article
will appear in the June 11 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.

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High School Sports

SCVi Graduation Highlights Authenticity, Empathy, And Lifelong Connections

Forty students walked across the stage Friday evening at Santa Clarita Valley International Charter School (SCVi), marking a milestone filled with reflection, gratitude, and inspiration. Throughout the ceremony, a recurring theme emerged: SCVi’s focus on character development alongside academic achievement. Graduates shared future plans that include attending institutions like Woodbury University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute […]

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SCVi Graduation Highlights Authenticity, Empathy, And Lifelong Connections

Forty students walked across the stage Friday evening at Santa Clarita Valley International Charter School (SCVi), marking a milestone filled with reflection, gratitude, and inspiration.

Throughout the ceremony, a recurring theme emerged: SCVi’s focus on character development alongside academic achievement. Graduates shared future plans that include attending institutions like Woodbury University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute and pursuing careers in aerospace engineering, computer science, and culinary arts.

SCVi Director Chad Powell’s commencement speech emphasized two central values: authenticity and empathy.

“Authenticity means showing up as your true self, even when it’s hard,” Powell said. “In a world that often pressures you to fit into a mold, your willingness to be real, to stand up for what you believe, to ask for help when you need it, and to embrace your unique path, is your greatest strength. Don’t trade that for approval. The world doesn’t need perfect people, it needs real ones.”

Graduate Jasmine Adler echoed the school’s values in her own remarks, highlighting the core principles instilled by SCVi: “explore, question, create, collaborate, and connect.”

“For many of us, this moment can be emotional,” Adler said. “Not just because we’re moving on from high school, but because we’re stepping away from the comfort and familiarity of our school community and the people who supported us from the very beginning – especially those unsung heroes, our parents. Their love, encouragement, and strength have been the steady foundations that carried us here. On behalf of all of us, I want to say thank you.”

For SCVi Board President Nicole Miller, the evening was especially poignant as she celebrated the graduation of her daughter, Keane, along with several students who had been part of the SCVi community since kindergarten.

Miller shared how she first discovered the school at an Earth Day festival when Keane was just 2 years old, and later enrolled her through a lottery. Reflecting on her daughter’s journey, Miller credited SCVi for nurturing Keane’s self-confidence and empathy.

“I got to witness those learners, our graduates today, practice their empathy, use their voice and advocate and build the experience they wanted together, just like those first four days of kindergarten,” she said. “Keane, you are a magical human, and I couldn’t be more grateful to be your mom.”

The ceremony featured vocal performances by students, including a heartfelt rendition of ABBA’s “Slipping Through My Fingers.

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Local Roundup

Valley News – Local Roundup: Teams advance to semifinal play Hanover celebrates their 6-5 NHIAA D-II quarterfinal win over Bow on Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Bow, N.H. The Bears will face John Stark in Wednesday’s semifinal. (Photos by Chip) Photos by Chip — Chip Griffin Editor’s note: To have your team’s results included in […]

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Local Roundup



Valley News – Local Roundup: Teams advance to semifinal play


























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Hanover celebrates their 6-5 NHIAA D-II quarterfinal win over Bow on Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Bow, N.H. The Bears will face John Stark in Wednesday's semifinal. (Photos by Chip)

Hanover celebrates their 6-5 NHIAA D-II quarterfinal win over Bow on Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Bow, N.H. The Bears will face John Stark in Wednesday’s semifinal. (Photos by Chip)
Photos by Chip — Chip Griffin

Editor’s note: To have your team’s results included in the Local Roundup, visit https://www.vnews.com/submit-a-score.Baseball

Hanover 6, Bow 5

Key players: Hanover — Alex Boone earned the win for Hanover, pitching 5⅔ innings, striking out 6 and walking 4. Jack Lobb collected the save. Bow — Jake Reardon singled in the bottom of the second to give Bow a 3-1 lead.

Highlights: Hanover’s Jorgen Drent tripled in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game at 3-3 to ignite a comeback that led to the Bears’ upset of No. 3 Bow in Saturday’s Division II quarterfinals. In the top of the sixth, Hayden Avard doubled, Wyatt Daigle doubled and Jack Lobb singled, each scoring one run. Sixth-ranked Hanover moves on to the NHIAA Division II semifinals against John Stark on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Concord’s Memorial Field.

Records: Hanover 13-5; Bow 14-3

White River Valley 3, Randolph 1

Key players: White River Valley — Jacob Benoit, Brayden Russ, Quinlan Grace, Wyatt Cadwell, Donavan Craven, Issac Wimett, Leland French-Dyer

Highlights: Cadwell threw 6⅓ strong innings for the Wildcats in a VPA Division III quarterfinal before Grace came in to close the door for the win over the Galloping Ghosts. WRV played very well defensively. Benoit came up with a number of big plays at shortstop, and Cadwell helped himself making a number of plays on the mound. Offensively the Wildcats had seven hits on the day. Benoit was 2-for-3, Craven was 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored, Grace was 1-for-3 with a run scored, Cadwell finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and Wimett went 1-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI. White River Valley will host BFA-Fairfax in Tuesday’s semifinals at 4:30 p.m.

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Coach’s quote: “The guys played a great game defensively today. I am very proud of them.” — White River Valley’s Devin Cilley

Records: White River Valley 14-0; Randolph 6-12 Girls Lacrosse

Hartford 12, Harwood 8

Key players: Hartford — Madison Barwood (5 goals, 3 assists); Audrey Rupp (4 goals, 3 assists); Hailey Vanesse (2 goals); Nella Bowen (1 goal); Zoe Zanleoni (5 saves)

Highlights: Barwood reached another major milestone in the Hartford High School records, hitting her 300th career point during a very physical quarterfinal game against Harwood. The team overall stayed united to pull off the win to continue on to Tuesday’s semifinals against Woodstock at 4 p.m. at Hartford High School.

Records: Hartford 14-0; Harwood 6-12 Softball

Newport 5, Gilford 0

The Tigers avenged their semifinal loss to the Golden Eagles in last year’s playoffs with the win Sunday in the NHIAA Division III quarterfinals. Newport, the No. 3 seed, will face the No. 2 seed Prospect Mountain in Tuesday’s semifinal at Chase Field in Plymouth, N.H. Prospect beat Belmont, the seventh seed, 3-0 on Sunday.

Prospect (18-1) defeated Newport (16-2) 3-2 on May 12th.

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DFW High School Sports Highlights

Dive into the heart of DFW high school sports! Watch as Argyle aims to dominate again, backed by quarterback Maguire Gasperson. Discover emerging talents from Mansfield to Grapevine, and see how teams like Colleyville Heritage and The Colony are gearing up for a turnaround season. Don’t miss out on exclusive game highlights and player insights […]

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DFW High School Sports Highlights

Dive into the heart of DFW high school sports! Watch as Argyle aims to dominate again, backed by quarterback Maguire Gasperson. Discover emerging talents from Mansfield to Grapevine, and see how teams like Colleyville Heritage and The Colony are gearing up for a turnaround season. Don’t miss out on exclusive game highlights and player insights in this action-packed episode!

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High School Sports

Ticket Awards

After 130 games broadcast on Ticket TV over the fall, winter and spring seasons, it’s now time to settle the debate. What is the best highlight captured by Ticket TV cameras while broadcasting local high school sports in the 2024-25 season? That’s what we’re all here to find out. Here’s a link to highlight playlist: Ticket […]

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Ticket Awards

After 130 games broadcast on Ticket TV over the fall, winter and spring seasons, it’s now time to settle the debate. What is the best highlight captured by Ticket TV cameras while broadcasting local high school sports in the 2024-25 season? That’s what we’re all here to find out.

Here’s a link to highlight playlist: Ticket TV 2024-25 Plays of the Year.

We’ve gathered 12 highlight-reel plays spanning six different sports. The nominees are:

Bangor’s Abby Colson (softball), Phillip Moscone (boys hockey), and Teagan Atherley (girls soccer).

Brewer’s Oli Higgins (boys basketball).

Foxcroft Academy’s Lucas Sands (football).

Hampden Academy’s Gabe Thornwall (lacrosse).

John Bapst’s Claire Gaetani (girls basketball), Oscar Martinez (boys soccer), and Zack Babcock (football).

Old Town’s Emmitt Byther (boys basketball) and Nate Baker (baseball).

Orono’s Calum Bryant (baseball).

Follow this link to watch the playlist of the 12 Ticket TV highlights, then make sure to come back and cast a vote for your favorite!

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