CC Markus Spiske
It’s Déjà vu all over again in Denmark.
Memories of a lifetime are made in WIAA postseason basketball, and certain games stand out that people talk about for the rest of their lives.
A Division Four girls’ sectional semifinal between Manitowoc Lutheran and Kewaunee on March 6th, 2025, at Denmark High School qualifies as one of those “games for the ages” as the Lancers edged the Storm in overtime.
They’ll meet again tonight, nearly a year to the day, at Denmark High School in another WIAA Sectional Semifinal. Both teams have had phenomenal years, with Manitowoc Lutheran winning 22 of 26 games and the Packerland Conference champion Storm riding a seven-game winning streak with an overall record of 21-5.
The Lancers’ calling card has been relentless pressure, using talented athletes in a 1-3-1 zone to speed up their opponent, force turnovers, and score on those mistakes.
Case in point, they have put up nearly 400 more shots than Kewaunee this season and average a little more than 65 points per game while giving up just over 42 points per game.
The Lancers are led by seniors Makiah Krause and Marissa Melhorn, who average nearly 18 and 15 points per game, respectively, but their bench has stepped up this postseason, with Head Coach Mike Behnke not afraid to go 9 or 10 deep to keep fresh legs on the floor.
Kewaunee is also a veteran-laden team led by senior Jade Kroll. She leads the Storm in scoring at better than 23 points per game while shooting 55 percent from the floor, including better than 37 percent from three-point range and 72 percent from the free-throw line.
She also leads Kewaunee in rebounding at 5.5 boards per contest, with seniors Gabby Stangel, Summer Walechka, and Braelyn Chevalier also being major contributors in multiple areas.
Manitowoc Lutheran has been impressive on the glass as seniors Marissa Melhorn and Abby Behnke each average 8 boards per contest, but the Storm are one of the best rebounding teams in the state, averaging nearly 55 per game.
Translation, you better make your shots as Manitowoc Lutheran did when they defeated the Storm on January 22nd.
In that game, Marissa Melhorn scored a season high 30 points on 13 of 20 shooting as the Lancers rallied from six down at halftime to defeat the Storm 64-57.
Coverage on “WOMT 100” and WOMTRadio.com begins at 6:45 p.m.
Other Division 4 games include Kohler playing Lomira in Chilton, and St. Mary Catholic battling Stratford in Omro.
In Division Five, Sheboygan Lutheran meets Lourdes Academy of Oshkosh at Central Wisconsin Christian in Waupun.
Division Three matchups include Brillion battling Winneconne in Waupaca and Oostburg and Laconia tangle at Sheboygan South.
In Division Two, Xavier of Appleton and West De Pere meet in Seymour.
And Division One, De Pere and Stevens Point play in Pulaski, Notre Dame Academy of Green Bay plays Kimberly at Appleton North, and Neenah meets Pewaukee in Fond Du Lac.
All games tip off at 7:00 p.m. with winners advancing to sectional finals on Saturday.
