The road to the Resch starts for area girls basketball teams and we predict who will get there and win state titles

The WIAA girls basketball postseason tips off Tuesday. Here's a division-by-division breakdown with predicted finalists and semifinalists to reach the Resch Center.

Hortonville among top seeds in Division 1

Top seeds: Hortonville (19-5), Brookfield East (20-4), Oregon (24-0), Muskego (19-5).

Other area teams: Kimberly (20-3), Neenah (19-5), Appleton East (14-9), Appleton North (12-12), Kaukauna (8-16), Appleton West (2-22).

Ricardo says: There's a chance we see two Fox Valley Association teams at the state tournament with top seed Hortonville along with Neenah and Kimberly capable of reaching the Resch Center. Hortonville junior guard Rainey Welson (23.0 points, 3.6 assists) leads a Polar Bears team that swept third-seeded Neenah. The two teams are likely to meet in a sectional final. University of Connecticut commit Allie Ziebell (26.8 ppg, 8.4 rebounds, 2.8 apg) leads a potent Rockets team looking to pop through to state for the first time in her career. Kimberly, a 2 seed, has an ascending roster led by junior Kate McGinnis (18.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.5 apg). Kimberly's three losses this season came to D1 powers Neenah and Hortonville along with top-ranked D2 contender Pewaukee. Kimberly has a potential sectional final matchup with Brookfield East, which has made the WIAA state tournament the past two seasons. Shae Kelley (18.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 4.9 apg) is its top player. Oregon is extremely balanced and led by 6-foot-1 forward Delaney Nyenhuis (12.4 ppg, 9.9 rpg) and 5-6 guard Sam Schmitt (12.4 ppg, 4.1 apg). Oregon, the Badger Large champion, is one of only a handful of undefeated teams left in the state and got the top seed over second-seeded Arrowhead, which won the Classic Eight and is led by 5-11 senior guard Natalie Kussow (24.0 ppg, 8.4 rpg). Third-seed Hartford has one of the top juniors in the state in 6-0 guard Makena Christian (25.9 ppg, 9.5 rpg). The Orioles could meet Kimberly in a sectional semifinal. Look out for undefeated Verona (24-0), which won the Big Eight and finished the year ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press poll. The Wildcats have a superb 1-2 punch with senior guards Reagan Briggs (27.8 ppg) and Iowa commit Taylor Stremlow (18.6 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 9.5 apg). Muskego finished third in the Classic Eight. Need a few dark horses? What about Appleton East and Appleton North? Both teams are probably a year away from making a serious dent in the postseason, but they do have talent. East's Lilly Meulemans (13.9 ppg) and Tori Neubauer (13.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg) are juniors with Ella Sweeney (13.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.4 apg) a freshman. For North, the Lightning is led by freshman Avery Werfal (15.0 ppg, 2.2 apg), senior Shayna Williamson (10.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and sophomore Tay Maass (10.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg).

Predicted final, semifinals: Verona over Hortonville; Kimberly, Muskego.

Notre Dame, Pewaukee on collision course in Division 2

Top seeds: Menomonie (21-3), Green Bay Notre Dame (23-1), Pewaukee (22-1), Beaver Dam (18-6), West Salem (19-4), McFarland (19-5), Wauwatosa East (19-5), Union Grove (18-5).

Other area teams: New London (18-6), Menasha (14-10), Seymour (9-15), Fox Valley Lutheran (9-14).

Ricardo says: Notre Dame and Pewaukee are the clear heavyweights in this division with Notre Dame the three-time defending D2 state champs. The teams met in last year's final. The Tritons' lone loss this season came at Pewaukee in the season opener. Notre Dame won the Fox River Classic Conference and has a notable win over Hortonville. Wisconsin commit Gracie Grzesk (16.9 ppg) and Illinois State commit Trista Fayta (18.0) are finalists for the WBCA's Ms. Basketball award. Pewaukee's lone loss came to Illinois power Nazareth Academy on Jan. 15. Michigan State commit Amy Terrian (19.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg) leads a seasoned and tough roster that also has wins over Hortonville, Brookfield East, Homestead and Kimberly. New London's Shelby Glodowski leads the team in points (15.8) and rebounds (7.5). Menomonie won the Big Rivers and is led by Mary Berg (14.9 ppg.). Gabby Wilke (16.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.7 apg) leads a Beaver Dam squad that finished second in the Badger Large behind Oregon. West Salem is up a division from last season and is paced by Megan Johnson (22.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg). McFarland won the Badger Small and reached the D2 state semifinals last season. The team is led by Iowa commit Teagan Mallegni (27.1 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 4.3 apg), a Ms. Basketball finalist. Another team to watch is West De Pere, a second seed led by junior guard Faith Walder (15.6 ppg, 3.4 apg). Wauwatosa East finished third in the Greater Metro behind a pair of D1 contenders (Brookfield East, Germantown). Sophomore guard Mikaia Litza leads the team in scoring (16.7) and assists (4.9). Menasha's Hannah Neubert, a junior forward, is averaging 14.9 points and 11.6 rebounds for the Bluejays. A dark horse is Reedsburg, a No. 4 seed that could meet McFarland in a sectional final. Reedsburg's Sydney Cherney, a 5-9 senior guard, has put up video game-like numbers (33.7 ppg, 19.2 rpg, 6.7 apg).

Predicted final, semifinals: Notre Dame over Pewaukee; McFarland, Wauwatosa East.

Xavier could make state tournament run in Division 3

Top seeds: Baldwin-Woodville (18-6), Elk Mound (24-0), Xavier (16-7), Wittenberg-Birnamwood (22-2), Edgerton (23-1), Waupun (21-3), Catholic Memorial (21-2), Oostburg (22-2).

Other area teams: Freedom (17-7), Chilton (16-8), Wrightstown (14-9), Winneconne (11-11), Waupaca (7-17), Brillion (9-15), Clintonville (3-20), Little Chute (0-23).

Ricardo says: Xavier is the perfect example of how a tough schedule can pay off with a high seed. The Hawks won the Bay Conference by a game over D2 contender West De Pere, but the seeding computer looked favorably at losses to top D1 teams like Franklin and Arrowhead along with D3 state contender Waupun, D4 state runner-up Aquinas and D4 defending state champ Laconia. Xavier's Carsyn Stempa (12.4 ppg) leads the team in scoring. Waupun had a recent loss to Laconia, but figures to have another solid postseason run behind Marquette commit Kayl Petersen (18.6 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 3.6 apg). Oostburg, the Big East South champ, was the top-ranked team in D3 in the latest Associated Press poll but did lose to D4 power St. Mary Catholic this past week. Twin sisters Ady Ketterhagen (21.5 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 3.7 apg) and Riley Ketterhagen (17.9 ppg, 3.7 apg) make a formidable duo. Elk Mound is one of the few remaining undefeated teams and its defense is prolific, allowing just 30.5 points per game. Ellie Schiszik leads the team in scoring (15.4). Both of Wittenberg-Birnamwood's losses came to Central Wisconsin East rival Bonduel, which won the league title. Rory Salvesen is Wittenberg-Birnamwood's top scorer (21.4 ppg, 3.4 apg) with Melaina Granquist pacing the team in rebounds (18.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg). Edgerton won the Rock Valley Rock Division title and its defense is allowing just 34 points a game. Catholic Memorial is the smallest team enrollment-wise in the Classic Eight, one of the top Division 1 conferences in the state. The Crusaders' losses came to Classic Eight champ Arrowhead (twice) and defending D1 state champ Kettle Moraine. Jenna Welsch (16.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg) leads the team in scoring and rebounding. Freedom finished second behind Marinette in the North Eastern Conference and Mike Vander Loop recently celebrated his 400th victory as head coach of the Irish. Junior point guard Ella Verbeten (12.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg) leads Wrightstown. Chilton's Adahlyn Hoerl, a 5-10 junior wing, leads the Tigers in scoring (21.0), rebounds (9.3) and assists (4.5).

Predicted final, semifinals: Catholic Memorial over Waupun; Xavier, Aquinas.

St. Mary Catholic eyes state trip in Division 4

Top seeds: Fall Creek (20-3), Chippewa Falls McDonell (21-2), Kewaunee (22-2), St. Mary Catholic (23-1), Neillsville (20-3), New Glarus (21-2), The Prairie School (21-3), Living Word Lutheran (23-1).

Other area teams: Manawa (12-12), Weyauwega-Fremont (10-11), Shiocton (7-17).

Ricardo says: Laconia is the juggernaut in this division and the defending D4 champs look every bit as impressive as last season. Junior guard Tierney Madigan is averaging 14.5 points for the Spartans. Laconia should be wary, however, of a likely regional final matchup with third-seeded Bonduel (22-2). There's a lot to like with St. Mary Catholic, which is led by Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Jeff Chew. Chew won his 500th game this season and helped the Zephyrs reach the D4 sectional finals last season. SMC won the Big East North this season and its only loss was to D5 power Pacelli. Audrey Norville (14.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg), Emily Vogel (14.8 ppg) and Nolie Anderson (11.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg) is a tough 1-2-3 punch for the Zephyrs. Expect SMC to battle Laconia in a sectional semifinal. Emily Cooper (18.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 7.5 apg) leads a potent McDonell team that won the D5 state title last season and made the state tournament the previous two seasons in D5. Kewaunee is having a great season and is paced by Jadelyn Kroll (16.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.9 apg). The Storm needs to get past a likely matchup with 2 seed Sheboygan Lutheran to set up a potential showdown with Laconia or St. Mary Catholic in the sectional final. New Glarus has one of the state's top scorers in 5-10 senior guard Lindsey Schadewalt (31.1 ppg, 10.0 rpg). Neillsville seems to be in the mix for the state title every season and its three losses have been to Assumption, Fall Creek and McDonell — three teams that average 21 wins on the season. The Prairie School won the Metro Classic and is led by the explosive Jasonya "JJ" Barnes (21.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.1 apg). The 5-8 junior has Division I offers from Illinois, Marquette, Michigan State, Wisconsin and several others. Olivia Witkowski (16.2 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 1.5 apg) is the top player for Weyauwega-Fremont with Marilyn Klatt (12.0 ppg) pacing Manawa.

Predicted final, semifinals: Laconia over Chippewa Falls McDonell; Neillsville, The Prairie School.

Freedom boys get No. 1 seed: Freedom earns No. 1 seed in upcoming WIAA high school boys basketball playoffs

Assumption, Pacelli strong contenders in Division 5

Top seeds: Clear Lake (21-3), South Shore (22-2), Stevens Point Pacelli (23-1), Lena (22-2), Cochrane-Fountain City (22-1), Argyle-Pecatonica (21-1), Albany/Monticello (21-3), Wisconsin Rapids Assumption (22-2).

Area team: Hilbert (2-22).

Ricardo says: Assumption is the top-ranked team in the latest AP poll. Junior guard Sarah Shaw leads the team in scoring (16.2) with Jordyn Jaglinski (14.5) and Anna Schooley (12.4) close behind. Pacelli is the lone team to defeat D4 contender St. Mary Catholic this season. The Cardinals won the Central Wisconsin South and are led by top freshman Jaedyn Zdroik (18.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.2 apg). Lena's Eva Brooks (19.9 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 3.7 apg) leads the team in all three major categories. Cochrane-Fountain City won the Dairyland Small. Emmalee Mann (15.6 ppg) and Isabella Holzer (14.2) are the team's top scorers. Clear Lake and South Shore won the Lakeland West and the Northern Lights conference titles, respectively. South Shore's Emily Montgomery, a 5-10 senior guard, is having a strong season (28.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg). Argyle-Pecatonica won the Six Rivers East and is led by Kylie Butler (23.4 ppg, 4.3 apg), a sophomore point guard who is fielding Division I offers (UW-Green Bay).

Predicted final, semifinals: Pacelli over Assumption; Clear Lake, Argyle-Pecatonica.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Wisconsin high school girls basketball state tournament predictions