Girls state basketball bracket breakdown

GREEN BAY - As the girls postseason tips off Tuesday there are two teams in Northeastern Wisconsin that enter with a little more hype than anybody else – De Pere and New London.

De Pere is the defending Division 1 state champ and has won 42 straight games, while New London is the two-time defending champ in Division 2 and has won 64 straight games. Both teams have incredibly taken on all comers and now remain favorites to once again bring home a gold ball.

Meanwhile, another team that can’t be forgotten about is the defending Division 3 state champ, Kewaunee. The Storm is 21-1 and has the look it has had the last two seasons, when it reached the state tournament.

Also, Division 4 includes Algoma and Lourdes Academy, two teams capable of taking it deep in the postseason.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the postseason by division with a focus on local teams. No doubt, there should be multiple teams from the area at the Resch Center.

DIVISION 1
No. 1 seeds: De Pere (22-0), Oshkosh North (16-6).

Breakdown: De Pere is on a 42-game winning streak and looks poised for a return trip to the state tournament. However, the Redbirds' bracket is tough. Kimberly and Bay Port are seeded No. 2 and 3, respectively, but De Pere would only have to play one of them in a sectional semifinal. De Pere first has to likely get by No. 4 Green Bay Southwest in a regional semifinal and Southwest can be dangerous with Natisha Hiedeman, who scored 30 points in a win over Bay Port this season. Whichever team advances to a sectional final, it will likely have to face Sussex Hamilton, and its only loss this season came to Algoma. Meanwhile, Oshkosh North is in unfamiliar territory as a top seed and could get upset in a regional final. If No. 4 Oshkosh West beats No. 5 Fond du Lac, West will play North, a team West has beaten twice this season. West, which made the state semifinals last season, and coach Niki Sutter know how to win in the postseason. North is good but inexperienced as a favorite. Another team to keep an eye on for North is Appleton North, which split its series with Oshkosh North this season. The Norths have the same record and tied for second in the FVA at 13-5.

Best potential matchup: De Pere vs. Kimberly. De Pere beat the Papermakers, 38-33, during the regular season and amongst local teams appears to be De Pere's toughest opponent.

Prediction: De Pere will find its way back to state and behind seniors Morgan Anderson and Kayla Dawson, bring home a gold ball again. That would equal a 48-game winning streak. Oshkosh North won't get out of regionals. Expect Appleton North to reach sectionals.

DIVISION 2
No. 1 seeds: New London (22-0), Notre Dame (16-6).

Breakdown: New London is on a 64-game winning streak and has won the last two state titles, while Notre Dame lost to New London at state a year ago. New London is different this season - not as much offense and a new coach. Notwithstanding, the Bulldogs remain terrific on defense, which will be the key for their postseason run. As long as the defense gives opponents fits, and Brenna Heise plays her game, New London will keep winning. New London's biggest concern before state looks to be top-seeded Onalaska, which it could meet in a sectional final. Meanwhile, the Tritons had an ordinary season, going 16-6. With as good a trio of scorers as any team with Allie LeClaire, Brianna Byrne and Eliza Campbell. Notre Dame failed at winning most big regular season games, going 2-6 against teams with 15 or more wins, including a loss to Beaver Dam, which Notre Dame could meet again in a sectional final. It beat Beaver Dam a year ago in a sectional final. Before Beaver Dam, Notre Dame's biggest hurdle looks to be Pulaski, a team Notre Dame swept during the regular season.

Best potential matchup: Notre Dame vs. Beaver Dam. Despite winning the regular-season meeting, Beaver Dam has unfinished business to take care of.

Prediction: New London reaches state for a third year in a row, but won't make it a three-peat. New Berlin Eisenhower gets revenge on the Bulldogs in a state semifinal after losing last year's title game. As for Notre Dame, the Tritons need to turn it up against elite teams and this season they haven’t done that enough. Here's a hunch that changes and the Tritons return to state with a win over Beaver Dam. However, Monona Grove knocks out Notre Dame in a state semifinal.

DIVISION 3
No. 1 seeds: Kewaunee (21-1), Xavier (21-1).

Breakdown: Kewaunee is looking for a third straight trip to the state tournament and win its second straight title, and everything points towards the Storm making another deep run. Kewaunee appears to have a favorable bracket. After Kewaunee, Wrightstown is seeded No. 2 in its half of the bracket and the Storm handled Wrightstown earlier this season, 52-26. They could meet in a sectional semifinal. If Kewaunee reaches the sectional final a familiar foe could be waiting – Xavier – which Kewaunee beat last year in a sectional final. However,