(3-15-26) Chicago Cubs Manager Craig Counsell took a break this weekend from Spring Training to watch his daughter Rowan in the Wisconsin Division 2 State Championship…it was the right move.

Whitefish Bay held on to beat Beaver Dam — the Blue Dukes led by as many as 17 points in the second half — on Saturday 64-63 to win their first ever girls basketball Wisconsin Division 2 State Championship, the game featured 14 lead changes.

Sage Miskel finished with 18 points and 6 rebounds led the Blue Dukes. Madeline Volpe added 12 points on four 3-pointers. Rowan Counsell had a double-double and finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.

For Beaver Dam, Joelee Drzonek led the Beavers with 19 points, going 4-for-4 from three. Senior Nataya Donaldson, a UW-Milwaukee signee, recorded a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Emma Julka added 13 points.

The Blue Dukes tied the record for most made threes in a Division 2 State game, they hit 11 of 28 from 3-point range, including nine in the first half—tying a record they set earlier in the weekend during the semifinal game.

Whitefish Bay survives Beaver Dam rally, claims first state crown

WISN 12 News

Beaver Dam finished the season 23-7. Whitefish Bay finished the season 26-4.

Story courtesy of WIAA

Whitefish Bay (26-4), the #2 seed, edged fourth-seeded Beaver Dam (23-7) 64-63 to claim the Division 2 title.

DIVISION 2
Semifinals – Friday, March 13 – 1:35 p.m.
Game 1: #1 Rice Lake (25-4), 58 vs. #4 Beaver Dam (22-6), 70 – Boxscore
Game 2: #2 Whitefish Bay (25-4), 78 vs. #3 Elkhorn (24-5), 42 – Boxscore

Championship – Saturday, March 14 – 6:35 p.m.
Game 3:  #4 Beaver Dam (23-7), 63 vs. #2 Whitefish Bay (26-4), 64 – Boxscore

The Blue Dukes went on a 7-0 run at the end of an evenly played first half to take a 38-30 lead into the locker room at halftime. A 9-0 run to start the second half appeared to put Whitefish Bay in the driver’s seat for comfortable ride to the title. That’s when the Golden Beavers began a 22-4 run to take a 52-51 lead with 9:02 to play in the game. With Beaver Dam leading 63-60 with 1:32 to play in regulation, Sage Miskel scored twice in the paint in successive possessions for the Blue Dukes to provide the margin of victory.

Miskel led Whitefish Bay in scoring with 18 points. Madaline Volpe added 12 points to the offensive attack, and Rowan Counsell and Carrington Balthasar chipped in with 10 points apiece. Counsell also contributed with a team-high 10 rebounds and five assists.

The Golden Beavers were efficient from the three-point arc, converting 9-of-13 three-point attempts (.692). Joelee Drzonek went 4-for-4 beyond the arc and scored a game-high 19 points. Nataya Donaldson and Emma Julka also scored in double figures with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Donaldson was also the game’s leader in rebounds with 13, and Sheamarie Ashley handed out a game-high six assists. 

Whitefish Bay defeated Elkhorn 78-42 in the semifinals to advance to the title game. The Blue Dukes win their first championship in eight State experiences. 

Beaver Dam downed Rice Lake 70-58 in the semifinals and placed runner-up in their seventh State appearance.

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