Norse look to build off of strong finish

With much of its roster returning, the Whitehall girls basketball team hopes to build on a strong finish to last season.

The Norse won six straight and 10 of 12 before the team’s season ended in the regional semifinal in a loss to Bangor. Whitehall graduated two seniors who played a lot, but return several key players from last year’s 18-8 team.

Among the players coming back is Paige Lisowski, who burst onto the scene last year as a freshman, earning first-team All-Dairyland Conference honors. Lisowski led the team with an average of 15.1 points per game and proved to be a deadly outside shooter with 59 three-pointers. She also tied for the team lead in assists (3 per game) and was third in rebounds (6.3).

Senior Kyla Lambeck is also back with the Norse. The two-year varsity player averaged 10.3 points per game last year, while also pulling down 5.5 rebounds and giving the team another ball handler. 

Another senior, Aryana Ausderau, gives the team size and experience in the post. Ausderau averaged 6.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game as a junior last year. 

Also projected to return for the Norse are sophomore Bria Pank and seniors Addison Herman, Kelsie Klomsten, and Harlow Foss. 

The team will look to fill voids left by the graduation of Trinity Aasen and Haili Sluga. Aasen was an all-conference selection after averaging 13.3 points and 9.9 rebounds per game for the Norse last season. Sluga gave the team tough defense in the backcourt.

Whitehall’s first game came this Tuesday at home against Alma/Pepin. On Friday, the team heads to Cochrane-Fountain City. Next Tuesday, it’ll return home to play Necedah.