It will be Nicolet's established credentials vs. Bay's rising stars on Friday night

Whitefish Bay girls basketball coach Greg Capper, when installed as the favorite in the North Shore Conference by various agencies in pre-season polls this past summer, just waved off the adulation and high praise and said simply:

"Nicolet is still the champion until proven otherwise."

And the Knights, three-time North Shore titlists and defending WIAA State Division 1 champions, have not been proven otherwise just yet, as despite massive graduation losses, including two-time NOW All-Suburban Player of the year Ashley Green, they have roared out to a 12-0 start and are either No. 1 or No. 2 in the state depending upon which poll you believe.

Arguably the best guard line in the state, seniors Courtney Smith and Brittney Fair (20 ppg) have led the Knights to wins epic (DSHA, Pius XI and Waukesha South) as well as sublime and along the way making the bold but still so far backed-up claim that they are among the "best defensive guards in the state."

"They do it so well," Knights coach Corey Wolf said. "Everyone knows that they can score, especially Brittney, but they also defend so well, too."

And 5-9 junior forward Briana Gray, a transfer student from Mississippi who can jump to the moon, has more than ably tried to fill the gaps left by the graduated front line.

Blue Dukes bring 'D'

Meanwhile, the Blue Dukes, who were surprising state tournament qualifiers last season, have not let their prognosticators down either, quietly earning an 11-0 record that has lifted them to a fourth-place ranking in the latest Wissports state poll.

They have not seen quite as many challenges just yet, but recently survived a less-than-pretty road trip to always dangerous Grafton (7-4 and 11th ranked in Division 2) and have made hay with a stifling overall team defensive concept that is allowing just 25.2 points per game overall.

Capper knows people are basing their expectations behind three key returnees including 6-2 sophomore center Maya Jonas, 5-10 junior point guard Elisabeth Johnston and 5-10 senior wing Lindsey Agnew.

"But after that we have a lot of inexperienced kids trying to get better everyday," Capper said.

Capper has been pleased however, with the development of the bench in recent weeks. In two wins last week, he said he comfortably went eight to 10 deep both times with junior wing Ava Stock a rising star.

"I give props to those kids off the bench," he said. "The starters are steady, but we're just glad to see that there are kids we can count on, who can contribute."

But in his head, Nicolet is still the champion, unless his Blue Dukes knock them off in an extremely pivotal NSC game at Nicolet at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Both teams are coming off semester exams with this as their only contest of the week.

"We'll keep the practice sessions shorter and more to the point," Wolf said. "The key will be, will the kids bring the same intensity as they would to a normal practice? I have a feeling these kids will bring it, so that makes me a little more comfortable.

"We know it's only just one game, but it's very important to us win conference, and in our mind, that means getting them all. There are no style points involved here."

And she's counting on the big game experience that the Knights have already accrued to help out greatly.

"Until you've been there (state as well as close games), you don't understand it," she said. "I think our kids get it."

Capper agrees, noting that he will need Jonas, Johnston and Agnew to recall those heady moments of successful WIAA sectional play from last year and transfer it to the rest of the team.

"Because there is just no substituting for being in that situation," he said.

knocking heads

Unbeatens Bay and Nicolet battle Friday

BAY SUMMARY FROM LAST WEEK: The Blue Dukes buried Brookfield East, 49-24, in a nonconference game on Jan. 10, roaring out to a 30-11 halftime lead and never looking back. Maya Jonas had 15 points while Elisabeth Johnston and sophomore forward Abi Harper had eight apiece. Friday, it was pretty much the same, as Bay took a 30-10 lead on North Shore rival Homestead at the break and coasted to a 44-25 win. Lindsey Agnew and junior guard Paige Kerwin had 10 points apiece.

NICOLET SUMMARY FROM LAST WEEK: The Knights survived an awful 15-of-33 free throw night, including a surprising off night from the normally reliable Brittney Fair (five of 16) to beat a determined Germantown club Friday, 68-54. A 19-9 lead at the quarter greatly helped the Nicolet cause on an evening where the Knights had too many turnovers and played too fast for coach Corey Wolf's liking. Briana Gray had 23 points, and despite her foul line troubles, Fair added 18 while Courtney Smith contributed 12 and Lanoira Duhart added eight.