GIRLS BASKETBALL
PIUS XI GIRLS BASKETBALL — Four Popes earn Woodland West All-Conference honors: Chelinda Spector (1st Team), Lillie Jackson (2nd Team), Maricella Rivera & Lizzie Jackson (HM) — Popes fell to eventual D2 State Champ Whitefish Bay in sectional semis •
Lady Popes - We highly recommend completing the athletic registration EARLY to ensure your son/daughter is able to participate in their desired sport - Athletic registration is due one week before the season begins - Hang on to your son's/daughter's WIAA Physical Form as you will need to upload it to the online registration form by taking a picture of it or scanning it
20 TIME STATE CHAMPIONS!
Pius XI Girls Basketball Players Earn Woodland West All-Conference Honors After Strong Tournament Run
Four Pius XI High School varsity girls basketball players have been recognized for their outstanding seasons with selections to the Woodland West All-Conference Team, as announced by Head Coach Scott Herrick on March 16, 2026.
Leading the way is Chelinda Spector, who earned First Team All-Conference honors for her standout play this season. Lillie Jackson was named to the Second Team, while Maricella Rivera and Lizzie Jackson each received Honorable Mention recognition.
"We are all very proud of these young women on and off of the court. They are leaders and the honors are well deserved. Nice job ladies!" Coach Herrick shared in celebrating the achievements of all four players.
The Popes capped their season with a strong WIAA tournament run before falling 74-55 in the Division 2 sectional semifinals to Whitefish Bay, who went on to capture the state championship with a thrilling 64-63 victory over Beaver Dam in the title game. There's no shame in losing to the best — and it speaks to the level our Lady Popes competed at this season.
The all-conference selections reflect the depth of talent within the program, with four players earning recognition across all three levels of the all-conference team. Congratulations to Chelinda, Lillie, Maricella, and Lizzie on representing Pius XI with excellence in the Woodland West Conference.
GO LADY POPES! 🏀🔥
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel • Dec. 22, 2025
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Pius XI Catholic
If the Popes make a run toward a Division 2 state title this season, this past week could be one of those season-defining stretches for the program. Pius takes home team of the week honors after not only a 3-0 week, but a pair of wins over two teams that could make deep postseason runs in their own paths to the Resch Center.
The Popes rolled past New Berlin West on Dec. 16 (78-50) and then picked up a pair of strong victories over Saint Thomas More (56-49) and Xavier (49-46) on a neutral floor at Brookfield Central to cap an impressive week.
The Popes have shown in the early portion of the campaign they can win tight ballgames against good teams and have taken care of business against programs they’re simply better than this season. Chelinda Spector and Maricella Rivera may not be Tess Wiczek and Georgia Acompanado – two of the best players to come through Pius’ illustrious program – but they’ve done an excellent job taking the scoring load from their predecessors. The duo combined for 34 of Pius’ 78 points in the first victory of the week. Add in sophomore Lizzie Jackson’s ferocity on the glass this season with a team-high 10.5 rebounds per game and this team is showing how tough of an out it appears to be come February and March.
Photo from Pius XI Athletics Instagram
Pius XI Catholic wins team of the week in pre-Christmas girls basketball rankings
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The current roster includes a mix of experienced and emerging talent. Notable players include Chelinda Spector, a junior guard who has started the season strong, and senior Laila Jackson.
Beyond Chelinda and Laila, other key players for the Pius XI Girls Basketball team include juniors Maricella Rivera, Sydney Tilley, and sophomore Lillee Jackson.
The team as a whole has strong general performance statistics, averaging 21.7 points per game (PPG) as of December 19, 2025. You can often find more in-depth player statistics on the team's official MaxPreps page or the Bound website
Girls Varsity Basketball 2025-26
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