Girls Basketball: Berg helps New Auburn program return to prominence on way to WBCA All-Star Game

When the shot is there, take it.

It’s a motto that served Morgan Berg well as the New Auburn girls basketball standout grew into one of the toughest post players in the area and also one that helped her take the next step in her senior season.

Berg will play for the Division 5 North team in the upcoming Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game at Justagame Fieldhouse in Wisconsin Dells. Berg and her teammates will face the south team in the first game of the day on Wednesday with girls competition throughout the five divisions all day before the boys take center stage on Thursday.

A four-sport athlete at New Auburn (volleyball, basketball, softball and track and field), basketball has been a part of Berg’s life since starting with the sport in the second grade. At that time, New Auburn was at the start of a two-year stretch without a varsity basketball team. Fast forward to this past winter and Berg was the senior leader for a Trojans squad that won its first East Lakeland Conference championship since 1997.

Berg did her part, averaging 10.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game and picked up All-East Lakeland and All-Chippewa County first team honors. The 6-foot Berg had been a physical presence near the basket throughout her high school career, but as a senior added mid-range and deeper shot to her arsenal.

“If it’s open you’ve just got to take it,” Berg said of the offensive growth. “Obviously (coach) Eric (North) he bites his nails every time I do it, but when I make it he’s like ‘yeah, great’. But definitely post playing on the outside, it’s not ideal but if it works it works.”

Berg has been in the middle of the Trojans’ attack since scoring 13 points in her first varsity game as a freshman in the 2020-21 season.

“Eighth grade basketball is way different than varsity basketball, I will say,” Berg said of the making the transition from junior high to varsity play. “But the speed, people my size, it’s really just a completely different game.”

But Berg was able to make an impact against players a few years older. It helped Berg’s freshman year was also the first year for Eric North as the program’s head coach. It was North who was Berg’s second grade coach so a familiar face made things easier at the varsity level.

“We’re like one big family truly and I feel like basketball (is) at least 90 percent mental and having him to be there for me not only physically but having that mental connection with him has grown the game and that’s the main reason we’ve been so successful the last few years,” Berg said of North.

The last two years have been stellar for the Trojans as the team has posted a combined 45-9 record with two Division 5 regional final appearances. This past winter the Trojans took home the program’s first league title in 27 years and did so with a roster made up of only one senior (Berg) and junior (Bella Larson).

Stellar sophomore and freshman classes played well with a significant varsity workload, something Berg can relate to.

“Getting thrown into varsity right away was a great growing point in my career and in our whole team’s career,” Berg said. “New Auburn has really come a long way.”

Berg’s Division 5 North squad will face the south at 9 a.m. on Wednesday as the New Auburn standout teams up with familiar players including Prairie Farm’s Paige Richards and Clear Lake’s Nora Eggert. The opportunity to represent the Trojans in the all-star game is one Berg calls ‘really exciting’, noting it’s been a while if ever since it’s happened for the program.

The two days of all-star action will include several Chippewa County area connections. McDonell’s Aubrey Dorn and Emily Cooper will play for the Division 4 North team in the second game of the first day at 10:30 a.m., teaming with Eau Claire Regis’ Ashley Chilson and Ava Highman, Colfax’s McKenna Shipman and others on a team coached by McDonell’s Don and DJ Cooper and Elk Mound’s Jordan Kongshaug.

Bloomer’s Domanyck Schwarzenberger and Stanley-Boyd’s Henry Hoel will team up on the Division 3 White team in boys action on Thursday at approximately 12:30 p.m.

Next year the Trojans will return nearly intact in their bid for a repeat East Lakeland title and more. Berg’s graduation will leave a hole in the middle for New Auburn, but the outgoing senior is excited to see what the program can do.

“There’s a lot of grit with that team,” Berg said. “A lot of the freshmen and sophomores stepped up last season and it takes a lot. I’ve been there. I know how hard of a task it is to go from middle school to high school but they really handled well and they grew a lot. This summer they’re really working and I feel like next season will be really good. Eric will be good for them.”