Sectional Showdown
Division 3
Brodhead vs. Whitewater, 7 p.m. Thursday at Fort Atkinson
Division 4
Cuba City vs. Cambridge, 7 p.m. Thursday at Monroe
Division 5
Monticello vs. Fall River, 7 p.m. Thurs. at Sun Prairie
BRODHEAD - The newly enforced rule for hand checks this season has led to an increased number of free throws, and has proven to be a winning formula for the Brodhead girls basketball team.
Brodhead (20-4) has averaged an astonishing 26.2 free throws per game this season, which includes a season-high 59 in one game. That is a spike of five free-throw attempts more per game compared to 2013-14 (21.1 free throws per game). In 2012-13, the Cardinals shot an average of 23.6 free throws a game.
With officials calling games tighter on hand checks, the Cardinals have been one of the teams that has taken advantage of the scoring opportunities. Brodhead junior Kylie Moe is shooting 76.6 percent from the free-throw line this year and is averaging 7.2 free throws per game.
"When officials call it tight, we want to attack the rim," Brodhead coach Brian Kammerer said. "Shooting free throws is not as much mechanical as it is mental. We saw Saturday how the WIAA wants fouls called with minimal contact."
When Brodhead takes on No. 1 ranked Whitewater (24-0) in a WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal Thursday in Fort Atkinson, getting to the free-throw line will be at the top of the list. The Cardinals made 25 of 30 free throws to edge Rock Valley South Conference rival Walworth-Big Foot 48-47 Saturday in a regional championship game.
Three of Brodhead's four losses this year have come to No. 1-ranked teams, including Cuba City (No. 1 in Division 4), Whitewater (No. 1 in Division 3) and Dodgeville, which was ranked No. 1 at the time in Division 3. Both Brodhead and Monticello enter sectional semifinal games Thursday as underdogs.
"All of the pressure is on Whitewater especially since they are ranked No. 1," Kammerer said. "There is nothing better than being an underdog and going in against a powerhouse."
The last time the Cardinals played Whitewater Jan. 19, the Whippets beat them 73-31. The Cardinals were plagued by 35 turnovers.
"I would like to think we are better than the 42 points from 10, 11 or 12 games ago," Kammerer said. "They will come after you and press for 32 minutes. We have to be able to handle the pressure. The last time we played uptempo with them. We have to take care of the basketball and keep it a low scoring game."
Whitewater is led by 6 foot-1 senior Sarah Schumacher who is averaging 15.9 points per game. The 6-2 sophomore Myriama Smith-Traore (12.9 ppg) and sophomore Rebekah Schumacher (13.7 ppg) also pose a challenge with their size and scoring ability.
Brodhead has played a tough schedule against three teams ranked No. 1 and beat some other strong teams in non-conference games like Verona, Oregon and Madison La Follette.
"It will be a challenge," Kammerer said. "It will be 0-0 at tip off. We will have to be able to play man and zone."
Monticello also faces a big challenge playing No. 4 ranked Fall River (22-3) in a sectional semifinal game at Sun Prairie Thursday. The Ponies (15-10) have won five straight games and are 10-3 in their last 13 games. Fall River also has a size advantage down low with 5-10 junior Kelly Tramburg (17.8 ppg and 9.4 rebounds per game).
The Ponies used a 2-3 zone to limit Argyle in a 50-38 regional championship win last week. The 2-3 zone could be a weapon in slowing down Tramburg.
Barneveld (23-1), ranked No. 2, defeated Fall River 54-43 on Valentine's Day at Just A Game Field House in the Wisconsin Dells. Barneveld has won games in the Six Rivers East Conference this year by an average of 55 points per game.
"You are not worried about who you are playing at this time of the year," Monticello coach Lori Brokopp said. "I know they have a lot of good athletes. If we can come out and play like we did in the regional, we can stay in the game against them and have a chance to compete and win."
Brodhead (20-4) has averaged an astonishing 26.2 free throws per game this season, which includes a season-high 59 in one game. That is a spike of five free-throw attempts more per game compared to 2013-14 (21.1 free throws per game). In 2012-13, the Cardinals shot an average of 23.6 free throws a game.
With officials calling games tighter on hand checks, the Cardinals have been one of the teams that has taken advantage of the scoring opportunities. Brodhead junior Kylie Moe is shooting 76.6 percent from the free-throw line this year and is averaging 7.2 free throws per game.
"When officials call it tight, we want to attack the rim," Brodhead coach Brian Kammerer said. "Shooting free throws is not as much mechanical as it is mental. We saw Saturday how the WIAA wants fouls called with minimal contact."
When Brodhead takes on No. 1 ranked Whitewater (24-0) in a WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal Thursday in Fort Atkinson, getting to the free-throw line will be at the top of the list. The Cardinals made 25 of 30 free throws to edge Rock Valley South Conference rival Walworth-Big Foot 48-47 Saturday in a regional championship game.
Three of Brodhead's four losses this year have come to No. 1-ranked teams, including Cuba City (No. 1 in Division 4), Whitewater (No. 1 in Division 3) and Dodgeville, which was ranked No. 1 at the time in Division 3. Both Brodhead and Monticello enter sectional semifinal games Thursday as underdogs.
"All of the pressure is on Whitewater especially since they are ranked No. 1," Kammerer said. "There is nothing better than being an underdog and going in against a powerhouse."
The last time the Cardinals played Whitewater Jan. 19, the Whippets beat them 73-31. The Cardinals were plagued by 35 turnovers.
"I would like to think we are better than the 42 points from 10, 11 or 12 games ago," Kammerer said. "They will come after you and press for 32 minutes. We have to be able to handle the pressure. The last time we played uptempo with them. We have to take care of the basketball and keep it a low scoring game."
Whitewater is led by 6 foot-1 senior Sarah Schumacher who is averaging 15.9 points per game. The 6-2 sophomore Myriama Smith-Traore (12.9 ppg) and sophomore Rebekah Schumacher (13.7 ppg) also pose a challenge with their size and scoring ability.
Brodhead has played a tough schedule against three teams ranked No. 1 and beat some other strong teams in non-conference games like Verona, Oregon and Madison La Follette.
"It will be a challenge," Kammerer said. "It will be 0-0 at tip off. We will have to be able to play man and zone."
Monticello also faces a big challenge playing No. 4 ranked Fall River (22-3) in a sectional semifinal game at Sun Prairie Thursday. The Ponies (15-10) have won five straight games and are 10-3 in their last 13 games. Fall River also has a size advantage down low with 5-10 junior Kelly Tramburg (17.8 ppg and 9.4 rebounds per game).
The Ponies used a 2-3 zone to limit Argyle in a 50-38 regional championship win last week. The 2-3 zone could be a weapon in slowing down Tramburg.
Barneveld (23-1), ranked No. 2, defeated Fall River 54-43 on Valentine's Day at Just A Game Field House in the Wisconsin Dells. Barneveld has won games in the Six Rivers East Conference this year by an average of 55 points per game.
"You are not worried about who you are playing at this time of the year," Monticello coach Lori Brokopp said. "I know they have a lot of good athletes. If we can come out and play like we did in the regional, we can stay in the game against them and have a chance to compete and win."
