MONROE - One small southern Wisconsin town is renowned for cheese and a northwest Illinois city is known for its nickname - the Pretzel City - and the site of the second Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Freeport has Krape Park and Monroe has Twining Park. Freeport has Union Dairy as a hang out and Monroe has the candy store on the Square. Freeport has Imperial Palace for Chinese dining and Monroe has ChopSticks.
The annual Snack Bowl brings both cities together. The trophy will be at stake when the Monroe High School girls and boys basketball teams take on Freeport on Saturday at Freeport High School. The team that has the best record in the girls and boys freshman, junior varsity and varsity games will win the Snack Bowl trophy. In its inaugural year last season, Freeport went 4-2 to capture the trophy.
The varsity girls play at 5:30 p.m. followed by the varsity boys at 7 p.m.
"It's really something that is unique," Freeport boys basketball coach Ryan Pierce said. "It's the only time of the year we get to see all six teams for boys and girls play. With the Snack Bowl trophy, it's fun because we get to compete for something."
Pierce is in his second year as the Freeport boys head coach. He coached the Freeport girls team for seven years, and the Pretzels made two state tournament runs finishing as the state runner-up in 2008 and '09.
"I think our program has a lot of respect for Monroe," Pierce said. "They will come to town and give us everything we can handle."
The Freeport boys basketball team is 5-9 overall and 3-3 in the NIC-10. Pierce said it's been an up-and-down season so far.
The Pretzels beat Hononegah 55-52 earlier this year and are looking to build some consistency and a winning streak. The Pretzels could use a game against the Cheesemakers as a springboard.
"It seems like last year when we won, it gave us some momentum," Pierce said. "It could be the process that gives us some momentum this year for the rest of the season."
The Cheesemakers (2-6, 1-3 Badger South) have played two straight overtime games and are coming off a 74-62 overtime win over New Glarus.
Freeport is 6-2 against the Monroe boys the past eight years, including a 65-59 overtime win last year when Freeport's Giovanni Offard drilled a 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds to go in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime.
"You can't call it a rivalry when one team is always winning," Monroe boys coach Pat Murphy said.
The Monroe girls basketball team is 5-3 against the Pretzels the past eight years. The Cheesemakers knocked off the Pretzels 39-30 last year.
Monroe freshman Emily Benzschawel has been in the stands cheering on the Cheesemakers in previous Snack Bowl games. Now, she will be on the court. She embraces the opportunity.
"I think it will be a thrilling time," Benzschawel said. "I always loved being at the Snack Bowl game and cheering for Monroe to win."
Freeport has struggled this year and is 0-12. However, Monroe girls coach Sam Mathiason understands it will be a challenge because, with three games this week, the Cheesemakers won't be able to scout the Pretzels before Saturday's game.
When the Cheesemakers defeated Freeport last year, it marked a three-game winning streak. Monroe may have a chance for another three-game winning streak this year. The Cheesemakers host Waunakee on Friday before playing at Freeport.
"You know it's always competitive, and you will have to play hard," Mathiason said.
Freeport has Krape Park and Monroe has Twining Park. Freeport has Union Dairy as a hang out and Monroe has the candy store on the Square. Freeport has Imperial Palace for Chinese dining and Monroe has ChopSticks.
The annual Snack Bowl brings both cities together. The trophy will be at stake when the Monroe High School girls and boys basketball teams take on Freeport on Saturday at Freeport High School. The team that has the best record in the girls and boys freshman, junior varsity and varsity games will win the Snack Bowl trophy. In its inaugural year last season, Freeport went 4-2 to capture the trophy.
The varsity girls play at 5:30 p.m. followed by the varsity boys at 7 p.m.
"It's really something that is unique," Freeport boys basketball coach Ryan Pierce said. "It's the only time of the year we get to see all six teams for boys and girls play. With the Snack Bowl trophy, it's fun because we get to compete for something."
Pierce is in his second year as the Freeport boys head coach. He coached the Freeport girls team for seven years, and the Pretzels made two state tournament runs finishing as the state runner-up in 2008 and '09.
"I think our program has a lot of respect for Monroe," Pierce said. "They will come to town and give us everything we can handle."
The Freeport boys basketball team is 5-9 overall and 3-3 in the NIC-10. Pierce said it's been an up-and-down season so far.
The Pretzels beat Hononegah 55-52 earlier this year and are looking to build some consistency and a winning streak. The Pretzels could use a game against the Cheesemakers as a springboard.
"It seems like last year when we won, it gave us some momentum," Pierce said. "It could be the process that gives us some momentum this year for the rest of the season."
The Cheesemakers (2-6, 1-3 Badger South) have played two straight overtime games and are coming off a 74-62 overtime win over New Glarus.
Freeport is 6-2 against the Monroe boys the past eight years, including a 65-59 overtime win last year when Freeport's Giovanni Offard drilled a 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds to go in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime.
"You can't call it a rivalry when one team is always winning," Monroe boys coach Pat Murphy said.
The Monroe girls basketball team is 5-3 against the Pretzels the past eight years. The Cheesemakers knocked off the Pretzels 39-30 last year.
Monroe freshman Emily Benzschawel has been in the stands cheering on the Cheesemakers in previous Snack Bowl games. Now, she will be on the court. She embraces the opportunity.
"I think it will be a thrilling time," Benzschawel said. "I always loved being at the Snack Bowl game and cheering for Monroe to win."
Freeport has struggled this year and is 0-12. However, Monroe girls coach Sam Mathiason understands it will be a challenge because, with three games this week, the Cheesemakers won't be able to scout the Pretzels before Saturday's game.
When the Cheesemakers defeated Freeport last year, it marked a three-game winning streak. Monroe may have a chance for another three-game winning streak this year. The Cheesemakers host Waunakee on Friday before playing at Freeport.
"You know it's always competitive, and you will have to play hard," Mathiason said.
