MONROE - At least four area basketball and wrestling teams have locked up conference championships. It's a big week for a couple of other teams looking to capture titles. With regional wrestling meets Saturday, the postseason gets underway.
The top five games to see this week include:
Today: Monona Grove girls basketball at Monroe
The Cheesemakers can win the Badger South Conference title outright with a win over the Silver Eagles. Monroe shared the conference championship with Stoughton and Madison Edgewood last year. The Cheesemakers (17-2, 11-0 Badger South) have won the past three games against Monona Grove.
Silver Eagles junior McKenna Warnock, a University of Wisconsin, UW-Green Bay and Marquette recruit, missed the first game this year against Monroe due to an injury. Warnock is averaging 27.7 points and 12.9 rebounds per game. She scored 30 points in the Silver Eagles' 60-59 loss to the Cheesemakers in Monona last year.
The Cheesemakers have had a balanced attack all season, led by junior point guard Sydney Hilliard, who is averaging 20.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. The other top scorers for Monroe include junior Emily Benzschawel (15.4 ppg), senior Sydney Mathiason (11.7 ppg) and sophomore Grace Tostrud (8.5 ppg).
Today: New Glarus boys basketball at Darlington
Darlington, the WIAA Division 4 state runner-up last year, is looking to stack wins as the postseason nears. The Redbirds have won five of their past six games and are looking to win a third straight game. It won't be easy in a showdown with New Glarus (17-0), ranked No. 1 in the Division 4 Associated Press state poll. Darlington defeated New Glarus 73-59 in a Division 4 sectional semifinal game last year. This is a chance for the Knights to get some redemption.
New Glarus has one of the most balanced scoring starting units in the area with four of its five starters averaging double figures, led by junior Zach Feller (20.4 ppg). The other top playmakers include junior Jaden Kreklow (19.9 ppg), senior Cullen Brooks (16.1 ppg) and junior Trevor Gassman (11.2 ppg). New Glarus plays fast and is adept at shooting the 3-pointer. The Knights are averaging 83.9 points per game this season.
Darlington lost a lot of seniors from last year's state team, but the Redbirds are still in the mix to finish in the top two in the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League. Darlington is led by freshman Carter Lancaster (14.2 ppg) and junior Stryker Fitzsimons (11.6 ppg).
Friday: Cuba City girls basketball at Darlington
The winner of this game has the inside track to win the SWAL. Both the Redbirds (14-4, 10-1 SWAL) and Cubans (14-5, 10-1 SWAL) are tied atop the league.
Cuba City is led by Kiera Holzemer (13 ppg). The Cubans edged Darlington 58-53 in the first meeting. Holzemer scored a game-high 20 points. However, one key for the Cubans was Elizabeth Marty and Parker Kopp combined to score 27 points.
The Redbirds are led by junior Kaylee Meyers (18.3 ppg), junior Kathleen Mathias (14 ppg) and senior Kennedy Rankin (10.5 ppg).
After the showdown between the two teams Friday, there is just one more conference game left.
Friday: Stoughton boys basketball at Monroe
The second go-around against the top two teams in the Badger South Conference in Monona Grove and Stoughton is proving to be a challenge for the Cheesemakers. Monona Grove snapped the Cheesemakers' six-game winning streak knocking off Monroe 80-55 Saturday. Monroe (11-7, 6-4 Badger South) is entrenched as the third-place team in the conference, but the Cheesemakers have just a one game lead on Watertown and Oregon, who are both 5-5 in league play.
Stoughton (12-5, 10-0 Badger South) has a one game lead over the Silver Eagles for the conference title. The Vikings beat the Cheesemakers 71-57 in the first meeting. However, the final score was a little misleading. Monroe led by 11 points at the half and had Stoughton on the ropes. The Vikings outscored the Cheesemakers 44-19 in the second half. It will take a solid team defensive effort, but Monroe has the ability to potentially upset Stoughton.
The Vikings have three players in double figures - Max Fernholz (12.5 ppg), Brady Schipper (12.4 ppg) and Tommy McClain (10.1 ppg).
The top playmakers for the Cheesemakers are junior Kade King (14.7 ppg), senior Brayden Zettle (13.3 ppg) and senior Jonah Tostrud (8.3 ppg).
Saturday: WIAA Division 2 Belleville wrestling regional
The Monroe wrestling team has finished second in the regional as a team to Evansville-Albany for two straight years. Could the third year be a charm?
Monroe is ranked 12th in the Division 2 Wisconsin Wrestling Online state poll and Evansville-Albany is one of five teams on the honorable mention list of state rankings along with Edgerton, which also will contend for a regional title in Belleville Saturday. The top two wrestlers in each weight class march on to the individual sectional tournament.
Monroe is battle-tested after facing quality teams in the Badger South Conference this year including Stoughton, ranked No. 3 in Division 1.
The Cheesemakers have three wrestlers ranked in the state's top 12 and the Blue Devils have two. Monroe sophomore Patrick Rielly (160 pounds) is ranked 12th; senior Sam Kind, is ranked No. 7 and senior Dempzy Foley (182), is ranked No. 8. Evansville-Albany's Nolan Kicmol (145) is ranked No. 3 and junior Branden Lange, a heavyweight, of Albany, is ranked No. 4. Both Monroe and Evansville-Albany have
two wrestlers honorable mention in the state rankings.
Monroe coach Tom Witt said Evansville-Albany is the favorite to win the regional and make a run to the team sectional. The Blue Devils can fill more weight classes, but the Cheesemakers have been solid scoring in tournaments throughout the season.
BONUS!
Saturday: WIAA Division 3 regional wrestling meet
Two of the state's top six teams are in the Black Hawk-Darlington and Pecatonica-Argyle wrestling team's Mineral Point sectional. However, the WIAA Division 3 Parkview regional is primed for Black Hawk-Darlington to make a run at a regional title.
The WarBirds are looking to win their second straight regional championship. Black Hawk-Darlington junior Kolbe Ubersox (132) is ranked No. 2 in the state and senior Brody Milz (220) is ranked No. 8. Black Hawk-Darlington seniors Paul King (120) and Tyler Mosely (170) are both honorable mention in the state rankings.
Pecatonica-Argyle is coming off winning the Scenic Ridge and Rivers Conference championship and junior Lucas Gilbertson (220) is honorable mention in the state rankings.
The top five games to see this week include:
Today: Monona Grove girls basketball at Monroe
The Cheesemakers can win the Badger South Conference title outright with a win over the Silver Eagles. Monroe shared the conference championship with Stoughton and Madison Edgewood last year. The Cheesemakers (17-2, 11-0 Badger South) have won the past three games against Monona Grove.
Silver Eagles junior McKenna Warnock, a University of Wisconsin, UW-Green Bay and Marquette recruit, missed the first game this year against Monroe due to an injury. Warnock is averaging 27.7 points and 12.9 rebounds per game. She scored 30 points in the Silver Eagles' 60-59 loss to the Cheesemakers in Monona last year.
The Cheesemakers have had a balanced attack all season, led by junior point guard Sydney Hilliard, who is averaging 20.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. The other top scorers for Monroe include junior Emily Benzschawel (15.4 ppg), senior Sydney Mathiason (11.7 ppg) and sophomore Grace Tostrud (8.5 ppg).
Today: New Glarus boys basketball at Darlington
Darlington, the WIAA Division 4 state runner-up last year, is looking to stack wins as the postseason nears. The Redbirds have won five of their past six games and are looking to win a third straight game. It won't be easy in a showdown with New Glarus (17-0), ranked No. 1 in the Division 4 Associated Press state poll. Darlington defeated New Glarus 73-59 in a Division 4 sectional semifinal game last year. This is a chance for the Knights to get some redemption.
New Glarus has one of the most balanced scoring starting units in the area with four of its five starters averaging double figures, led by junior Zach Feller (20.4 ppg). The other top playmakers include junior Jaden Kreklow (19.9 ppg), senior Cullen Brooks (16.1 ppg) and junior Trevor Gassman (11.2 ppg). New Glarus plays fast and is adept at shooting the 3-pointer. The Knights are averaging 83.9 points per game this season.
Darlington lost a lot of seniors from last year's state team, but the Redbirds are still in the mix to finish in the top two in the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League. Darlington is led by freshman Carter Lancaster (14.2 ppg) and junior Stryker Fitzsimons (11.6 ppg).
Friday: Cuba City girls basketball at Darlington
The winner of this game has the inside track to win the SWAL. Both the Redbirds (14-4, 10-1 SWAL) and Cubans (14-5, 10-1 SWAL) are tied atop the league.
Cuba City is led by Kiera Holzemer (13 ppg). The Cubans edged Darlington 58-53 in the first meeting. Holzemer scored a game-high 20 points. However, one key for the Cubans was Elizabeth Marty and Parker Kopp combined to score 27 points.
The Redbirds are led by junior Kaylee Meyers (18.3 ppg), junior Kathleen Mathias (14 ppg) and senior Kennedy Rankin (10.5 ppg).
After the showdown between the two teams Friday, there is just one more conference game left.
Friday: Stoughton boys basketball at Monroe
The second go-around against the top two teams in the Badger South Conference in Monona Grove and Stoughton is proving to be a challenge for the Cheesemakers. Monona Grove snapped the Cheesemakers' six-game winning streak knocking off Monroe 80-55 Saturday. Monroe (11-7, 6-4 Badger South) is entrenched as the third-place team in the conference, but the Cheesemakers have just a one game lead on Watertown and Oregon, who are both 5-5 in league play.
Stoughton (12-5, 10-0 Badger South) has a one game lead over the Silver Eagles for the conference title. The Vikings beat the Cheesemakers 71-57 in the first meeting. However, the final score was a little misleading. Monroe led by 11 points at the half and had Stoughton on the ropes. The Vikings outscored the Cheesemakers 44-19 in the second half. It will take a solid team defensive effort, but Monroe has the ability to potentially upset Stoughton.
The Vikings have three players in double figures - Max Fernholz (12.5 ppg), Brady Schipper (12.4 ppg) and Tommy McClain (10.1 ppg).
The top playmakers for the Cheesemakers are junior Kade King (14.7 ppg), senior Brayden Zettle (13.3 ppg) and senior Jonah Tostrud (8.3 ppg).
Saturday: WIAA Division 2 Belleville wrestling regional
The Monroe wrestling team has finished second in the regional as a team to Evansville-Albany for two straight years. Could the third year be a charm?
Monroe is ranked 12th in the Division 2 Wisconsin Wrestling Online state poll and Evansville-Albany is one of five teams on the honorable mention list of state rankings along with Edgerton, which also will contend for a regional title in Belleville Saturday. The top two wrestlers in each weight class march on to the individual sectional tournament.
Monroe is battle-tested after facing quality teams in the Badger South Conference this year including Stoughton, ranked No. 3 in Division 1.
The Cheesemakers have three wrestlers ranked in the state's top 12 and the Blue Devils have two. Monroe sophomore Patrick Rielly (160 pounds) is ranked 12th; senior Sam Kind, is ranked No. 7 and senior Dempzy Foley (182), is ranked No. 8. Evansville-Albany's Nolan Kicmol (145) is ranked No. 3 and junior Branden Lange, a heavyweight, of Albany, is ranked No. 4. Both Monroe and Evansville-Albany have
two wrestlers honorable mention in the state rankings.
Monroe coach Tom Witt said Evansville-Albany is the favorite to win the regional and make a run to the team sectional. The Blue Devils can fill more weight classes, but the Cheesemakers have been solid scoring in tournaments throughout the season.
BONUS!
Saturday: WIAA Division 3 regional wrestling meet
Two of the state's top six teams are in the Black Hawk-Darlington and Pecatonica-Argyle wrestling team's Mineral Point sectional. However, the WIAA Division 3 Parkview regional is primed for Black Hawk-Darlington to make a run at a regional title.
The WarBirds are looking to win their second straight regional championship. Black Hawk-Darlington junior Kolbe Ubersox (132) is ranked No. 2 in the state and senior Brody Milz (220) is ranked No. 8. Black Hawk-Darlington seniors Paul King (120) and Tyler Mosely (170) are both honorable mention in the state rankings.
Pecatonica-Argyle is coming off winning the Scenic Ridge and Rivers Conference championship and junior Lucas Gilbertson (220) is honorable mention in the state rankings.
