MONROE - There are five area basketball, wrestling and hockey teams that have clinched conference champions. The Pecatonica boys basketball team is looking to add their name to the title list.
The five games and meets sports fans should get tickets for this week include:
Thursday
Milton girls basketball at Monroe
The Cheesemakers (19-2, 13-0 Badger South) have already clinched the regular season Badger South Conference championship, but this is a tune-up for the regional tournament. Monroe received a No. 1 seed and will host the winner of Sauk Prairie and Portage in a WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal Feb. 23. With a win over the Red Hawks, Monroe would cap the conference season unbeaten.
The Cheesemakers are looking to sweep Milton. Monroe knocked off Milton 70-48 on the road Jan. 5. The Red Hawks are led by Chloe Buescher, who averages 14.8 points per game and Kailey Harbort (11.8 ppg). In the first meeting, Monroe juniors Sydney Hilliard and Emily Benzschawel combined to score 54 points to pace the Cheesemakers. Hilliard scored a game-high 31 points and Benzschawel added 23. Monroe shot just 5-for-16 from 3-point range in the first meeting, but still won by 22 points.
Friday
Watertown boys basketball at Monroe
Monroe is looking to lock up third-place in the Badger South Conference. The Cheesemakers (12-7, 7-4 Badger South) have a 1½ game lead for third over Watertown and Oregon. If the Cheesemakers can beat the Goslings, they would move one step closer to clinching third in the conference.
The Cheesemakers lost to Watertown 58-50 on the road Jan. 9. In the first meeting, the Goslings outscored the Cheesemakers 31-25 in the second half. Defending the 3-pointer will be a key. The Goslings made 7 of their first 8 3s in the first meeting and finished the game by knocking down 11 3s. Watertown's Ben Smith scored a team-high 14 points and Alec Lauersdorf added 12. Monroe junior Kade King scored a game-high 19 points. The Goslings closed the game with a 17-5 run.
A lot has changes since the first time Monroe played Watertown. Monroe senior Hunter Wared is back from an injury, and Monroe coach Brian Bassett brought up freshman Max Golembiewski and sophomore Aaron Ziolkowski and the Cheesemakers have on 7 of 8 since.
WIAA Division 1 girls hockey regional: Mauston at Rock County Fury
The Rock County Fury (19-3-2), ranked No. 4 in the Wisconsin Prep Hockey state poll, earned a No. 1 sectional seed and will host Mauston at 7 p.m. Friday at the Janesville Ice Arena. If the Fury win, they would advance to a sectional semifinal against the winner of fourth-seeded Onalaska and fifth-seeded Middleton.
The Fury average 4.7 goals per game and have 12 shutouts this season. Maggy Henschler leads the team with 48 points (26 goals) and 22 assists). The Fury are looking to make a run to state for the second time in three years.
The team includes two players from Monroe, junior Cammi Ganshert and freshman Anika Einbeck, and two sisters from Albany, sophomore Haley Knauf and freshman Alyssa Knauf.
Pecatonica boys basketball at Albany
With many Six Rivers East coaches pegging Black Hawk as the preseason favorite to win the conference, the surprise team has been Pecatonica. The Vikings (13-6, 9-0 Six Rivers East) are unbeaten in the conference and still have a slim one-game lead over Barneveld.
If Pecatonica wants to have a chance to win the Six Rivers East outright, they will have to take care of business against Albany and not be looking too far ahead to the regular season finale at Barneveld Feb. 22. Pecatonica has won seven straight games that started with a 54-53 win over Barneveld Jan. 16.
After losing a WIAA Division 5 sectional title game 45-44 to eventual state-champion Barneveld last year, the Vikings graduated three starters - including the school's all-time leading scorer. However, they have remained a conference title contender with a deep team that has excellent size with junior Zack Eaton and sophomore Bo Hendrickson. Pecatonica senior Evan Prust has had a breakout season and junior point guard Colton Schraepfer is a proven playmaker. Schraepfer is the team's leading scorer (16.4 ppg) and Prust (12.4 ppg) has played a larger scoring role and has been a knock down shooter.
Albany (6-13) may not have one of the top three records in the conference, but the Comets can be a dangerous team. In the first meeting, Pecatonica escaped with a 56-52 win over Albany in Blanchardville. If the Comets get hot shooting 3-pointers, they could spoil the Vikings' title hopes. Albany is led by junior Josh Dahl (16.1 ppg), junior Corbin Kelley (13.3 ppg) and Jamison Stauffacher (10.9 ppg).
Saturday
WIAA Division 2 Richland Center wrestling sectional
There are 14 area wrestlers from Black Hawk-Darlington and Pecatonica-Argyle contending for a state berth. The top three wrestlers in each weight class will advance to state. It won't be easy as two of the state's top five ranked teams are in the Mineral Point sectional with No. 1-ranked Fennimore and No. 5-ranked Lancaster.
Black Hawk-Darlington junior Kolbe Ubersox (33-2, ranked No. 2 in the Division 3 Wisconsin Wrestling Online state poll, along with senior Tyler Mossley (182) are looking to make return trips to state. Mosley may have one of the toughest weight classes in the sectional with four wrestlers ranked in the top 12 in his weight class including Iowa-Grant-Highland senior Brady Peat, (38-3) who is ranked No. 1, Royall senior Noah Friedl (36-2), ranked No. 6, Lancaster junior Troy Klein (35-6), ranked No. 7 and Parkview senior Gavin Brown (28-8), ranked No. 11.
Black Hawk-Darlington, which won the regional team title, has nine wrestlers in the Mineral Point sectional. Two other area wrestlers looking to make their mark and breakthrough to state are Pecatonica-Argyle junior Lucas Gilbertson (195) and Black Hawk-Darlington senior Brody Milz (220). Milz (31-6), ranked No. 9, has played in the state championship football game in the fall, and he's looking to earn a berth to the Kohl Center for state in wrestling.
Gilbertson (32-8) is the oldest wrestler in the bottom portion of his bracket and is looking to avenge two losses in the sectional from last year.
All seven wrestlers in the 106-pound weight class are freshman. Pecatonica-Argyle's Dakota Doescher (25-9) could have a breakout performance and be in the mix for a trip to state.
Black Hawk-Darlington senior Paul King (28-7) at 120 also could earn a state trip based on the field. With Fennimore's Mason Lull, who is ranked No. 6 at 120, decided to drop down to 113, that likely opened up another state berth at the sectional.
The five games and meets sports fans should get tickets for this week include:
Thursday
Milton girls basketball at Monroe
The Cheesemakers (19-2, 13-0 Badger South) have already clinched the regular season Badger South Conference championship, but this is a tune-up for the regional tournament. Monroe received a No. 1 seed and will host the winner of Sauk Prairie and Portage in a WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal Feb. 23. With a win over the Red Hawks, Monroe would cap the conference season unbeaten.
The Cheesemakers are looking to sweep Milton. Monroe knocked off Milton 70-48 on the road Jan. 5. The Red Hawks are led by Chloe Buescher, who averages 14.8 points per game and Kailey Harbort (11.8 ppg). In the first meeting, Monroe juniors Sydney Hilliard and Emily Benzschawel combined to score 54 points to pace the Cheesemakers. Hilliard scored a game-high 31 points and Benzschawel added 23. Monroe shot just 5-for-16 from 3-point range in the first meeting, but still won by 22 points.
Friday
Watertown boys basketball at Monroe
Monroe is looking to lock up third-place in the Badger South Conference. The Cheesemakers (12-7, 7-4 Badger South) have a 1½ game lead for third over Watertown and Oregon. If the Cheesemakers can beat the Goslings, they would move one step closer to clinching third in the conference.
The Cheesemakers lost to Watertown 58-50 on the road Jan. 9. In the first meeting, the Goslings outscored the Cheesemakers 31-25 in the second half. Defending the 3-pointer will be a key. The Goslings made 7 of their first 8 3s in the first meeting and finished the game by knocking down 11 3s. Watertown's Ben Smith scored a team-high 14 points and Alec Lauersdorf added 12. Monroe junior Kade King scored a game-high 19 points. The Goslings closed the game with a 17-5 run.
A lot has changes since the first time Monroe played Watertown. Monroe senior Hunter Wared is back from an injury, and Monroe coach Brian Bassett brought up freshman Max Golembiewski and sophomore Aaron Ziolkowski and the Cheesemakers have on 7 of 8 since.
WIAA Division 1 girls hockey regional: Mauston at Rock County Fury
The Rock County Fury (19-3-2), ranked No. 4 in the Wisconsin Prep Hockey state poll, earned a No. 1 sectional seed and will host Mauston at 7 p.m. Friday at the Janesville Ice Arena. If the Fury win, they would advance to a sectional semifinal against the winner of fourth-seeded Onalaska and fifth-seeded Middleton.
The Fury average 4.7 goals per game and have 12 shutouts this season. Maggy Henschler leads the team with 48 points (26 goals) and 22 assists). The Fury are looking to make a run to state for the second time in three years.
The team includes two players from Monroe, junior Cammi Ganshert and freshman Anika Einbeck, and two sisters from Albany, sophomore Haley Knauf and freshman Alyssa Knauf.
Pecatonica boys basketball at Albany
With many Six Rivers East coaches pegging Black Hawk as the preseason favorite to win the conference, the surprise team has been Pecatonica. The Vikings (13-6, 9-0 Six Rivers East) are unbeaten in the conference and still have a slim one-game lead over Barneveld.
If Pecatonica wants to have a chance to win the Six Rivers East outright, they will have to take care of business against Albany and not be looking too far ahead to the regular season finale at Barneveld Feb. 22. Pecatonica has won seven straight games that started with a 54-53 win over Barneveld Jan. 16.
After losing a WIAA Division 5 sectional title game 45-44 to eventual state-champion Barneveld last year, the Vikings graduated three starters - including the school's all-time leading scorer. However, they have remained a conference title contender with a deep team that has excellent size with junior Zack Eaton and sophomore Bo Hendrickson. Pecatonica senior Evan Prust has had a breakout season and junior point guard Colton Schraepfer is a proven playmaker. Schraepfer is the team's leading scorer (16.4 ppg) and Prust (12.4 ppg) has played a larger scoring role and has been a knock down shooter.
Albany (6-13) may not have one of the top three records in the conference, but the Comets can be a dangerous team. In the first meeting, Pecatonica escaped with a 56-52 win over Albany in Blanchardville. If the Comets get hot shooting 3-pointers, they could spoil the Vikings' title hopes. Albany is led by junior Josh Dahl (16.1 ppg), junior Corbin Kelley (13.3 ppg) and Jamison Stauffacher (10.9 ppg).
Saturday
WIAA Division 2 Richland Center wrestling sectional
There are 14 area wrestlers from Black Hawk-Darlington and Pecatonica-Argyle contending for a state berth. The top three wrestlers in each weight class will advance to state. It won't be easy as two of the state's top five ranked teams are in the Mineral Point sectional with No. 1-ranked Fennimore and No. 5-ranked Lancaster.
Black Hawk-Darlington junior Kolbe Ubersox (33-2, ranked No. 2 in the Division 3 Wisconsin Wrestling Online state poll, along with senior Tyler Mossley (182) are looking to make return trips to state. Mosley may have one of the toughest weight classes in the sectional with four wrestlers ranked in the top 12 in his weight class including Iowa-Grant-Highland senior Brady Peat, (38-3) who is ranked No. 1, Royall senior Noah Friedl (36-2), ranked No. 6, Lancaster junior Troy Klein (35-6), ranked No. 7 and Parkview senior Gavin Brown (28-8), ranked No. 11.
Black Hawk-Darlington, which won the regional team title, has nine wrestlers in the Mineral Point sectional. Two other area wrestlers looking to make their mark and breakthrough to state are Pecatonica-Argyle junior Lucas Gilbertson (195) and Black Hawk-Darlington senior Brody Milz (220). Milz (31-6), ranked No. 9, has played in the state championship football game in the fall, and he's looking to earn a berth to the Kohl Center for state in wrestling.
Gilbertson (32-8) is the oldest wrestler in the bottom portion of his bracket and is looking to avenge two losses in the sectional from last year.
All seven wrestlers in the 106-pound weight class are freshman. Pecatonica-Argyle's Dakota Doescher (25-9) could have a breakout performance and be in the mix for a trip to state.
Black Hawk-Darlington senior Paul King (28-7) at 120 also could earn a state trip based on the field. With Fennimore's Mason Lull, who is ranked No. 6 at 120, decided to drop down to 113, that likely opened up another state berth at the sectional.
