MONROE - For the first time when WIAA regional girls basketball games tip off tonight, teams will be playing for a chance to win a gold ball in Green Bay where the state tournament will be played this season.
There are several area teams with aspirations of playing for a state championship in Titletown including Brodhead, Barneveld and Cuba City.
Monroe received a No. 10 seed in the Division 2 tournament and will play at seventh-seeded Mount Horeb at 7 tonight. Monroe (1-21) will look to spring an upset like they did last year knocking off No. 1 seed Monona Grove in the regional semifinals. If Monroe wins, the Cheesemakers would play at No. 2 seed Madison Edgewood on Friday. Can the Cheesemakers make a tournament run and pull off a couple of upsets like last year?
"I think we have a chance," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said of the regional quarterfinal game against Mount Horeb. "We can't get too far ahead. We have to focus on Tuesday and getting that first win. We have to make sure we take care of business and do the best we can."
Monona Grove (20-2) is the No. 1 seed in the top half of the Janesville Craig sectional. Edgewood (18-4), which has won 13 straight games, third-seeded Baraboo (19-3) and fourth-seeded Waunakee (17-5) also are contenders to make a state run.
"They (Edgewood) are one of the hottest teams right now," Mathiason said.
Mount Horeb (8-14) runs an offense with five players out with a lot of cutting and passing.
"They are kind of pesky," Mathiason said. "We will have to do a good job defensively against their cutting. It will not be an easy one."
The Vikings are led by five sophomores who have played on the varsity since their freshman year.
"They are young in age, but have a lot of experience playing varsity basketball," Mathiason said.
The Cheesemakers got a big lift when junior Taylor Barrett returned last week after missing 10 games due to a meniscus injury. Barrett is averaging 10 points per game this year. She gives the Cheesemakers another scorer on the court.
"She gives us the presence of a shot blocker and some more rebounding," Mathiason said.
With the 6-foot, 1 inch Barrett and 5-11 junior Kirsten Vetterli, the Cheesemakers may have an edge inside.
"I think we will have a size advantage and I think we can get the ball to someone for some post touches," Mathiason said.
Division 3
Brodhead (21-1) has a first-round bye in the regional and will play the winner of Edgerton and Evansville on Friday.
Brodhead junior Carly Mohns (13.2 ppg) and senior Taylor Douglas (9.9 ppg) lead a deep and balanced Cardinals' team. Junior Rachel Heller (9.5 ppg) and freshman Kylie Moe (8.6 ppg) also can be key contributors for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals could face conference rival Clinton in a regional championship game on Saturday. Lodi (20-2), the No. 2 seed and third-seeded Lakeside Lutheran (18-4) could be the biggest road blocks for the Cardinals in their quest for state.
"We have to take care of the first one first," Brodhead coach Brad Pickett said. "If you start looking ahead good things probably won't happen. It only takes one bad night and you could go home. It's a one game at a time mentality."
Division 4
Darlington (16-6) is a No. 2 seed in the Baraboo sectional and received a first-round bye. The Redbirds will play the winner of Southwestern and Belleville on Friday.
"That was our goal after the loss to Cuba City," Darlington coach Riley Fitzsimons said of earning the No. 2 seed. "I think as a team that built character for us. I think it mentally pushed us to to be better. The regional title game goes through Darlington and that was our goal."
In the regional final, the Redbirds could faced conference rival Mineral Point. Cuba City (21-1) is the No. 1 seed in the sectional and the favorite to make a state run. Darlington lost two games to Cuba City this year, but Fitzsimons would like to get a rematch. The Redbirds wouldn't face the Cubans until the sectional semifinals in Monroe.
"They have 10 girls who can come in and play without skipping a beat," Fitzsimons said. "They have good shooting and guard play. They have every piece of the puzzle. They are a young team that has played a lot together and you can tell. Hopefully, if we see them they will make freshman and sophomore mistakes and the seniors (on Darlington) don't."
The Redbirds aren't the only team that can enjoy a home court advantage in the regional. New Glarus (12-10) is a No. 4 seed in the Baraboo sectional and will host No. 13 seed Waterloo. The Glarner Knights are trying to shake off a tough shooting performance in a 36-27 loss to Poynette in the regular season finale last week.
"It's a new chapter in the 2012-13 season," New Glarus coach Megan Scheele said. "Everyone is 0-0. Everyone wants the same thing and they will fight and battle for it."
If the Knights knock off the Pirates they would play the winner of Cambridge and Iowa-Grant on Friday.
"We are excited to get back on the court and kind of redeem ourselves," Scheele said. "The name of our game is getting defensive stops and playing together because one person can't do it all by themselves."
Division 5
Barneveld (21-1), which is the No. 1 seed in the top half of the Watertown sectional, is the favorite to make a run to state. The Golden Eagles beat teams in the Six Rivers East Conference by an average of 39 points.
"I believe come tournament time anything is possible," Monticello coach Lori Brokopp said. "Playing Barneveld twice and watching them play, they are the real deal. They have a lot of avenues for producing offense. They are deadly inside and outside. It doesn't matter who you are you will have your work cut out for you if you play Barneveld."
Monticello (16-6) is the No. 4 seed in the top part of the Watertown sectional. The Ponies will play Albany tonight. If Albany could win, they may face Black Hawk for the third time this year. Black Hawk (13-9) received a No. 5 seed and hosts Johnson Creek.
"I think the girls are happy with the way the regular season went," Brokopp said. "They are excited to see how far they can go in the tournament. They always say it's tough to beat a team three times in one season."
Sixth-seeded Argyle (12-10) will host No. 11 seed Juda (4-16). The winner will play the winner of third-seeded Benton-Shusslburg (20-2) or No. 14 seed Williams Bay (5-16) on Friday. Pecatonica (10-12) received a No. 8 seed and will host ninth-seeded Catholic Central. The winner will play at Barneveld on Friday.
There are several area teams with aspirations of playing for a state championship in Titletown including Brodhead, Barneveld and Cuba City.
Monroe received a No. 10 seed in the Division 2 tournament and will play at seventh-seeded Mount Horeb at 7 tonight. Monroe (1-21) will look to spring an upset like they did last year knocking off No. 1 seed Monona Grove in the regional semifinals. If Monroe wins, the Cheesemakers would play at No. 2 seed Madison Edgewood on Friday. Can the Cheesemakers make a tournament run and pull off a couple of upsets like last year?
"I think we have a chance," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said of the regional quarterfinal game against Mount Horeb. "We can't get too far ahead. We have to focus on Tuesday and getting that first win. We have to make sure we take care of business and do the best we can."
Monona Grove (20-2) is the No. 1 seed in the top half of the Janesville Craig sectional. Edgewood (18-4), which has won 13 straight games, third-seeded Baraboo (19-3) and fourth-seeded Waunakee (17-5) also are contenders to make a state run.
"They (Edgewood) are one of the hottest teams right now," Mathiason said.
Mount Horeb (8-14) runs an offense with five players out with a lot of cutting and passing.
"They are kind of pesky," Mathiason said. "We will have to do a good job defensively against their cutting. It will not be an easy one."
The Vikings are led by five sophomores who have played on the varsity since their freshman year.
"They are young in age, but have a lot of experience playing varsity basketball," Mathiason said.
The Cheesemakers got a big lift when junior Taylor Barrett returned last week after missing 10 games due to a meniscus injury. Barrett is averaging 10 points per game this year. She gives the Cheesemakers another scorer on the court.
"She gives us the presence of a shot blocker and some more rebounding," Mathiason said.
With the 6-foot, 1 inch Barrett and 5-11 junior Kirsten Vetterli, the Cheesemakers may have an edge inside.
"I think we will have a size advantage and I think we can get the ball to someone for some post touches," Mathiason said.
Division 3
Brodhead (21-1) has a first-round bye in the regional and will play the winner of Edgerton and Evansville on Friday.
Brodhead junior Carly Mohns (13.2 ppg) and senior Taylor Douglas (9.9 ppg) lead a deep and balanced Cardinals' team. Junior Rachel Heller (9.5 ppg) and freshman Kylie Moe (8.6 ppg) also can be key contributors for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals could face conference rival Clinton in a regional championship game on Saturday. Lodi (20-2), the No. 2 seed and third-seeded Lakeside Lutheran (18-4) could be the biggest road blocks for the Cardinals in their quest for state.
"We have to take care of the first one first," Brodhead coach Brad Pickett said. "If you start looking ahead good things probably won't happen. It only takes one bad night and you could go home. It's a one game at a time mentality."
Division 4
Darlington (16-6) is a No. 2 seed in the Baraboo sectional and received a first-round bye. The Redbirds will play the winner of Southwestern and Belleville on Friday.
"That was our goal after the loss to Cuba City," Darlington coach Riley Fitzsimons said of earning the No. 2 seed. "I think as a team that built character for us. I think it mentally pushed us to to be better. The regional title game goes through Darlington and that was our goal."
In the regional final, the Redbirds could faced conference rival Mineral Point. Cuba City (21-1) is the No. 1 seed in the sectional and the favorite to make a state run. Darlington lost two games to Cuba City this year, but Fitzsimons would like to get a rematch. The Redbirds wouldn't face the Cubans until the sectional semifinals in Monroe.
"They have 10 girls who can come in and play without skipping a beat," Fitzsimons said. "They have good shooting and guard play. They have every piece of the puzzle. They are a young team that has played a lot together and you can tell. Hopefully, if we see them they will make freshman and sophomore mistakes and the seniors (on Darlington) don't."
The Redbirds aren't the only team that can enjoy a home court advantage in the regional. New Glarus (12-10) is a No. 4 seed in the Baraboo sectional and will host No. 13 seed Waterloo. The Glarner Knights are trying to shake off a tough shooting performance in a 36-27 loss to Poynette in the regular season finale last week.
"It's a new chapter in the 2012-13 season," New Glarus coach Megan Scheele said. "Everyone is 0-0. Everyone wants the same thing and they will fight and battle for it."
If the Knights knock off the Pirates they would play the winner of Cambridge and Iowa-Grant on Friday.
"We are excited to get back on the court and kind of redeem ourselves," Scheele said. "The name of our game is getting defensive stops and playing together because one person can't do it all by themselves."
Division 5
Barneveld (21-1), which is the No. 1 seed in the top half of the Watertown sectional, is the favorite to make a run to state. The Golden Eagles beat teams in the Six Rivers East Conference by an average of 39 points.
"I believe come tournament time anything is possible," Monticello coach Lori Brokopp said. "Playing Barneveld twice and watching them play, they are the real deal. They have a lot of avenues for producing offense. They are deadly inside and outside. It doesn't matter who you are you will have your work cut out for you if you play Barneveld."
Monticello (16-6) is the No. 4 seed in the top part of the Watertown sectional. The Ponies will play Albany tonight. If Albany could win, they may face Black Hawk for the third time this year. Black Hawk (13-9) received a No. 5 seed and hosts Johnson Creek.
"I think the girls are happy with the way the regular season went," Brokopp said. "They are excited to see how far they can go in the tournament. They always say it's tough to beat a team three times in one season."
Sixth-seeded Argyle (12-10) will host No. 11 seed Juda (4-16). The winner will play the winner of third-seeded Benton-Shusslburg (20-2) or No. 14 seed Williams Bay (5-16) on Friday. Pecatonica (10-12) received a No. 8 seed and will host ninth-seeded Catholic Central. The winner will play at Barneveld on Friday.
