MONROE - Monroe senior Ashley Hermanson and Brodhead senior Dana Lewis played on the same Wisconsin Hoops Select AAU team this past summer, but as the Cheesemakers prepare to open the season Saturday night, Hermanson and Lewis will be rivals.
"It will be good competition," Hermanson said. "We're both good teams so it will be a test for everybody. We want it all this year. It is going to be our best year and we know where we want to be. It will be fun. We've played each other for however long and it will be a battle, a good battle."
Lewis relishes the challenge of playing against Monroe, she said.
"It's going to be a challenge," Lewis said. "We're a new team this year but I think we can do it (win). We just have to bring it all together. We've had a couple good practices where we've shown it a lot, but we need to put it all together."
Monroe girls basketball coach Kevin Keen is probably quite aware of Lewis' ability. Lewis, a University of Maryland-Baltimore County recruit averaged 14.5 points per game and more than 6 rebounds last year.
"Hopefully, we will be able to offset Dana Lewis inside," Keen said. "Fortunately, we have a couple of big post players as well."
Keen might have hoped to have more than two weeks of practice before the season opener; the girls basketball season began a week earlier last year. The WIAA alternates the start of the boys and girls seasons each year.
"It's one of those situations where we don't get a lot of preparation time," he said. "They will be ready to step on the court to see how they stack up."
Lewis has noticed a change with new coach Brad Pickett, who coached the Monticello boys basketball team last year.
"His offense is quick and we're pushing it down the floor and I think it will help us a lot because we have a lot of quick guards," Lewis said. "It's not going to be any different than last year because I'm used to people coming after me. I started to score a lot and then people would come after me. Our guards are going to knock down shots so it will open the inside up."
Monroe has hosted boys and girls basketball doubleheaders in the past. The last several years the Cheesemakers have played a doubleheader with Freeport.
Keen understands it's a season opener that fans will get fired up about.
"For us, it's just another first game of the year," he said. "For the fans it's a big game. It's been a big draw," Keen said of the games with Freeport. It's a neat way to start the year. We will open the balcony and hope to get a lot of fans from Monroe and Brodhead."
In other games on the first weekend of the basketball season, New Glarus plays at Monticello in a boys and girls basketball doubleheader. The Knights are coming off a 4-17 season, but return four starters. Monticello returns Mersadi Hilliard, who averaged 5.9 points per game last year and Taylor Pfeuti (4.6). The Ponies will have to contend with a big New Glarus post presence that features senior Tanya Gruter and sophomore Alycia Atwell.
Pecatonica opens the season at Wausau Newman, a team who received state ranking consideration last year. Pecatonica senior Kimee Chandler, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee recruit, will try to shoot the Vikings past the Fighting Cardinals. Newman beat Pecatonica 48-41 last year behind Erica Hartke's 16 points and Taylor Thomas' 11 points.
Albany, who is looking to be a contender in the Six Rivers East hosts Palmyra-Eagle. Albany coach Mike Brunhoefer will get his first look at the Comets. Albany finished 12-11 last year, but is loaded with junior talent, including Sydney Bump, Kaitlyn Schulz, Hayli Peach, Hillary Best and Courtney Pfeuti.
- Times Sports Editor Adam Krebs contributed to this story.
"It will be good competition," Hermanson said. "We're both good teams so it will be a test for everybody. We want it all this year. It is going to be our best year and we know where we want to be. It will be fun. We've played each other for however long and it will be a battle, a good battle."
Lewis relishes the challenge of playing against Monroe, she said.
"It's going to be a challenge," Lewis said. "We're a new team this year but I think we can do it (win). We just have to bring it all together. We've had a couple good practices where we've shown it a lot, but we need to put it all together."
Monroe girls basketball coach Kevin Keen is probably quite aware of Lewis' ability. Lewis, a University of Maryland-Baltimore County recruit averaged 14.5 points per game and more than 6 rebounds last year.
"Hopefully, we will be able to offset Dana Lewis inside," Keen said. "Fortunately, we have a couple of big post players as well."
Keen might have hoped to have more than two weeks of practice before the season opener; the girls basketball season began a week earlier last year. The WIAA alternates the start of the boys and girls seasons each year.
"It's one of those situations where we don't get a lot of preparation time," he said. "They will be ready to step on the court to see how they stack up."
Lewis has noticed a change with new coach Brad Pickett, who coached the Monticello boys basketball team last year.
"His offense is quick and we're pushing it down the floor and I think it will help us a lot because we have a lot of quick guards," Lewis said. "It's not going to be any different than last year because I'm used to people coming after me. I started to score a lot and then people would come after me. Our guards are going to knock down shots so it will open the inside up."
Monroe has hosted boys and girls basketball doubleheaders in the past. The last several years the Cheesemakers have played a doubleheader with Freeport.
Keen understands it's a season opener that fans will get fired up about.
"For us, it's just another first game of the year," he said. "For the fans it's a big game. It's been a big draw," Keen said of the games with Freeport. It's a neat way to start the year. We will open the balcony and hope to get a lot of fans from Monroe and Brodhead."
In other games on the first weekend of the basketball season, New Glarus plays at Monticello in a boys and girls basketball doubleheader. The Knights are coming off a 4-17 season, but return four starters. Monticello returns Mersadi Hilliard, who averaged 5.9 points per game last year and Taylor Pfeuti (4.6). The Ponies will have to contend with a big New Glarus post presence that features senior Tanya Gruter and sophomore Alycia Atwell.
Pecatonica opens the season at Wausau Newman, a team who received state ranking consideration last year. Pecatonica senior Kimee Chandler, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee recruit, will try to shoot the Vikings past the Fighting Cardinals. Newman beat Pecatonica 48-41 last year behind Erica Hartke's 16 points and Taylor Thomas' 11 points.
Albany, who is looking to be a contender in the Six Rivers East hosts Palmyra-Eagle. Albany coach Mike Brunhoefer will get his first look at the Comets. Albany finished 12-11 last year, but is loaded with junior talent, including Sydney Bump, Kaitlyn Schulz, Hayli Peach, Hillary Best and Courtney Pfeuti.
- Times Sports Editor Adam Krebs contributed to this story.
