March Madness has arrived early with the tipoff of WIAA girls regional basketball games.
The girls' WIAA tournament gets started today with a full slate of nine games featuring Monroe, the defending WIAA Division 2 state champions, looking to repeat. Monroe (18-2), ranked second in the Associated Press Division 2 state poll, will host Evansville tonight.
The Cheesemakers' road to a second straight title will be a challenging path with a potential regional championship game against Brodhead on Saturday, a sectional semifinal against Reedsburg and a Janesville Craig sectional title game against Columbus, which is ranked No. 1, or Madison Edgewood. Delavan-Darien, which the Cheesemakers defeated in a sectional title game last year to advance to state, also is in the Janesville Craig sectional.
"I don't worry too much about what people's picks are," Monroe coach Kevin Keen said. "After experiencing what we did last year, it's always exciting to think about. We also have to be realistic to know that it's one game and done."
No one is invincible come tournament time. Columbus went into last year's playoffs unbeaten only to lose to Lake Mills. The Cheesemakers, who lost back-to-back games to Sauk Prairie and Madison Edgewood for the first time in several years, know they are a postseason target.
"We will have to come ready to play every night," Keen said. "You can't take anyone lightly. You can't take anything for granted. People will be looking to knock Monroe out of the tournament. Whoever comes out of there will be fortunate to survive some tough games."
Division 3
Darlington (12-8) has an uphill battle in the WIAA Division 3 Monroe regional. The Redbirds will play Belleville tonight and if they get by the Wildcats, a third game against No. 1 ranked Cuba City awaits.
Cuba City (20-0) is primed to win its fourth state title in five years. The Cubans, who were going for their fourth straight title last year, had their hopes of a four-peat snapped with a loss to Markesan in the sectional final. New Glarus will have a tough test against No. 2 seed Orfordville Parkview.
Division 4
Black Hawk (18-2), ranked seventh in the Associated Press Division 4 state poll, begins its quest for the school's first state tournament appearance.
The Warriors won't have to worry about a potential third game against either Potosi or Barneveld right away, since the Chieftans and Golden Eagles are on the other side of the bracket in the La Crosse Central sectional. That sectional is loaded with five of the state's top 10 ranked teams, including Assumption (No.1), Potosi (second) and Barneveld (fifth).
"It's a dream they (Barneveld) have achieved," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said about qualifying for state. "It's a dream we have never had the fortune of realizing. Let's hope for both teams, we get to play one more time this season."
Flanagan understands the Warriors must focus on Madison Abundant Life in their regional opener tonight.
"That is as far ahead as we are looking," Flanagan said. "It seems like the last two years, we have found a way to elevate our games in the postseason. We have to take care of business. We have to take our game to another level."
If the Warriors beat Abundant Life, a regional semifinal against the Shullsburg-Southwestern winner awaits. The Warriors could face Pecatonica for the third straight year in the Darlington regional title game Saturday.
Black Hawk also could have a Fort Atkinson sectional semifinal game against either Albany (10-10) or Juda (10-10). However, the biggest hurdle in getting to a sectional final for the Warriors may be Catholic Central. The Comets open regional play hosting Trinity Academy and Juda hosts Williams Bay. If the Comets and Pathers both win, they would match-up in a Clinton regional semifinal.
Flambeau (17-3) has won the last three Division 4 state titles and is in contention for a four-peat, which hasn't been accomplished in WIAA history. Prentice (19-1) beat Flambeau 66-49 to snap the Falcons' 129-game home winning streak.
The girls' WIAA tournament gets started today with a full slate of nine games featuring Monroe, the defending WIAA Division 2 state champions, looking to repeat. Monroe (18-2), ranked second in the Associated Press Division 2 state poll, will host Evansville tonight.
The Cheesemakers' road to a second straight title will be a challenging path with a potential regional championship game against Brodhead on Saturday, a sectional semifinal against Reedsburg and a Janesville Craig sectional title game against Columbus, which is ranked No. 1, or Madison Edgewood. Delavan-Darien, which the Cheesemakers defeated in a sectional title game last year to advance to state, also is in the Janesville Craig sectional.
"I don't worry too much about what people's picks are," Monroe coach Kevin Keen said. "After experiencing what we did last year, it's always exciting to think about. We also have to be realistic to know that it's one game and done."
No one is invincible come tournament time. Columbus went into last year's playoffs unbeaten only to lose to Lake Mills. The Cheesemakers, who lost back-to-back games to Sauk Prairie and Madison Edgewood for the first time in several years, know they are a postseason target.
"We will have to come ready to play every night," Keen said. "You can't take anyone lightly. You can't take anything for granted. People will be looking to knock Monroe out of the tournament. Whoever comes out of there will be fortunate to survive some tough games."
Division 3
Darlington (12-8) has an uphill battle in the WIAA Division 3 Monroe regional. The Redbirds will play Belleville tonight and if they get by the Wildcats, a third game against No. 1 ranked Cuba City awaits.
Cuba City (20-0) is primed to win its fourth state title in five years. The Cubans, who were going for their fourth straight title last year, had their hopes of a four-peat snapped with a loss to Markesan in the sectional final. New Glarus will have a tough test against No. 2 seed Orfordville Parkview.
Division 4
Black Hawk (18-2), ranked seventh in the Associated Press Division 4 state poll, begins its quest for the school's first state tournament appearance.
The Warriors won't have to worry about a potential third game against either Potosi or Barneveld right away, since the Chieftans and Golden Eagles are on the other side of the bracket in the La Crosse Central sectional. That sectional is loaded with five of the state's top 10 ranked teams, including Assumption (No.1), Potosi (second) and Barneveld (fifth).
"It's a dream they (Barneveld) have achieved," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said about qualifying for state. "It's a dream we have never had the fortune of realizing. Let's hope for both teams, we get to play one more time this season."
Flanagan understands the Warriors must focus on Madison Abundant Life in their regional opener tonight.
"That is as far ahead as we are looking," Flanagan said. "It seems like the last two years, we have found a way to elevate our games in the postseason. We have to take care of business. We have to take our game to another level."
If the Warriors beat Abundant Life, a regional semifinal against the Shullsburg-Southwestern winner awaits. The Warriors could face Pecatonica for the third straight year in the Darlington regional title game Saturday.
Black Hawk also could have a Fort Atkinson sectional semifinal game against either Albany (10-10) or Juda (10-10). However, the biggest hurdle in getting to a sectional final for the Warriors may be Catholic Central. The Comets open regional play hosting Trinity Academy and Juda hosts Williams Bay. If the Comets and Pathers both win, they would match-up in a Clinton regional semifinal.
Flambeau (17-3) has won the last three Division 4 state titles and is in contention for a four-peat, which hasn't been accomplished in WIAA history. Prentice (19-1) beat Flambeau 66-49 to snap the Falcons' 129-game home winning streak.
