MONONA — The Cheesemakers closed out a tight game at Monona Grove Jan. 31. With the 59-49 win, Monroe stays tied atop the Badger South standings.

Cade Meyer scored 21 points to lead the Cheesemakers, while Carson Leuzinger added 17 points, JT Seagreaves added 12 and Tyler Matley chipped in with seven. Meyer leads the conference in scoring at 19.8 points per game, while Leuzinger (16.2) is fourth.

Monroe (12-3, 7-1 Badger South) held a 30-25 advantage on Monona Grove at halftime, but the Silver Eagles kept it tight until the final minute. Lance Nelson led Monona Grove (5-8, 4-4) with 13 points, and Connor Bracken added 12.

The Cheesemakers entered the game ranked 10th in the state in the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Division 2 poll, and 11th by the Associated Press. Both polls were released Jan. 28. 

Monroe is tied with Stoughton (13-2, 7-1) in the conference race. The Cheesemakers knocked off Stoughton on the road earlier this season and host the Vikings in their next game Feb. 8.

Six Rivers Challenge

The West won six of the seven games in the 2020 Six Rivers Challenge, held Jan. 31 at the West school locations.

Unbeaten Monticello was the only East school to score a victory, knocking off River Ridge 60-56.

Highland defeated Pecatonica 67-60; Juda lost to Belmont 47-43; Benton toppled Argyle 50-41; Cassville rolled Albany 68-34; Shullsburg edged Black Hawk 49-44; and Potosi beat Barneveld 43-38.

Darlington 69, Southwestern 51

HAZEL GREEN — Carter Lancaster scored 26 points and the fourth-ranked Redbirds dominated in the second half to put out another SWAL win Jan. 30.

Southwestern (5-10, 1-8 SWAL) kept Darlington (15-1, 8-1) in check in the first half and went into the locker room trailing by just one point. The second half was a different story, however, as the Redbirds outscored the Wildcats 46-29.

Lancaster finished the night 11 of 18 from the field with six rebounds and five steals. Curtis Stone was just 2 of 11 from beyond the arc but finished the contest with 16 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals. Cayden Rankin and Ross Stauffacher each added nine points for Darlington, which is ranked fourth in the WBCA Division 4 rankings, and fifth in the AP poll.

Jefferson 74, Brodhead 52

JEFFERSON — The Cardinals took one on the chin against the Eagles Jan. 30.

Cody Malcook led Brodhead with 16 points on 5 of 8 shooting. Devon Anderson scored 11 points and Owen Leifker added 10. Brodhead shot just 30% from the field and just 26.9% from 3-point range.

Jefferson shot over 50% from the floor and had three players reach double figures. James Monogue led the way with 18, Jared Vogel had 17 and Reece Fetherston added 15. Jefferson led 38-26 at halftime.

New Glarus 61, Waterloo 56

NEW GLARUS — Mason Martinson scored 24 points and the Glarner Knights picked up a solid Capitol South win Jan. 30.

The Knights led by 11 at halftime but were able to keep the Pirates at bay in the second half. New Glarus made 11 of 15 free throws in the game and hit four 3-pointers.

Nathan Streiff scored 11 points, and Connor Siegenthaler had nine for New Glarus. Ernest Jiles led Waterloo with 17 points.

New Glarus 79, Poynette 48

NEW GLARUS — The Knights led by just five at halftime but exploded for 53 points in the second half to pull away from the Pumas in a Capitol Conference crossover.

Martinson led New Glarus in scoring with 16 points, 10 of which coming from the free throw line. Streiff had 13 points, Darris Schuett finished with 12 and William Blunt had nine. 

New Glarus finished 26 of 34 from the free throw line. Thirteen Knights scored in the game.

Belleville 83, Black Hawk 41

BELLEVILLE — The Wildcats jumped out to a 41-20 lead at halftime and never looked back.

Kody Fahey led all scorers with 20 points for Belleville, while Carson Syse had 17 points and Sawyer Fahey added 12.

Lucas Flanagan had 13 points for Black Hawk, while Lucas Milz added eight.

Pecatonica 50, Abundant Life/St. Ambrose 44

MADISON — Bo Hendrickson scored 20 points and Guillermo Santos added 15 for Pecatonica as the Vikings rallied in the second half after a subpar start to the game.

Pecatonica trailed 17-12 at halftime, but outscored Madison Abundant Life/St. Ambrose 38-27 in the second half.