JEFFERSON — The Monroe Cheesemakers didn’t need overtime or late game heroics to win their Rock Valley Conference, Valley Division game against the Jefferson Eagles on Friday, Dec. 19. The Cheesemakers led from beginning to end in an 87-34 thrashing of the Eagles for their second win in a row.
Senior Logan Taylor drained a three from the deep left corner with just over 14 minutes to play in the first half to give the Cheese a 14-5 lead. Monroe got a double-digit lead at 20-10 on senior Mekhi Brown’s steal and layup with just over 11 minutes left in the half. They bumped the lead up to 15 when senior Miles Versnik rolled to the rim on a backdoor cut and layed it in with 3:15 left in the half to make it 40-25. The Cheesemakers went on a 7-0 run to take a 47-25 lead at halftime.
A 20-5 start to the first nine minutes of the second half produced a 67-30 lead for the Cheesemakers. Brown went coast-to-coast and scored on a short jumper to make it 69-30. A three from the right corner by junior Graysan Bartholf made the score 72-30 and activated the running clock for the final eight minutes. Bartholf hit three more 3’s and junior Lukas Gerber made a three in the final minutes.
Taylor finished the game with 20 points to lead the Cheese. Brown scored 17 points and, off the bench, Bartholf had 15 points.
Monroe (5-2, 2-1) will play a nonconference game against McFarland on the road on Tuesday, Dec. 30.
Lakeside Lutheran 74, New Glarus 65
LAKE MILLS — The New Glarus Glarner Knights came up short against the Lakeside Lutheran Warriors 74-65 in nonconference boys basketball on Friday, December 19.
The Glarner Knights were just 5-12 from the free throw line in a game in which they trailed only 36-32 at halftime.
Junior Nolan Julseth scored 16 points and had eight rebounds for New Glarus. Junior Bubba Weeden also scored in double figures with 14 points. Senior Brady Johnson handed out eight assists.
New Glarus (3-2) had Cuba City on their schedule for a nonconference game at home on Monday, Dec. 22.
Turner 72, Brodhead 34
BELOIT — The Brodhead Cardinals fell behind 30-16 at halftime and could not catch up in a 72-34 loss to the Turner Trojans in Rock Valley Conference, Rock Division action on Friday Dec. 19. It was a disappointing loss for the Cardinals who had scored a season-high 74 points in their previous game against Clinton.
Senior Nolan Bump scored 11 points, junior Dylan Ross had nine points and senior Sam Searls scored eight points to lead the Cardinals.
Brodhead (0-5, 0-4) will travel to Orfordville Parkview for a nonconference game on Monday, Dec. 29.
Girls Basketball
Darlington 57, Southwestern 39
DARLINGTON — The Darlington Redbirds got 52 points from their starting five to get a 57-39 win over the Southwestern Wildcats in SWAL Conference girls basketball on Friday, Dec. 19.
Junior Lilly Ritchie was the leading scorer for Darlington with 15 points. Senior Sadie Goebel scored 14, senior Catie Hartwig had 13, and senior Maddie Gratz had 10. Hartwig and Goebel each had a double-double as Hartwig collected 12 rebounds and Goebel grabbed 11 rebounds. For the Redbirds, it was their third win in a row after starting the season with three losses.
Darlington (3-3, 3-1) will play in the Bangor Holiday Tournament beginning Monday, Dec. 29.
Albany-Monticello 64, River Ridge 20
BLOOMINGTON — The All-Olson combination of sophomore Heidi Olson, senior Molly Olson, and freshman Annie Olson led the Albany-Monticello Space Stallions to a 64-20 romp over the River Ridge Timberwolves in a Six Rivers Conference crossover game on Friday, Dec. 19.
Heidi Olson led the Space Stallions in scoring with 20 points. Annie Olson scored 12 points, and Molly Olson pitched in with 11 points. AM never trailed, jumping off to a 32-9 halftime lead.
Albany-Monticello (6-1, 2-1) had a nonconference home game scheduled at Monticello against Turner on Tuesday, Dec. 23.
Belleville 52, Waupun 47
WAUPUN — The Belleville Wildcats found themselves trailing the Waupun Warriors 23-20 in their nonconference game on Monday, Dec. 15. But, with Toria Devoe on their side, the Wildcats came back in the second half and won, 52-47.
Devoe scored a season-high 31 points to lead Belleville to the win. The senior hit five three-pointers and was 12-14 from the free throw line. Senior Hayden Caskey scored 10 points and junior Khylee Lietz collected 10 rebounds for the Wildcats, who outscored the Warriors 32-24 in the second half. The win snapped a four game losing streak for the Wildcats.
Belleville (3-4) hosted Poynette in another nonconference game on Friday, Dec. 19, and won 60-48.
In other Girls Basketball on Friday, December 19:
● Argyle-Pecatonica 80, Potosi-Cassville 38
● Highland 71, Juda 29
