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Monroe nets W over Middleton in season finale
Darlington SWAL outright champs, NG captures Capitol South for 5th straight year
basketball net swish

MONROE — The Cheesemakers closed the regular season with a solid 8-point win over Middleton (4-6) Feb. 12.

Monroe (13-1) trailed 33-32 at halftime but rallied in the second half. Cade Meyer led the Cheesemakers with 21 points. Carson Leuzinger had 15 points, Tyler Matley 12 and Max Golembiewski 8.

The Cheesemakers enter the postseason with a first-round bye and will face either Evansville (16-2) or Delavan-Darien (5-10) Feb. 19 in the regional semifinal. The regional championship will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at the highest remaining seed. Should top-seeded Edgerton (20-4) lost to either Big Foot (7-17) or Beloit Turner (7-15), Monroe would host the regional title game.


Darlington wins SWAL outright

DARLINGTON — The Redbirds used an upset victory over top-ranked Cuba City to propel themselves to not just a share of the SWAL conference title, but to own it outright. Darlington defeated Riverdale 88-48 Feb. 11, the same night Fennimore upset Cuba City (17-2, 11-2), which in turn put the Redbirds (18-4, 13-1) a half a game ahead in the standings with one game left to play.

The next night, Darlington went for the jugular and took out Fennimore 72-41.

Redbird senior Carter Lancaster scored 33 points in the two wins, and Cayden Rankin put up a 23-point effort against Fennimore (14-5, 10-4). Freshman Will Murray finished with 21 points combined in the two wins, Hunter Hardyman and Easton Evenstad 18, and Curtis Stone 12.

Darlington led 54-24 over Riverdale at halftime of that game, and went into the locker room against Fennimore with a 30-19 lead. In the second half, the Redbirds outscored the Eagles 42-22.

Darlington, ranked fifth in Division 3 is the top seed in the its regional and will host the winner of Belleville (8-11) and Dodgeville (13-9) Feb. 19.


New Glarus wins share of Capitol South title

NEW GLARUS — The Glarner Knights kept plugging away this year, and got some help along the way. On Feb. 8, Wisconsin Heights (6-9, 4-6) upset Marshall (15-7, 8-2), pulling Marshall into a tie with New Glarus (15-8, 8-2) at the top of the league standings. It is the fifth consecutive season New Glarus has won at least a share of the Capitol South title.

The Glarner Knights thanked the Vanguards by rallying in the second half to win the season finale Feb. 11, 50-47, and a slice of the Capitol South championship.

Senior Mason Martinson scored 19 points to lead New Glarus, while fellow senior Darris Schuett had 10. Wisconsin Heights senior De’Shawn Barsness had a game-high 20 points. The Vanguards led 26-21 at halftime, but the Glarner Knights won the second half, 29-21.

New Glarus has a bye in the opening round of the WIAA Division 3 regional playoffs and will host the winner of Lancaster (13-6) and Prairie du Chien (5-10). 


Albany splits in final weekend of regular season

BARNEVELD — The Comets closed the regular season with a strong showing against the Eagles Feb. 13, winning 53-44, but that came two days after getting throttled by Black Hawk.

Clay Hulbert hit five 3-pointers and scored 21 points to lead the way for Albany (6-14) against Barneveld (3-7). Carson Brewer had 16 points and 12 rebounds.

In the loss to Black Hawk, Rob Schroeder had 16 points and Hulbert finished with 10.

Albany will host Juda (1-10) in the opening round of the WIAA Division 5 playoffs Feb. 16, with the winner advancing to play at Barneveld Feb. 19.