WHITEWATER — The Monroe Cheesemakers closed their regular season with a 75-57 win over the Whitewater Whippets in a Rock Valley Conference, Valley Division game on Thursday, Feb. 26.
The Cheesemakers held a 14-13 lead with 12:08 to go in the first half before senior Logan Taylor helped the Cheesemakers get some separation with a three-pointer to get a 17-13 lead. With under seven minutes left in the first half, Taylor gave the Cheesemakers a 10-point lead when he faked a three and drove inside for a layup to put Monroe in front 32-22. The Whippets pulled to within one point at 32-31 with around four minutes to play in the half before Taylor converted a three-point play and a 35-31 Cheesemaker lead. With just a few seconds before the end of the half, junior Kam Gerber-Reamer came from out of nowhere and got a steal and a layup that gave Monroe a 45-36 halftime lead.
A back-door layup by senior Mekhi Brown on a pass from senior Marcus Ott with 10:53 left in the game put Monroe in front 52-41. The Whippets got to within 59-55 with 6:28 left, but a reverse layup by Taylor with 3:14 left and four free throws from Ott highlighted a 16-2 run by the Cheese to close out the game.
Taylor led the Cheesemakers in scoring with 23 points, Brown had 18 points and Ott contributed 10 points in the win.
Monroe (17-7, 11-3 RVC-Valley) earned a No. 3 seed in the Division 2 regional and received a first round bye in the regional quarterfinal. They’ll play at home on Friday, March 6 against the winner of No. 6 Stoughton and No. 11 Jefferson.
New Glarus 52,
Cambridge 49
CAMBRIDGE — The New Glarus Glarner Knights earned a share of the Capitol South conference title by beating the Cambridge Blue Jays 52-49 in the final game of the regular season on Thursday, Feb. 26.
The win by New Glarus forged a three-way tie for the Capitol South Conference championship as the Glarner Knights, Cambridge, and Marshall all finished 8-2.
Senior Matt Roth buried a three-pointer midway through the first half to give the Knights a 19-9 lead. Junior Tucker Sysko connected on a three-pointer with 7:20 left in the half to open a 22-11 New Glarus lead. The Knights had a 26-22 lead at halftime
The Blue Jays charged back and tied the score at 30-30 with 12:26 remaining in the game, but Roth made a jump shot from the left junction to break the deadlock at 32-30. With 3:41 to play, Roth made two free throws to give the Knights a 46-44 lead. With two minutes to play, Sysko made a clutch layup that gave New Glarus a 48-44 lead. The Glarner Knights had a 50-49 lead and possession of the ball when the Blue Jays were forced to foul and they fouled Roth with 16.1 seconds to play. Roth made two free throws for a 52-49 lead and the Blue Jays were unable to get a tying three-pointer. It secured the win and a piece of the conference title for New Glarus.
Roth topped all scorers with 21 points. Junior Nolan Julseth added 13 points for the Knights.
New Glarus (15-9) received a No. 5 seed in the Division 3 regional and was scheduled to host No. 12 seed Viroqua on Tuesday, March 3.
Darlington 94, Riverdale 71
DARLINGTON — Senior Broker Buschor came within two assists of a triple-double as the Darlington Redbirds smashed the Riverdale Chieftains 94-71 in SWAL conference boys basketball to close the regular season on Thursday, Feb. 26.
Just three days after putting up 93 points in a win over New Glarus, the Redbirds topped that mark with 94 points against the Chieftains. Buschor racked up 36 points, 17 rebounds, and eight assists. Sophomore Ryder Fitzsimons had a season-high 26 points and sophomore Sloan Glendenning poured in 14 points as the Redbirds improved to 21-3 overall and 13-1 in the SWAL.
Darlington, ranked No. 6 in the Bound Wisconsin/Zaleski sports media poll for Division 4 boys basketball is the No. 1 seed in the Division 4 regional and got a first-round bye in the regional quarterfinal. They will host either No. 9 seed Brodhead or No. 8 seed Belleville in a regional semifinal on Friday, March 6.
Belleville 59, Waterloo 53
BELLEVILLE — Senior Hazeon Edmond had his best game for the Belleville Wildcats with 19 points and eight rebounds to lead Belleville to a 59-53 win over the Waterloo Pirates in a Capitol South conference game on Thursday, Feb. 26. It was the final game of the regular season for both teams.
Senior Jackson Scholey also had 19 points to go with five rebounds. Senior Isaac Patrow added 10 points for Belleville (8-16, 4-6 Capitol South).
Belleville drew the No. 8 seed in the Division 4 regional and was to host No. 9 seed Brodhead in a regional quarterfinal on Tuesday, March 3 with the winner to take on No. 1 seed Darlington on the road in a regional semifinal on Friday, March 3 at Darlington.
Big Foot 79, Brodhead 50
WALWORTH — The Brodhead Cardinals finished their regular season with a 79-50 loss to the Big Foot Chiefs in Rock Valley Conference, Rock Division boys basketball on Thursday, Feb. 26.
The Cardinals fell behind 39-24 at halftime and shot just 32% for the game. Senior Nolan Bump led the Cardinals with 17 points and senior Sam Searls had 10 points and seven rebounds for the Cardinals (9-14, 2-13 RVC-Rock).
Brodhead had the No. 9 seed for the Division 4 regionals and played at No. 8 seed Belleville in a regional quarterfinal on Tuesday, March 3 with the winner to face No. 1 seed Darlington on the road in the regional semifinal on Friday, March 6.
Pecatonica 73,
Black Hawk 27
BLANCHARDVILLE — Junior Griffin Noll led three players in double figures by scoring 18 points as the Pecatonica Vikings rolled past the Black Hawk Warriors 73-27 in Six Rivers East Conference action to close the regular season on Thursday, Feb. 26.
Junior Luke Leonard contributed 12 points and junior Bo Stateler added 10 points as the Vikings got their largest margin of victory (46 points) this season. The Warriors were led by junior Cole Dunlavey who had 11 points.
Pecatonica (17-7, 13-5 Six Rivers East) is a No. 4 seed in the Division 5 regional and was to host No. 13 seed Rio in a regional quarterfinal on Tuesday, March 3.
Black Hawk (5-19, 4-14 Six Rivers East) is a No. 15 seed in the Division 5 regional and was to traveled to No. 2 seed Barneveld for a regional quarterfinal the same day.
Argyle 61, Monticello 29
MONTICELLO — Senior Deacon Kuebli collected 23 points and sophomore Braydon Slater netted 10 points to lead the Argyle Orioles to a 61-29 win over the Monticello Ponies in the final game of the regular season in Six Rivers East Conference action on Thursday, Feb. 26.
Junior Hunter Grossen scored 12 points and junior Tyler Constantini had eight points in the loss for Monticello. It was the final home game for the Ponies as a stand-alone boys basketball program. Monticello will co-op with Albany next season to form the Albany-Monticello Space Stallions boys basketball team.
Argyle (10-14, 8-10 Six Rivers East) is a No. 10 seed in the Division 5 regional and traveled to No. 7 seed Fall River for a regional quarterfinal on Tuesday, March 3.
Monticello (1-23, 1-17 Six Rivers East) is a No. 16 seed and traveled to No. 1 seed Abundant Life Christian for the regional quarterfinal March 3.
Also in Six Rivers Conference boys basketball on Thursday, Feb. 26, the Barneveld Golden Eagles ripped the Juda Panthers 87-41. The Panthers are a No. 12 seed in the Division 5 regional and traveled to No. 5 seed Johnson Creek for a regional quarterfinal on Tuesday, March 3.
