MILWAUKEE — The Cheesemakers ended the regular season on Feb. 27 with a last-second 55-54 loss to former rival Monona Grove in a nonconference game in the home stadium of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, the Fiserv Forum.
Mekhi Brown led Monroe with 20 points, while JT Meyer had 15 points and seven rebounds. Marcus Ott added 10 points and dished out six assists.
The two squads finished with identical 40.4% shooting percentages in the game. Monroe had more points off turnovers (11-7), second chance points (12-6), points in the paint (28-14), total rebounds (32-30) and steals (7-5). Both teams had 10 turnovers. MG led Monroe in six categories: Blocks (4-2), assists (18-10), transition points (10-2), free throws made (7/12 to 5/8) and three-pointers made (10/25 to 7/16), though Monroe had the higher shooting percentage for each category. The sixth category MG led in was total points.
Darlington 77, Riverdale 47
MUSCODA — The Redbirds (19-5, 11-3) finished the regular season in second place in the top-heavy SWAL. However, cellar dweller Riverdale (4-20, 2-12) flustered Darlington in the first half. By the intermission, the Redbirds held a shallow 6-point lead, 31-25.
The second half was another story, however, as Darlington out-scored their host by 24 points to run away with the victory.
Zeke Zuberbuhler led Darlington with 22 points and eight rebounds, while Dante Glendenning (19 pts), Broker Buschor (16 pts), Taggart Gille (9 pts) and Cagyn Paisley (9 assists) were vital down the stretch.
Bevyn Dennis almost single-handily kept Riverdale in the game, going 7-for-14 from three-point range and scoring 25 points.
Brodhead 68, Evansville 61
EVANSVILLE — Brody Riese’s strong double-double lifted the Cardinals over the Blue Devils Feb. 27. Riese scored 21 points on 10 of 15 shooting from the field and hauled in 12 rebounds.
Cullen Walker nearly joined him in Double-Double Land, as he finished the night with 19 points and nine assists. Gabe Bockhop (11), Josh Blum (9) and Sam Searls (8) all made key plays down the stretch.
Evansville had four players in double figures scoring: Cade McCollough (14), Matthew Wickersham (12), Mason Brown (12) and Tyrell Louis (11).
Belleville 84, Waterloo 60
BELLEVILLE — The Wildcats went into the locker room with a 14-point lead and continued making the Pirates walk the plank in the second half of their game Feb. 27.
Jackson Scholey and Adam Cann each had 24 points for Belleville. Samuel Arndt finished with a double-double with 10 points and 13 boards. Evan Thomas had 11 points. Scholey added seven rebounds and six assists.
New Glarus 56, Wisconsin Heights 43
MAZOMANIE — The Knights closed out the regular season with a methodical victory Feb. 27.
New Glarus led by eight points at halftime, and didn’t let up in the second half. Defensively, the Knights pressured the Vanguards enough to force 21 turnovers.
Pecatonica 58, Monticello 47
BLANCHARDVILLE — Shooting from the outside was a struggle for both Six Rivers East teams in the tune-up before their WIAA Division 5 playoff opener, which was scheduled for March 4.
The victorious Vikings made just 3 of 16 attempts (18.8%) from beyond the three-point line. The Ponies didn’t fair much better, making just 6 of 23 (26.1%).
Monticello led by as much as 11 points in the first half, and by halftime, Pecatonica had grabbed a slim two-point advantage at 27-25.
Griffin Noll scored 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Pecatonica. Teammate Charles Anderson had a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards. Luke Leonard nearly had a double-double himself, ending the night with 10 points and nine rebounds. Martin Anderson scored nine points and was responsible for seven of his team’s 10 steals.
Hunter Grossen led Monticello with 13 points, Alex Roe had 11 points and Presley Ladwig added 10 points and nine rebounds.
Albany 54, Black Hawk 33
ALBANY — The Comets overpowered the Warriors in the second half after struggling in the opening frame of their regular season finale Feb. 27.
Albany went into halftime clinging to a 26-21 advantage, but in the second half outscored visiting Black Hawk by 16.
Ty Durtschi scored 20 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists in leading the Comets to victory. Nate Stokstad tallied 11 points and seven assists, while Caleb Smith added nine points.
In other area games, Barneveld defeated Argyle 56-43 on Feb. 27.
