SUN PRAIRIE - Monroe defeated Edgewood 44-42 on Saturday night in the sectional final to advance to the WIAA Division 2 State semifinals.
This will be the third consecutive trip to state for the Cheesemakers, and fourth in the last five seasons. In 2007, Monroe won the state title.
The Cheesemakers picked up the slack for senior Mitch Tordoff, who struggled shooting all night.
Michael Barrett, Jake Grinnell and Mitch McArdle all hit big shots throughout the night.
One of the biggest of all was a jumper by Cullen Sampson midway through the fourth quarter that gave Monroe a then 5-point lead.
Edgewood had a final chance to end it - two actually - in the closing seconds, but McArdle, the shortest player on the floor, came up with the biggest rebound of Monroe's season. McArdle dashed down the sideline as time expired and was greeted by the Cheesemaker student section and fan base with wild screams and high-fives.
"Mitch (McArdle) has a bigger heart than anyone. He want's to win so badly he does whatever is necessary," Monroe head coach Pat Murphy said.
The Cheesemakers will play Appleton Xavier in the second game of the Division 2 semifinals game, which will be at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Friday at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Tickets will go on sale Tuesday morning and will be available until either Thursday or when all the tickets are sold.
For more information on Saturday's win, pick up Monday's Monroe Times.
This will be the third consecutive trip to state for the Cheesemakers, and fourth in the last five seasons. In 2007, Monroe won the state title.
The Cheesemakers picked up the slack for senior Mitch Tordoff, who struggled shooting all night.
Michael Barrett, Jake Grinnell and Mitch McArdle all hit big shots throughout the night.
One of the biggest of all was a jumper by Cullen Sampson midway through the fourth quarter that gave Monroe a then 5-point lead.
Edgewood had a final chance to end it - two actually - in the closing seconds, but McArdle, the shortest player on the floor, came up with the biggest rebound of Monroe's season. McArdle dashed down the sideline as time expired and was greeted by the Cheesemaker student section and fan base with wild screams and high-fives.
"Mitch (McArdle) has a bigger heart than anyone. He want's to win so badly he does whatever is necessary," Monroe head coach Pat Murphy said.
The Cheesemakers will play Appleton Xavier in the second game of the Division 2 semifinals game, which will be at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Friday at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Tickets will go on sale Tuesday morning and will be available until either Thursday or when all the tickets are sold.
For more information on Saturday's win, pick up Monday's Monroe Times.
