MONROE - Coach Sam Mathiason doesn't need any bulletin board material to get the Monroe High School girls basketball team ready for the regional tournament to tip off.

Mathiason has experienced the highs of March Madness from raising the gold ball after a state championship to having his team as a ninth seed upset a No. 1 seed.

"We can share the story of how as a No. 9 seed several years ago we upset the No. 1 seed (Monona Grove)," Mathiason said. "We know that can happen. We know if we are not ready our season can come to a close before we are ready to."

For the first time in seven years, Monroe is expected to be a major factor and a contender to make a sectional run. Monroe (17-3), ranked seventh in the Associated Press Division 2 state poll, has a first-round bye when regional play begins today. The Cheesemakers will play the winner of Portage and Oregon in a regional semifinal Friday. The Cheesemakers won a share of the Badger South Conference championship this season for the first time since 2010. The last time Monroe won a regional title also was 2010.

"We don't talk about the rankings, what we are ranked or not ranked," Mathiason said. "We talk about finding ways to get better and playing to the best of our ability. The rankings come with your record. One of the great things about this team is they can keep that focus and be prepared for that next challenge."

The next challenge will be either Portage (11-9) or Oregon (7-15). The Cheesemakers have defeated Oregon twice this season by an average of 15 points. However, Portage, which finished in the middle of the pack in the Badger North Conference, could pose some problems with 6-foot 5 senior Melissa Leet in the middle of its 2-3 zone.

Mathiason said once he knows who the Cheesemakers will play they will focus on a gameplan Wednesday and Thursday in practice. Being one of the top two seeds has its advantages for some coaches and teams.

"If you do it (preparation for one opponent) too much it gets stale," Mathiason said. "This will give us the balance of rest and staying sharp. Part of the plan is to work on skills we don't have time to do during the season between games. This allows us to have some extra time shooting."

Monroe sophomore Sydney Hilliard leads the Cheesemakers, averaging 18.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 4.3 steals per game. However, the Cheesemakers have also relied on the scoring and playmaking ability of sophomore Emily Benzschawel (11.8 ppg), junior Sydney Mathiason (11.2 ppg, 7.6 rebounds per game) and senior Jordan Hirsbrunner (5.8 ppg).

There are several teams that could make a run to reach the sectional championship game in the top half of the Middleton sectional, including top-seeded and third-ranked Stoughton (18-3). The earliest the Cheesemakers could see Stoughton in the tournament would be the sectional semifinal. However, Monroe must win a regional championship t reach a potential third game against the Vikings.

Mathiason said there are five teams that could make a sectional run in the top part of the Middleton sectional - Stoughton, Monroe, Waunakee (15-5), Monona Grove (11-9) and DeForest (13-8).

DeForest has won four straight games entering the tournament. However, the hottest team right now may be Stoughton, which has won five straight games including three over teams ranked in the top 10 in the state - Monroe (seventh in Division 2), West De Pere (fourth in Division 2) and Middleton (eighth) in Division 1.

"They are all good enough if they get hot at the right time," Mathiason said. "All you want to have is the opportunity. DeForest is playing really well right now and they came all the way up to the No. 3 seed."

Just like Monroe, Black Hawk (20-0), ranked second in the Associated Press Division 5 state poll, enters the tournament with big expectations. The Warriors have a first-round regional bye and will play the winner of Argyle and Randolph in a regional semifinal game Friday in South Wayne.

"We know we are a zero-win team starting (this) week," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "We know everything we have done is out the window."

The Argyle-vs.-Randolph regional quarterfinal game is a rematch of a game earlier this season when the Orioles defeated the Rockets 53-50 at the Rio tournament Dec. 30.

Flanagan said the teams are even, and he didn't want to make a prediction on who would win.

"Randolph has struggled with some injuries," he said. "If Argyle wins, I would assume they would try something different against us. That's the scary part about playing a team multiple times."

Flanagan expects a press or various halfcourt defenses if the Orioles knock off Randolph.

"I think the good thing is we have had a target on our back for a long time now," he said. "When you are ranked No. 2 in the state you will get people's best. They will be gunning for you, and they will look at getting that signature win. We are only as good as our last game."

Black Hawk freshman Natalie Leuzinger, who averages 18.7 points per game, and freshman Hannah Butler (15.2 ppg) lead the Warriors. The Warriors are averaging 6.9 3-pointers made per game.

"There are some games where we are the best shooting team I have ever coached," Flanagan said. "I don't know if we are there from a consistency standpoint. It's a matter of confidence and technique. Missing shots can be contagious too."

In addition to Black Hawk, the other team expected to make a sectional run is Barneveld.

"You cannot write that team off," Flanagan said of Barneveld. "It's no small challenge that we beat them twice this year. They will fight, they have a proud tradition and have a lot of girls with a lot of tournament experience. We have to continue to convince ourselves that we belong in that mix."