MONROE - With the tip-off of the WIAA girls basketball tournament tonight, there are several streaks on the line with the stakes at the highest level.
Monroe (11-11) is shooting for a fourth straight state appearance. Monroe opens the WIAA Division 2 Baraboo regional hosting Portage (10-12) at 7 tonight. Black Hawk (22-0), ranked No. 1 in the latest Associated Press Division 5 poll, is looking to make a run to its third consecutive state tournament.
"We know it can be one game and done," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "If you don't play your best that night your season will be over."
Two years ago, Black Hawk lost in the state semifinals to Potosi. The Warriors last year finished as the state runner-up losing to Wausau Newman 64-30 in the state championship game. Black Hawk is looking to take the next step and win a state title.
"Unfortunately, the previous years don't have a whole lot of bearing on the present," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "We are conscious of what we have been able to do. We know it's a new year and it presents a new set of challenges."
Flanagan said he has learned about the pressure his players face after the last two runs to state.
"It's a lot of weight on their shoulders," Flanagan said. "Every step you go it kind of piles on. We as a program are trying to learn how to deal with that and defuse that."
Division 2
Portage split two games with Sauk Prairie and DeForest, which are two teams seeded higher than Monroe. Portage is led by 6-foot, 1 inch junior Hannah Considine and junior Heidi Hemming who both average 8.6 points per game. The Warriors also have a third scoring option in 5-10 sophomore Teagan Olson who averages 8.3 ppg.
"I think we will have our hands full," Mathiason said. "We will have to do a good job of playing solid defense."
Monroe is led by seniors Kylee Ritschard, Kyleigh Sellnow and junior Brooke McBain. Ritschard averages 11 ppg, McBain (10) and Sellnow (9.6). Mathiason said the matchups against a certain team will determine who steps up as scorers.
"I think in the tournament you need three scorers," Mathiason said. "They don't care who the scorers are. We just need to find a balance of playing solid defense and continue to find ways to score points."
If Monroe wins, the Cheesemakers would advance to the regional semifinals and play at No. 1 seed Madison Edgewood on Friday.
"I think the expectation is that we are going to go out and play the best we can," Mathiason said. "You can't look too far ahead. You can get in trouble by trying to project too far."
Mathiason said the team has talked about using the regular season finale loss to Stoughton as motivation in the postseason.
"We don't want to have that repeat feeling," Mathiason said.
Division 3
Few teams enter the tournament as hot as Brodhead (15-7). The Cardinals have won 12 of their last 14 games including a 39-37 win over Belleville in January.
The Cardinals lost four of their first six games by three points or less including three by one point. Since then, the Cardinals have found their rhythm behind three top scorers in sophomore Taylor Douglas (11.3 ppg), freshman Carly Mohns (10.5 ppg) and senior Mariah Mohns (10.5 ppg).
Brodhead as a No. 2 seed in the Clinton regional will play the winner of Orfordville Parkview and Big Foot on Friday. If the Cardinals win that game, they could get a rematch against Edgerton in the regional championship game Saturday. Edgerton, the top seed, beat the Cardinals 52-47 in February.
Division 4
There are few teams with a better turnaround story than Darlington. The Redbirds (18-4) finished second in the SWAL behind Fennimore. Last year the Redbirds finished 8-15 and finished seventh in the SWAL. This year, the Redbirds were in the hunt for a conference title with Fennimore.
Darlington will open the WIAA Division 4 Mineral Point regional against the Pointers. If the Redbirds win, they would face the winner of Iowa-Grant and Lancaster in the regional semifinals on Friday.
"We know we have potential," Darlington junior Amy Jorgenson said. "Our coach told us it's the beginning of a new season. It's totally different now. Anything can happen. Anything is possible."
If Darlington can win two games, the Redbirds could get a third game against Fennimore in the regional final Saturday.
"Personally, I want to play Fennimore again," Jorgenson said. "I just want another shot at them and I think we can do it."
New Glarus (9-13) as a No. 4 seed in the DeForest regional will host Pardeeville tonight. If the Glarner Knights win, a regional semifinal game against No. 1 seed Belleville awaits.
Division 5
The WIAA Division 5 Evansville regional is a Six Rivers East Conference tournament with Black Hawk as the favorite to win the regional. The Warriors have a bye in the first round, but will play the winner of Albany-Monticello on Friday.
"There were games during the conference season where we were challenged," Flanagan said. "We are certainly not looking past our conference opponents. It's about what you do best at a high level. You hope that is enough to get you by."
Flanagan is hoping to have junior Chaesta Shager back after she has been battling illness.
"It's a wait and see situation," Flanagan said. "It's our hope on Friday that she will be ready to go."
Albany (11-10) and Monticello (6-12) each enter the tournament having lost five of their last six games. Albany swept the Ponies during the regular season. Monticello lost to Albany 48-46 in February.
Juda (17-5) as the No. 3 seed will host Pecatonica tonight. Argyle will travel to No. 2 seed Barneveld. If Juda can get past Pecatonica, the Panthers would play the winner of Barneveld in the regional semifinals on Friday.
Juda junior C.J. Dunwiddie looks to return for the tournament after missing the last two games with an ankle injury. Four of the Panthers' five losses have come against Barneveld and Black Hawk.
Monroe (11-11) is shooting for a fourth straight state appearance. Monroe opens the WIAA Division 2 Baraboo regional hosting Portage (10-12) at 7 tonight. Black Hawk (22-0), ranked No. 1 in the latest Associated Press Division 5 poll, is looking to make a run to its third consecutive state tournament.
"We know it can be one game and done," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "If you don't play your best that night your season will be over."
Two years ago, Black Hawk lost in the state semifinals to Potosi. The Warriors last year finished as the state runner-up losing to Wausau Newman 64-30 in the state championship game. Black Hawk is looking to take the next step and win a state title.
"Unfortunately, the previous years don't have a whole lot of bearing on the present," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "We are conscious of what we have been able to do. We know it's a new year and it presents a new set of challenges."
Flanagan said he has learned about the pressure his players face after the last two runs to state.
"It's a lot of weight on their shoulders," Flanagan said. "Every step you go it kind of piles on. We as a program are trying to learn how to deal with that and defuse that."
Division 2
Portage split two games with Sauk Prairie and DeForest, which are two teams seeded higher than Monroe. Portage is led by 6-foot, 1 inch junior Hannah Considine and junior Heidi Hemming who both average 8.6 points per game. The Warriors also have a third scoring option in 5-10 sophomore Teagan Olson who averages 8.3 ppg.
"I think we will have our hands full," Mathiason said. "We will have to do a good job of playing solid defense."
Monroe is led by seniors Kylee Ritschard, Kyleigh Sellnow and junior Brooke McBain. Ritschard averages 11 ppg, McBain (10) and Sellnow (9.6). Mathiason said the matchups against a certain team will determine who steps up as scorers.
"I think in the tournament you need three scorers," Mathiason said. "They don't care who the scorers are. We just need to find a balance of playing solid defense and continue to find ways to score points."
If Monroe wins, the Cheesemakers would advance to the regional semifinals and play at No. 1 seed Madison Edgewood on Friday.
"I think the expectation is that we are going to go out and play the best we can," Mathiason said. "You can't look too far ahead. You can get in trouble by trying to project too far."
Mathiason said the team has talked about using the regular season finale loss to Stoughton as motivation in the postseason.
"We don't want to have that repeat feeling," Mathiason said.
Division 3
Few teams enter the tournament as hot as Brodhead (15-7). The Cardinals have won 12 of their last 14 games including a 39-37 win over Belleville in January.
The Cardinals lost four of their first six games by three points or less including three by one point. Since then, the Cardinals have found their rhythm behind three top scorers in sophomore Taylor Douglas (11.3 ppg), freshman Carly Mohns (10.5 ppg) and senior Mariah Mohns (10.5 ppg).
Brodhead as a No. 2 seed in the Clinton regional will play the winner of Orfordville Parkview and Big Foot on Friday. If the Cardinals win that game, they could get a rematch against Edgerton in the regional championship game Saturday. Edgerton, the top seed, beat the Cardinals 52-47 in February.
Division 4
There are few teams with a better turnaround story than Darlington. The Redbirds (18-4) finished second in the SWAL behind Fennimore. Last year the Redbirds finished 8-15 and finished seventh in the SWAL. This year, the Redbirds were in the hunt for a conference title with Fennimore.
Darlington will open the WIAA Division 4 Mineral Point regional against the Pointers. If the Redbirds win, they would face the winner of Iowa-Grant and Lancaster in the regional semifinals on Friday.
"We know we have potential," Darlington junior Amy Jorgenson said. "Our coach told us it's the beginning of a new season. It's totally different now. Anything can happen. Anything is possible."
If Darlington can win two games, the Redbirds could get a third game against Fennimore in the regional final Saturday.
"Personally, I want to play Fennimore again," Jorgenson said. "I just want another shot at them and I think we can do it."
New Glarus (9-13) as a No. 4 seed in the DeForest regional will host Pardeeville tonight. If the Glarner Knights win, a regional semifinal game against No. 1 seed Belleville awaits.
Division 5
The WIAA Division 5 Evansville regional is a Six Rivers East Conference tournament with Black Hawk as the favorite to win the regional. The Warriors have a bye in the first round, but will play the winner of Albany-Monticello on Friday.
"There were games during the conference season where we were challenged," Flanagan said. "We are certainly not looking past our conference opponents. It's about what you do best at a high level. You hope that is enough to get you by."
Flanagan is hoping to have junior Chaesta Shager back after she has been battling illness.
"It's a wait and see situation," Flanagan said. "It's our hope on Friday that she will be ready to go."
Albany (11-10) and Monticello (6-12) each enter the tournament having lost five of their last six games. Albany swept the Ponies during the regular season. Monticello lost to Albany 48-46 in February.
Juda (17-5) as the No. 3 seed will host Pecatonica tonight. Argyle will travel to No. 2 seed Barneveld. If Juda can get past Pecatonica, the Panthers would play the winner of Barneveld in the regional semifinals on Friday.
Juda junior C.J. Dunwiddie looks to return for the tournament after missing the last two games with an ankle injury. Four of the Panthers' five losses have come against Barneveld and Black Hawk.
