MONROE - The Monroe High School girls basketball team isn't in uncharted historical territory as an underdog for Friday's WIAA Division 2 state semifinal game in Green Bay.
It's a rematch of a showdown earlier this year when Beaver Dam, ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Division 2 state poll, ran to a 70-49 win over the Cheesemakers on Dec. 10 in Monroe.
Monroe (21-3) ended the regular season ranked eighth.
Beaver Dam (26-0) has been dominant all season, winning games by an average of 33.5 points per game.
"I think going in as the underdog is a good thing," Monroe junior Sydney Mathiason said. "We don't have the pressure on us. We are just going in to play a basketball game. That is what we are worried about, playing one game."
Monroe is making its ninth appearance in the state tournament. The Cheesemakers won titles in 1989 (Class A), 2006 (Division 2) and 2008 (Division 2).
Monroe senior Jordan Hirsbrunner, a University of Wisconsin track recruit, has competed in three different state meets and is the first girl in the history of the Monroe track program to win four medals in the same state meet, including a gold medal in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. She understands her time in the spotlight with her friends and teammates is coming to a close.
"It's definitely a wonderful opportunity," Hirsbrunner said. "I can't think of a better way to end my basketball career than to make it to state. It's the first time I've been to state as a team. The other times I've been to state it's been as an individual."
Beaver Dam is the champion of the Wisconsin Little Ten Conference. The Beavers will join the Badger North Conference next year when the Wisconsin Little Ten Conference dissolves as part of a conference reshuffle in the northern part of the state. Beaver Dam is led by senior point guard Cassidy Trotter, a Michigan Tech recruit, who is averaging 15.6 points per game. The Beavers are averaging 75.8 points per game and have eight players averaging six points or more. Beaver Dam's Tara Stauffacher (11.6 ppg) and senior Kara Crowley (8.8 ppg), who moved to Beaver Dam from Dodgeville, are also both averaging in double figures.
Beaver Dam features its own version of the twin towers in 6-foot-3 sophomore Aly Van Loo and 6-2 Afton Bartol.
"They have so many weapons and girls who can score," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "They are so good that they can play many styles from a fullcourt press to a trapping zone, they can push the ball, and if they want they can play two 6-foot players inside."
In the first meeting between the teams, Beaver Dam built a 33-14 lead at the half. Despite shooting 21.7 percent in the first half (5 of 23) and committing 10 turnovers in the December game against the Beavers, the Cheesemakers were able to cut the deficit to 15 points twice in the second half. Beaver Dam freshman Jada Donaldson hit four 3-pointers and scored 12 points in the second half of the first meeting.
"We will have to do a really good job on defense of locking down, boxing out and rebounding," coach Mathiason said. "We will have to find a way to be efficient, get good shots and be able to knock them down."
It's a test the Cheesemakers are ready to accept. Mathiason said Monroe is different team compared to the previous meeting.
"I think when you see a team for a second or third time you get a knowledge of how they like to play," he said. "They have been playing at a really high level. Both teams have been playing at a high level. It will be a big challenge."
The Beavers were on the cusp of making it to the state tournament last year before losing to Green Bay Notre Dame in a sectional final 65-61 in overtime.
The Cheesemakers have had a big turnaround, growing from a team that finished 10-14 and fifth in the Badger South Conference last year into a state title contender this season.
Monroe assistant coach Bill Dehn, who has served as a varsity girls basketball assistant coach for three years and spent 10 years as the Monroe boys head coach and two as a boys varsity assistant coach, saw the development begin last year.
"We had some younger players who played and got experience last year," Dehn said. "Success breeds success. We started out the year really well, beating Edgewood and Stoughton. That gave them the confidence to believe in themselves. We lost that game to Beaver Dam, but it was just a step in the road."
Monroe sophomore Emily Benzschawel and the Cheesemakers are looking to make another giant step.
"It's been a dream of mine since I have been little," Benzschawel said of playing in the state tournament. "Coming in with a chip on our shoulder really helps out going out and giving it our all."
It's a rematch of a showdown earlier this year when Beaver Dam, ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Division 2 state poll, ran to a 70-49 win over the Cheesemakers on Dec. 10 in Monroe.
Monroe (21-3) ended the regular season ranked eighth.
Beaver Dam (26-0) has been dominant all season, winning games by an average of 33.5 points per game.
"I think going in as the underdog is a good thing," Monroe junior Sydney Mathiason said. "We don't have the pressure on us. We are just going in to play a basketball game. That is what we are worried about, playing one game."
Monroe is making its ninth appearance in the state tournament. The Cheesemakers won titles in 1989 (Class A), 2006 (Division 2) and 2008 (Division 2).
Monroe senior Jordan Hirsbrunner, a University of Wisconsin track recruit, has competed in three different state meets and is the first girl in the history of the Monroe track program to win four medals in the same state meet, including a gold medal in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. She understands her time in the spotlight with her friends and teammates is coming to a close.
"It's definitely a wonderful opportunity," Hirsbrunner said. "I can't think of a better way to end my basketball career than to make it to state. It's the first time I've been to state as a team. The other times I've been to state it's been as an individual."
Beaver Dam is the champion of the Wisconsin Little Ten Conference. The Beavers will join the Badger North Conference next year when the Wisconsin Little Ten Conference dissolves as part of a conference reshuffle in the northern part of the state. Beaver Dam is led by senior point guard Cassidy Trotter, a Michigan Tech recruit, who is averaging 15.6 points per game. The Beavers are averaging 75.8 points per game and have eight players averaging six points or more. Beaver Dam's Tara Stauffacher (11.6 ppg) and senior Kara Crowley (8.8 ppg), who moved to Beaver Dam from Dodgeville, are also both averaging in double figures.
Beaver Dam features its own version of the twin towers in 6-foot-3 sophomore Aly Van Loo and 6-2 Afton Bartol.
"They have so many weapons and girls who can score," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "They are so good that they can play many styles from a fullcourt press to a trapping zone, they can push the ball, and if they want they can play two 6-foot players inside."
In the first meeting between the teams, Beaver Dam built a 33-14 lead at the half. Despite shooting 21.7 percent in the first half (5 of 23) and committing 10 turnovers in the December game against the Beavers, the Cheesemakers were able to cut the deficit to 15 points twice in the second half. Beaver Dam freshman Jada Donaldson hit four 3-pointers and scored 12 points in the second half of the first meeting.
"We will have to do a really good job on defense of locking down, boxing out and rebounding," coach Mathiason said. "We will have to find a way to be efficient, get good shots and be able to knock them down."
It's a test the Cheesemakers are ready to accept. Mathiason said Monroe is different team compared to the previous meeting.
"I think when you see a team for a second or third time you get a knowledge of how they like to play," he said. "They have been playing at a really high level. Both teams have been playing at a high level. It will be a big challenge."
The Beavers were on the cusp of making it to the state tournament last year before losing to Green Bay Notre Dame in a sectional final 65-61 in overtime.
The Cheesemakers have had a big turnaround, growing from a team that finished 10-14 and fifth in the Badger South Conference last year into a state title contender this season.
Monroe assistant coach Bill Dehn, who has served as a varsity girls basketball assistant coach for three years and spent 10 years as the Monroe boys head coach and two as a boys varsity assistant coach, saw the development begin last year.
"We had some younger players who played and got experience last year," Dehn said. "Success breeds success. We started out the year really well, beating Edgewood and Stoughton. That gave them the confidence to believe in themselves. We lost that game to Beaver Dam, but it was just a step in the road."
Monroe sophomore Emily Benzschawel and the Cheesemakers are looking to make another giant step.
"It's been a dream of mine since I have been little," Benzschawel said of playing in the state tournament. "Coming in with a chip on our shoulder really helps out going out and giving it our all."
