MONROE - The Monroe boys basketball team didn't get to cut down the net for winning a Badger South Conference championship, but maybe they can play their way into cutting down the nets for a WIAA Division 2 regional championship this weekend.

That quest will start Friday for Monroe (15-7), which hosts the winner of the Madison Edgewood and Portage game on Tuesday night when the tournament tips off with regional quarterfinal games.

"We are battle-tested," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "This team has to deal with more adversity than any team I have ever had."

Monroe has lost three straight games and four of its last six games heading into the tournament. The Cheesemakers suffered a big blow last week when 6-foot-5 senior Joe Latimer suffered a season-ending ACL injury against Milton. The Cheesemakers have lost three games at the buzzer this year and one to Waunakee with two seconds left and lost to Freeport in overtime.

Latimer was the leading scorer for the Cheesemakers, putting up 14.6 points per game.

"You don't lose a first team all-conference guy without suffering some," Murphy said. "Other guys will have to step up. It's the next man up."

The Cheesemakers will rely on senior Alex Barenklau (13 ppg) and senior Trent Wyssbrod (8.7 ppg) for more scoring punch when they face either Madison Edgewood or Portage, which are both familiar opponents. Monroe split the season series with Madison Edgewood and beat Portage 41-38 on Dec. 4.

If the Cheesemakers can win Friday, they would likely play No. 3 seed Mount Horeb (16-6) for the regional title Saturday in Monroe. Mount Horeb enters the tournament as one of the hottest teams, going 7-2 in its last nine games. The last time Monroe won a regional title was in 2009. Mount Horeb has defeated Monona Grove twice this year - 57-40 and 57-47 and they beat Stoughton.

If Monroe can make a run to the sectional, they would likely get a rematch with Waunakee (17-5) and could play either No. 1 seed Wilmot Union (17-5), Monona Grove (13-9) or Stoughton (14-8) in the sectional final. Waunakee is 9-1 in its last 10 games.

"I want to extend the season for as long as we can," Murphy said. "One bad game and you are done. It's a tough time of year. That is the harsh reality of the tournament."



Division 3

Brodhead (5-17) will open the regional quarterfinal on Tuesday at Lakeside Lutheran (15-7), who finished second in the Capitol North Conference behind Lodi.

Lakeside has six players averaging about seven points per game, led by Jason Eternick (16.4 ppg) and Logan Birkholz (10.4 ppg). Brodhead coach Brian Kammerer is worried about the quickness of the Warriors.

"We are not going to be able to out-run Lakeside Lutheran," Kammerer said. "We will have to have long possessions, keep the score down and hope they are cold shooting. If we come out and play like we are capable, we have a chance."

If Brodhead wins, the Cardinals would then play at fourth-seeded conference rival Clinton on Friday.



Division 4

Darlington will host Lancaster on Tuesday. Darlington coach Mike Hopkins said his team will need some balance.

"We can't just rely on 3-pointers," he said. "I think they are really quick, but we will have a height advantage. We have to use that to our advantage and get the ball inside."

If ninth-seeded Darlington wins, the Redbirds would play at Cuba City (22-0), ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Division 3 state poll, on Friday.

New Glarus (5-17) received a No. 11 seed and will look to pull off an upset at sixth-seeded Fennimore. The guard tandem of Gabe Noyce (13 ppg) and Spencer Jones (11.1 ppg) will look to propel the Glarner Knights. Fennimore has lost seven of its last 11 games heading into the tournament, including a 67-49 loss to Darlington. The bottom half of the Wisconsin Dells sectional is loaded with Cuba City, No. 2 seed Southwestern (19-3) and Mineral Point (17-5).



Division 5

Black Hawk, (20-1) ranked fifth in Division 5, enters the tournament as one of the hottest teams, currently riding a 16-game winning streak. The Six Rivers East Conference champion Warriors will open the regional against Oakfield.

"We are ready for it as a team," Black Hawk coach Corey Manlick said. "We are going to get teams' best shots because of our record and ranking."

Black Hawk junior Seth Butler averages 13.2 ppg, and sophomore Heath Butler averages 9 ppg. The balanced scoring attack also features seniors Cory Rupnow, Coltin Piefer and Cuyler Meier.

If the Warriors knock off Oakfield, they would play the winner of Cambria-Friesland (12-10) and Rio (8-14) on Friday. If the Warriors make a run to the regional final, Potosi (17-4) could be waiting. Black Hawk could also face Randolph, the No. 1 ranked team in Division 5, in the sectional semifinals.

"If we happen to see Potosi, they are a very good and athletic group," Manlick said. "They went to state in football, so they must be doing something right. We are taking it one game at a time. Once you drop your guard, that is when you will get knocked off."

Pecatonica (7-15), as a No. 13 seed, will play at fourth-seeded Central Wisconsin Christian. Argyle (8-14), as the No. 12 seed, will play at fifth-seeded Fall River. If Pecatonica and Argyle can spring upsets in the first round, they would face each other in the regional semifinals on Friday.

In the bottom half of the Fort Atkinson sectional, third-seeded Monticello (17-5) hosts No. 14 seed University Lake School. Monticello finished third in the Six Rivers East Conference and is looking to make a tournament run after a 48-44 loss to Juda in the season finale last week.

The Ponies are led by senior Bryce Klitzke 17.9 ppg, sophomore Ben May (15.8 ppg) and junior Lucas Marty (10.9 ppg).

"I really don't know what to expect out of our regional," Monticello coach Mark Olson said. "I wouldn't be surprised to see Juda or Albany make a run. They are both good basketball teams."

Juda (7-15), a No. 9 seed, plays at eighth-seeded Williams Bay. The Panthers are coming off the big win against Monticello and have a senior-dominated lineup led by Cody Suiter (13.9 ppg), Cole Bauman (10.7 ppg) and Matt Trotter. Albany (9-13), as a No. 5 seed, hosts No. 12 seed Heritage Christian. Albany junior Isaiah Shell is averaging 22.3 ppg, but the Comets have been at their best when they get other players involved and don't have to rely solely on Shell as a scorer.

If Juda wins, they would play at No. 1 seed Milwaukee Academy of Science on Friday. If Albany wins, the Comets would play winner of Faith Christian and Johnson Creek. There is a chance if Juda and Albany both make tournament runs they could face each other in a regional final on Saturday.

"The great thing about high school basketball and the tournament is you don't have to beat a team nine out of 10 times," Juda coach Mike Armitage said. "You have to beat them once. As a coach and a player, you just have to think you can survive. As a team we are looking to survive each game for as long as we can."