MONROE - Junior Kade King has played AAU basketball in the summer with Oregon's Ethan Victorson and Carter Erickson, so there will be no surprises when the Cheesemakers play the Panthers in a WIAA Division 2 regional quarterfinal game tonight.
"These guys know each other really well," Monroe coach Brian Bassett said. "It's one of those teams that Monroe plays they always remember because they have been playing each other in tournaments growing up."
Victorson leads the Panthers in scoring by averaging 15 points per game. To Bassett, it's no secret how the Panthers (9-13) want to play.
"I think it will be a tough, grind-it-out battle," Bassett said. "They want to control the tempo, slow the game down and make seven or eight passes before they shoot. Defensively, they want to trick us into taking quick shots."
If Monroe (13-9) beats Oregon, the Cheesemakers would advance to play at Stoughton in a regional semifinal Friday. The last time the Cheesemakers played the Vikings, senior Hunter Ward hit a game-winning shot in the final seconds.
The Cheesemakers have had a balanced offensive attack all season, and are led in scoring by King (15.0 ppg). The other top scorers for the Cheesemakers are senior Brayden Zettle (13.3 ppg), senior Jonah Tostrud (8 ppg) and Ward (7.6 ppg).
"If we get shots for Kade (King) and Brayden Zettle and have a third player step up we can make a run," Bassett said.
Oregon senior Connor Belville had six offensive rebounds the first time the two teams met. Bassett wants the Cheesemakers' defense to focus on keeping him off the boards.
"He's probably the most improved player in our conference over the last six weeks," Bassett said. "He's a great offensive rebounder. He's very athletic. He's really been looking to get his own shot off."
When Ethan Victorson was injured in the game at Monroe, his younger brother, freshman Erik Victorson stepped up and scored 17 points.
"Having our hands high will be a key because they (Victorsons) can shoot lights out," Bassett said.
Monona Grove is the No. 1 seed in Monroe's half sectional.
Bassett said the Silver Eagles are the favor to make a sectional run. However, he said Stoughton and DeForest are also contenders.
Division 3
The 10th-seeded Brodhead Cardinals play at seventh-seeded Dodgeville. Brodhead (7-15) has hit a rough patch, losing six straight games heading into the tournament by an average of 30.3 points per game.
The Cardinals are led by three seniors: Brekan Day (17.5 ppg), Justice Tway (15.2 ppg) and Parker Johnson (13.9 ppg). Brodhead will need its defense to step up.
Dodgeville is led by Bryce Prochaska (18.2 ppg, 11.8 rebounds per game). If Brodhead knocks off Dodgeville, the Cardinals would advance to face second-seeded Edgerton, which beat them by 23 points in their last meeting.
Division 4
New Glarus (22-0) is the No. 1 seed in the bottom half of the Division 4 Baraboo sectional. The Glarner Knights, ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press state poll, received a first-round bye. New Glarus will play the winner of ninth-seeded Belleville and eighth-seeded Dodgeland in a regional semifinal Friday.
"I think we are pretty excited to get the tournament started," New Glarus coach Travis Sysko said. "It's been one heck of a season. We earned that No. 1 seed. It will definitely give us a home court advantage."
The Knights, Capitol South Conference champions, have a balanced offensive attack that plays at a fast pace. New Glarus has four players averaging double figures, led by junior point guard Jaden Kreklow (20.2 ppg). The other top playmakers for the Knights are junior Zach Feller (19.9 ppg), senior Cullen Brooks (15.1 ppg) and junior Trevor Gassman (11 ppg).
Several other teams in the same sectional as New Glarus could make a sectional run, including second-seeded Pardeeville (19-2), third-seeded Markesan (15-7) and fourth-seeded Saint Mary's Springs (15-8).
"We definitely have our work cut out for us," Sysko said.
Darlington (15-7) received a No. 4 seed in the top half of the Baraboo sectional and also received a first-round bye. The Redbirds will play the winner of SWAL rivals Cuba City and Boscobel on Friday in a regional semifinal. The top seed in the top half of the Baraboo sectional is Mineral Point (18-4).
Division 5
Deerfield received the No. 1 seed in the top half of the Division 5 Watertown sectional. Ninth-seeded Wayland Academy will play at eighth-seeded Monticello (9-12) in a regional quarterfinal game tonight. It's the first regional home game for the Ponies in five years.
Monticello is led by sophomore Reece Rufer (14.9 ppg). Rufer and senior Jon Errthum (9.1 ppg) form a formidable post presence that leads the Ponies. Wayland Academy relies on the tandem of Krem Kocer (23.8 ppg) and Ryan Sefuku (15.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg).
Argyle (6-16), a 12th seed, will play at fifth-seeded Rio. The Orioles are 2-8 in their past 10 games. Scoring has been a struggle at times for Argyle, which enters the tournament averaging 43 points per game. Argyle senior Brent Ritschard carries the scoring load for the Orioles (15.5 ppg).
"I think our league is very good," Pecatonica coach Matt Fink said of the Six Rivers East. "Don't be surprised if one of them goes and upsets someone."
In the bottom half of the Division 5 Watertown sectional, Sheboygan Area Lutheran is the No. 1 seed and Pecatonica (15-7) is the No. 2 seed. Pecatonica will host 15th-seeded Central Wisconsin Christian.
"We are happy to get the 2," Fink said. "We had an argument for the No. 1 seed. Deerfield got the No. 1 seed for a reason. They are the favorite. It's a loaded half-sectional. The top seven or eight teams are all really good."
Barneveld (14-8), the Six Rivers East co-champion with the Vikings, is the No. 3 seed and Black Hawk is the No. 6 seed. The Golden Eagles will host 14th-seeded Madison Country Day.
Albany, an 11th seed, will play a regional quarterfinal game at Black Hawk tonight. The Warriors enter the tournament as one of the hottest teams after going 6-1 in their past seven games. Black Hawk (15-6) swept two games from the Comets in the Six Rivers East Conference during the regular season.
The Warriors have used their size advantage with junior Conner Meyer and senior C.J. Leuzinger, both 6-foot-5, to attack the Comets in the previous two meetings. Meyer (19.1 ppg and 6.6 rpg) has been a key cog in the Warriors' attack against the Comets. He's averaging 20 points per game in two games against Albany this year.
Juda (6-16), a 10th seed will play at seventh-seeded Fall River and Pecatonica will host 15th-seeded Central Wisconsin Christian. The Panthers are led by seniors Keagen Haffele (19.7 ppg) and Cole Fortney (12.9 ppg).
Juda doesn't have a lot of size down low, so the Panthers will look to push the ball and score in transition against Fall River. The Pirates (13-9) finished fifth in the Trailways West Conference and are led by 6-foot-3-inch senior Parker Morton (19.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg). The other top scorers for the Pirates are Tanner Liebenthal (11.4 ppg) and Jared Klein (11 ppg).
Pecatonica point guard Colton Schraepfer (15.5 ppg) missed nine games this year due to a knee injury. He played sparingly in several other games. Schraepfer has returned strong, but in his absence the Vikings were able to get big production from their two post players, 6-foot-5-inch junior Zack Eaton, and 6-foot-4-inch sophomore Bo Hendrickson.
The other top scorers for the Vikings are senior Evan Prust (13.6 ppg) and junior Jaden Hendrickson (9.8 ppg).
"When you have a guy out with an injury it creates opportunities for other guys," Fink said. "Our post players have always had the ability. Zack Eaton and Bo Hendrickson have done an excellent job for us."
"These guys know each other really well," Monroe coach Brian Bassett said. "It's one of those teams that Monroe plays they always remember because they have been playing each other in tournaments growing up."
Victorson leads the Panthers in scoring by averaging 15 points per game. To Bassett, it's no secret how the Panthers (9-13) want to play.
"I think it will be a tough, grind-it-out battle," Bassett said. "They want to control the tempo, slow the game down and make seven or eight passes before they shoot. Defensively, they want to trick us into taking quick shots."
If Monroe (13-9) beats Oregon, the Cheesemakers would advance to play at Stoughton in a regional semifinal Friday. The last time the Cheesemakers played the Vikings, senior Hunter Ward hit a game-winning shot in the final seconds.
The Cheesemakers have had a balanced offensive attack all season, and are led in scoring by King (15.0 ppg). The other top scorers for the Cheesemakers are senior Brayden Zettle (13.3 ppg), senior Jonah Tostrud (8 ppg) and Ward (7.6 ppg).
"If we get shots for Kade (King) and Brayden Zettle and have a third player step up we can make a run," Bassett said.
Oregon senior Connor Belville had six offensive rebounds the first time the two teams met. Bassett wants the Cheesemakers' defense to focus on keeping him off the boards.
"He's probably the most improved player in our conference over the last six weeks," Bassett said. "He's a great offensive rebounder. He's very athletic. He's really been looking to get his own shot off."
When Ethan Victorson was injured in the game at Monroe, his younger brother, freshman Erik Victorson stepped up and scored 17 points.
"Having our hands high will be a key because they (Victorsons) can shoot lights out," Bassett said.
Monona Grove is the No. 1 seed in Monroe's half sectional.
Bassett said the Silver Eagles are the favor to make a sectional run. However, he said Stoughton and DeForest are also contenders.
Division 3
The 10th-seeded Brodhead Cardinals play at seventh-seeded Dodgeville. Brodhead (7-15) has hit a rough patch, losing six straight games heading into the tournament by an average of 30.3 points per game.
The Cardinals are led by three seniors: Brekan Day (17.5 ppg), Justice Tway (15.2 ppg) and Parker Johnson (13.9 ppg). Brodhead will need its defense to step up.
Dodgeville is led by Bryce Prochaska (18.2 ppg, 11.8 rebounds per game). If Brodhead knocks off Dodgeville, the Cardinals would advance to face second-seeded Edgerton, which beat them by 23 points in their last meeting.
Division 4
New Glarus (22-0) is the No. 1 seed in the bottom half of the Division 4 Baraboo sectional. The Glarner Knights, ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press state poll, received a first-round bye. New Glarus will play the winner of ninth-seeded Belleville and eighth-seeded Dodgeland in a regional semifinal Friday.
"I think we are pretty excited to get the tournament started," New Glarus coach Travis Sysko said. "It's been one heck of a season. We earned that No. 1 seed. It will definitely give us a home court advantage."
The Knights, Capitol South Conference champions, have a balanced offensive attack that plays at a fast pace. New Glarus has four players averaging double figures, led by junior point guard Jaden Kreklow (20.2 ppg). The other top playmakers for the Knights are junior Zach Feller (19.9 ppg), senior Cullen Brooks (15.1 ppg) and junior Trevor Gassman (11 ppg).
Several other teams in the same sectional as New Glarus could make a sectional run, including second-seeded Pardeeville (19-2), third-seeded Markesan (15-7) and fourth-seeded Saint Mary's Springs (15-8).
"We definitely have our work cut out for us," Sysko said.
Darlington (15-7) received a No. 4 seed in the top half of the Baraboo sectional and also received a first-round bye. The Redbirds will play the winner of SWAL rivals Cuba City and Boscobel on Friday in a regional semifinal. The top seed in the top half of the Baraboo sectional is Mineral Point (18-4).
Division 5
Deerfield received the No. 1 seed in the top half of the Division 5 Watertown sectional. Ninth-seeded Wayland Academy will play at eighth-seeded Monticello (9-12) in a regional quarterfinal game tonight. It's the first regional home game for the Ponies in five years.
Monticello is led by sophomore Reece Rufer (14.9 ppg). Rufer and senior Jon Errthum (9.1 ppg) form a formidable post presence that leads the Ponies. Wayland Academy relies on the tandem of Krem Kocer (23.8 ppg) and Ryan Sefuku (15.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg).
Argyle (6-16), a 12th seed, will play at fifth-seeded Rio. The Orioles are 2-8 in their past 10 games. Scoring has been a struggle at times for Argyle, which enters the tournament averaging 43 points per game. Argyle senior Brent Ritschard carries the scoring load for the Orioles (15.5 ppg).
"I think our league is very good," Pecatonica coach Matt Fink said of the Six Rivers East. "Don't be surprised if one of them goes and upsets someone."
In the bottom half of the Division 5 Watertown sectional, Sheboygan Area Lutheran is the No. 1 seed and Pecatonica (15-7) is the No. 2 seed. Pecatonica will host 15th-seeded Central Wisconsin Christian.
"We are happy to get the 2," Fink said. "We had an argument for the No. 1 seed. Deerfield got the No. 1 seed for a reason. They are the favorite. It's a loaded half-sectional. The top seven or eight teams are all really good."
Barneveld (14-8), the Six Rivers East co-champion with the Vikings, is the No. 3 seed and Black Hawk is the No. 6 seed. The Golden Eagles will host 14th-seeded Madison Country Day.
Albany, an 11th seed, will play a regional quarterfinal game at Black Hawk tonight. The Warriors enter the tournament as one of the hottest teams after going 6-1 in their past seven games. Black Hawk (15-6) swept two games from the Comets in the Six Rivers East Conference during the regular season.
The Warriors have used their size advantage with junior Conner Meyer and senior C.J. Leuzinger, both 6-foot-5, to attack the Comets in the previous two meetings. Meyer (19.1 ppg and 6.6 rpg) has been a key cog in the Warriors' attack against the Comets. He's averaging 20 points per game in two games against Albany this year.
Juda (6-16), a 10th seed will play at seventh-seeded Fall River and Pecatonica will host 15th-seeded Central Wisconsin Christian. The Panthers are led by seniors Keagen Haffele (19.7 ppg) and Cole Fortney (12.9 ppg).
Juda doesn't have a lot of size down low, so the Panthers will look to push the ball and score in transition against Fall River. The Pirates (13-9) finished fifth in the Trailways West Conference and are led by 6-foot-3-inch senior Parker Morton (19.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg). The other top scorers for the Pirates are Tanner Liebenthal (11.4 ppg) and Jared Klein (11 ppg).
Pecatonica point guard Colton Schraepfer (15.5 ppg) missed nine games this year due to a knee injury. He played sparingly in several other games. Schraepfer has returned strong, but in his absence the Vikings were able to get big production from their two post players, 6-foot-5-inch junior Zack Eaton, and 6-foot-4-inch sophomore Bo Hendrickson.
The other top scorers for the Vikings are senior Evan Prust (13.6 ppg) and junior Jaden Hendrickson (9.8 ppg).
"When you have a guy out with an injury it creates opportunities for other guys," Fink said. "Our post players have always had the ability. Zack Eaton and Bo Hendrickson have done an excellent job for us."
