MONROE - The quest for a journey to Green Bay for the state basketball tournament begins Tuesday, March 4 when girls basketball teams tip-off regional games.
Monroe (6-16) received a No. 5 seed and will play at No. 4 seed Mount Horeb in a WIAA Division 2 regional quarterfinal Tuesday. The Cheesemakers beat the Vikings last year in the first-round of the regional 47-33. However, many of Mount Horeb's younger players are a year older and they have two freshmen who are playing significant roles.
"I know they will have last year's game on their minds," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "We just have to find a way to be better that night and win. It should be a tough and competitive game."
Mount Horeb (14-8) has beat Waunakee, the second place team in the Badger North, twice this season. The Vikings have also lost two games to Badger North runner-up Reedsburg including a 51-29 blowout in February, while the Cheesemakers lost a close one to Reedsburg 37-34.
Monroe has been tested with five losses to teams ranked in the top 10 in the final WisSports.net Coaches poll.
"We just have to take advantage of every opportunity," Mathiason said. "On offense, we have to get good shots every time. That is all you can ask for. On defense, we have to make them work."
The top two scorers for the Cheesemakers are seniors Kirsten Vetterli (7.9 ppg) and Taylor Barrett (6.7 ppg). Mount Horeb is led by juniors Allison Gordon (8.9 ppg) and Serena Pretti (8.4 ppg).
If the Cheesemakers win, they would play at No. 1 seed and No. 4 ranked Monona Grove on Friday, March 7 in the regional semifinals. Two years ago, the Cheesemakers upset Monona Grove, which was a No. 1 seed, in the tournament.
"I would love to get another opportunity to play Monona Grove," Mathiason said. "You have to worry about Mount Horeb first. Beyond that, I don't want to look too much ahead."
Division 3
Brodhead continues to check goals off their list. The Cardinals (22-0), ranked No. 2, won the Rock Valley South Conference for the fourth straight year and head into the postseason unbeaten. Brodhead received a No. 1 regional seed in the Middleton sectional and will play the winner of Edgerton and Beloit Turner on Friday.
The Cardinals are looking to make a run to state after losing to Lodi in the sectional semifinals last year. The Cardinals could host either Marshall (21-1) or Clinton (17-5) in a regional championship game Saturday, March 8.
"I think it was a big motivation for the group of seniors," Brodhead coach Brad Pickett said of the loss to Lodi last year. "Some of them have tasted state when they were fortunate enough to make it in volleyball. They are hungry. They this is their last shot in basketball."
Whitewater (19-3) and Dodgeville (17-5) are contenders for a state berth along with Brodhead and Marshall.
"I think Edgewood is a sleeper team because of the competition they play night in and night out," Pickett said. "We probably have the deepest sectional in the state. There are probably eight teams that could make a run. I think we are playing some of our best basketball right now."
The Cardinals have had a balanced scoring attack all year led by senior Carly Mohns, a University of Iowa recruit, who is averaging 17.5 ppg and 9.9 rebounds per game, sophomore Kylie Moe (11 ppg) and senior Rachel Heller (10.8 ppg).
"Offensively, you will have some games where you are not doing as well," Pickett said. "If you lean on your defense you can still do some things. If we lean on our defense, we have a good chance of making a run."
Division 4
New Glarus (9-13) has lost four of its past five games entering the tournament. The Glarner Knights are a No. 9 seed and will play at eighth-seeded Belleville. The Knights split two games with the rival Wildcats this year.
"I think the girls are excited," New Glarus coach Megan Scheele said. "They got a sour taste in their mouth after they (Belleville) beat us. It's one of those games where you hate losing even more because it's your rival. You either do it now or you are done."
New Glarus senior Courtney Feller (11.9 ppg) and sophomore Vanessa Narveson (11.2.5) ppg) give the Knights the scoring punch they need.
"We have to box out, rebound and play with consistent intensity on defense," Scheele said. "We have to do the little things. If we don't do the little things they will build up."
The winner of the New Glarus-Belleville game will play at No. 1 seed and No. 4 ranked Cuba City on Friday in the regional semifinals.
Darlington (3-19) received a 13th seed and will play at No. 4 seed Fennimore.
Division 5
Black Hawk (14-6) received a No. 1 regional seed in the Watertown sectional. The Warriors will open the tournament hosting Catholic Central on Tuesday. With a win, the Warriors would play the winner of No. 5 seed Faith Christian or No. 4 seed Juda (7-15) Friday in the regional semifinals. Black Hawk could host No. 2 seed Monticello (13-8) or No. 3 seed Argyle (12-10) in the regional championship game Saturday. The Warriors will have seven days before their regional game against Catholic Central.
"I'm a little concerned because we haven't played a game in seven or eight days," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "We have to get into a groove."
Flanagan said the Warriors would like to make a sectional run. However, he's aware the Warriors have played tight games down to the wire against both Monticello and Argyle this season.
"We don't like to focus on it, but if we don't take care of business our season will be done," Flanagan said. "We have to take it one game at a time."
Black Hawk senior Jen Wellnitz is averaging 24.2 ppg, 8.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. Wellnitz, a University of Wisconsin-Green Bay recruit, is looking to make a sectional run this year. The contenders for a state berth include No. 4 ranked Randolph (19-2), No. 5 ranked Heritage Christian (16-4) and No. 6 ranked Fall River (19-3). Four of the Warriors' losses came to teams ranked in the top six including two losses to No. 1 ranked Barneveld, a 49-48 loss to Fall River and a 56-41 loss to Randolph.
Juda snapped a three-game losing streak with a 35-27 win over Destiny in the regular season finale last week. Juda's Molly Marass (8.7 ppg) and Chelsea Burkhalter (6.7 ppg) have led the Panthers most of the year in scoring.
Albany (2-20) received a No. 6 seed and will open the tournament at Argyle.
Williams Bay received a No. 7 seed and will play at Monticello Tuesday. If Monticello (13-8) wins, the Ponies could host Argyle in a regional semifinal Friday. Black Hawk swept both games against Monticello and Argyle this season. However, the Warriors' wins have come down to late in the fourth quarter 47-45 over the Ponies and a 42-41 over Argyle. The Warriors have beat the Orioles by a combined seven points in two games and knocked off the Ponies by a combined eight points in two games.
Monticello junior Alyssah Kubly (13.5 ppg) and senior Marissa Berg (9.3 ppg) lead the Ponies, who have won three of their past four games. The Orioles enter the tournament just as hot as the Ponies going 7-2 in their past nine games.
Argyle senior Jessica Treuthardt (9.8 ppg) and junior Jenna Langmeier (9 ppg) lead the Orioles who rely on a full-court press to cause havoc.
Pecatonica as a 14th seed will play at No. 3 seed Belmont Tuesday. If the Vikings (1-21) could pull off the upset, they would play the winner of sixth-seeded Highland and 11th-seeded Kickapoo.
Monroe (6-16) received a No. 5 seed and will play at No. 4 seed Mount Horeb in a WIAA Division 2 regional quarterfinal Tuesday. The Cheesemakers beat the Vikings last year in the first-round of the regional 47-33. However, many of Mount Horeb's younger players are a year older and they have two freshmen who are playing significant roles.
"I know they will have last year's game on their minds," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "We just have to find a way to be better that night and win. It should be a tough and competitive game."
Mount Horeb (14-8) has beat Waunakee, the second place team in the Badger North, twice this season. The Vikings have also lost two games to Badger North runner-up Reedsburg including a 51-29 blowout in February, while the Cheesemakers lost a close one to Reedsburg 37-34.
Monroe has been tested with five losses to teams ranked in the top 10 in the final WisSports.net Coaches poll.
"We just have to take advantage of every opportunity," Mathiason said. "On offense, we have to get good shots every time. That is all you can ask for. On defense, we have to make them work."
The top two scorers for the Cheesemakers are seniors Kirsten Vetterli (7.9 ppg) and Taylor Barrett (6.7 ppg). Mount Horeb is led by juniors Allison Gordon (8.9 ppg) and Serena Pretti (8.4 ppg).
If the Cheesemakers win, they would play at No. 1 seed and No. 4 ranked Monona Grove on Friday, March 7 in the regional semifinals. Two years ago, the Cheesemakers upset Monona Grove, which was a No. 1 seed, in the tournament.
"I would love to get another opportunity to play Monona Grove," Mathiason said. "You have to worry about Mount Horeb first. Beyond that, I don't want to look too much ahead."
Division 3
Brodhead continues to check goals off their list. The Cardinals (22-0), ranked No. 2, won the Rock Valley South Conference for the fourth straight year and head into the postseason unbeaten. Brodhead received a No. 1 regional seed in the Middleton sectional and will play the winner of Edgerton and Beloit Turner on Friday.
The Cardinals are looking to make a run to state after losing to Lodi in the sectional semifinals last year. The Cardinals could host either Marshall (21-1) or Clinton (17-5) in a regional championship game Saturday, March 8.
"I think it was a big motivation for the group of seniors," Brodhead coach Brad Pickett said of the loss to Lodi last year. "Some of them have tasted state when they were fortunate enough to make it in volleyball. They are hungry. They this is their last shot in basketball."
Whitewater (19-3) and Dodgeville (17-5) are contenders for a state berth along with Brodhead and Marshall.
"I think Edgewood is a sleeper team because of the competition they play night in and night out," Pickett said. "We probably have the deepest sectional in the state. There are probably eight teams that could make a run. I think we are playing some of our best basketball right now."
The Cardinals have had a balanced scoring attack all year led by senior Carly Mohns, a University of Iowa recruit, who is averaging 17.5 ppg and 9.9 rebounds per game, sophomore Kylie Moe (11 ppg) and senior Rachel Heller (10.8 ppg).
"Offensively, you will have some games where you are not doing as well," Pickett said. "If you lean on your defense you can still do some things. If we lean on our defense, we have a good chance of making a run."
Division 4
New Glarus (9-13) has lost four of its past five games entering the tournament. The Glarner Knights are a No. 9 seed and will play at eighth-seeded Belleville. The Knights split two games with the rival Wildcats this year.
"I think the girls are excited," New Glarus coach Megan Scheele said. "They got a sour taste in their mouth after they (Belleville) beat us. It's one of those games where you hate losing even more because it's your rival. You either do it now or you are done."
New Glarus senior Courtney Feller (11.9 ppg) and sophomore Vanessa Narveson (11.2.5) ppg) give the Knights the scoring punch they need.
"We have to box out, rebound and play with consistent intensity on defense," Scheele said. "We have to do the little things. If we don't do the little things they will build up."
The winner of the New Glarus-Belleville game will play at No. 1 seed and No. 4 ranked Cuba City on Friday in the regional semifinals.
Darlington (3-19) received a 13th seed and will play at No. 4 seed Fennimore.
Division 5
Black Hawk (14-6) received a No. 1 regional seed in the Watertown sectional. The Warriors will open the tournament hosting Catholic Central on Tuesday. With a win, the Warriors would play the winner of No. 5 seed Faith Christian or No. 4 seed Juda (7-15) Friday in the regional semifinals. Black Hawk could host No. 2 seed Monticello (13-8) or No. 3 seed Argyle (12-10) in the regional championship game Saturday. The Warriors will have seven days before their regional game against Catholic Central.
"I'm a little concerned because we haven't played a game in seven or eight days," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "We have to get into a groove."
Flanagan said the Warriors would like to make a sectional run. However, he's aware the Warriors have played tight games down to the wire against both Monticello and Argyle this season.
"We don't like to focus on it, but if we don't take care of business our season will be done," Flanagan said. "We have to take it one game at a time."
Black Hawk senior Jen Wellnitz is averaging 24.2 ppg, 8.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. Wellnitz, a University of Wisconsin-Green Bay recruit, is looking to make a sectional run this year. The contenders for a state berth include No. 4 ranked Randolph (19-2), No. 5 ranked Heritage Christian (16-4) and No. 6 ranked Fall River (19-3). Four of the Warriors' losses came to teams ranked in the top six including two losses to No. 1 ranked Barneveld, a 49-48 loss to Fall River and a 56-41 loss to Randolph.
Juda snapped a three-game losing streak with a 35-27 win over Destiny in the regular season finale last week. Juda's Molly Marass (8.7 ppg) and Chelsea Burkhalter (6.7 ppg) have led the Panthers most of the year in scoring.
Albany (2-20) received a No. 6 seed and will open the tournament at Argyle.
Williams Bay received a No. 7 seed and will play at Monticello Tuesday. If Monticello (13-8) wins, the Ponies could host Argyle in a regional semifinal Friday. Black Hawk swept both games against Monticello and Argyle this season. However, the Warriors' wins have come down to late in the fourth quarter 47-45 over the Ponies and a 42-41 over Argyle. The Warriors have beat the Orioles by a combined seven points in two games and knocked off the Ponies by a combined eight points in two games.
Monticello junior Alyssah Kubly (13.5 ppg) and senior Marissa Berg (9.3 ppg) lead the Ponies, who have won three of their past four games. The Orioles enter the tournament just as hot as the Ponies going 7-2 in their past nine games.
Argyle senior Jessica Treuthardt (9.8 ppg) and junior Jenna Langmeier (9 ppg) lead the Orioles who rely on a full-court press to cause havoc.
Pecatonica as a 14th seed will play at No. 3 seed Belmont Tuesday. If the Vikings (1-21) could pull off the upset, they would play the winner of sixth-seeded Highland and 11th-seeded Kickapoo.
