STOUGHTON - The first half of the Monroe Cheesemakers' regular-season finale at Stoughton Thursday went great, as sophomore Taylor Barrett and senior Brooke McBain combined to score 19 points and the visitors opened a 10-point lead.
But behind junior guard Tessa Mersberger, the Vikings rallied to defeat Monroe 48-44.
Stoughton went to a zone defense in the second quarter and the Cheesemakers struggled to score. Meanwhile, Mersberger went off for 17 second-half points in the Badger South Conference game.
Stoughton's zone limited Monroe to 18 points in the second half.
"That made it harder for us to get shots and the same post touches we were getting earlier," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said of the zone.
Still, the Cheesemakers had a 33-31 lead to begin the fourth quarter. The Vikings began the final quarter on an 11-3 run to take a 42-36 lead.
Senior Molly Hlubek and sophomore Vanessa Studer connected on 3-pointers to get Monroe to within 46-44, but the Cheesemakers couldn't come up with a tying basket.
"It's one of those things that kind of stings at the end because we played so well. We were in a real good spot at halftime and then withstood a few things in the third quarter. We competed and didn't give up," Mathiason said.
McBain finished with 11 points and Barrett added 10 for Monroe, which finishes regular-season play 5-17 overall and 3-9 in the Badger South.
Brodhead 73, Parkview 43
BRODHEAD - The Brodhead Cardinals closed out the regular season with their fifth straight win in a Rock Vally South Conference game.
Junior Mariah Ahrens scored a career-high 19 points while junior Taylor Douglas and sophomore Rachel Heller each scored 14 for the Cardinals (19-3, 14-2 Rock Valley South).
New Glarus 47, Luther Prep 42
WATERTOWN - The Glarner Knights struggled in the first half, but started the second half on an 18-4 run en route to the non-conference win.
Junior guard Anya Schween triggered the rally for the Knights by scoring six of her 11 points in the third quarter. Sophomore Sierra Watrud also scored 11 points for the Glarner Knights (14-8, 7-3 Capitol South).
Darlington 48, Boscobel 41
BOSCOBEL - Senior Amy Jorgenson scored a game-high 24 points and the Redbirds erased a 17-13 halftime deficit with a 35-point second half in a SWAL contest.
Junior Claire Scott added 10 points and junior Tatum Evenstad contributed a career-high 10 points for the Redbirds (14-8, 10-4 SWAL).
Argyle 54, Albany 43
ALBANY - Sophomore Jessica Treuthardt scored 15 points and Argyle's defense allowed just three points in the first quarter in Six Rivers East Conference action.
The Orioles (7-15, 5-7 Six Rivers East) grabbed a 30-14 halftime lead by using their press to create turnovers.
Junior Cassidy Bump scored 23 points and junior Kirstie Kauk added 14 points for the Comets (5-17, 0-12).
But behind junior guard Tessa Mersberger, the Vikings rallied to defeat Monroe 48-44.
Stoughton went to a zone defense in the second quarter and the Cheesemakers struggled to score. Meanwhile, Mersberger went off for 17 second-half points in the Badger South Conference game.
Stoughton's zone limited Monroe to 18 points in the second half.
"That made it harder for us to get shots and the same post touches we were getting earlier," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said of the zone.
Still, the Cheesemakers had a 33-31 lead to begin the fourth quarter. The Vikings began the final quarter on an 11-3 run to take a 42-36 lead.
Senior Molly Hlubek and sophomore Vanessa Studer connected on 3-pointers to get Monroe to within 46-44, but the Cheesemakers couldn't come up with a tying basket.
"It's one of those things that kind of stings at the end because we played so well. We were in a real good spot at halftime and then withstood a few things in the third quarter. We competed and didn't give up," Mathiason said.
McBain finished with 11 points and Barrett added 10 for Monroe, which finishes regular-season play 5-17 overall and 3-9 in the Badger South.
Brodhead 73, Parkview 43
BRODHEAD - The Brodhead Cardinals closed out the regular season with their fifth straight win in a Rock Vally South Conference game.
Junior Mariah Ahrens scored a career-high 19 points while junior Taylor Douglas and sophomore Rachel Heller each scored 14 for the Cardinals (19-3, 14-2 Rock Valley South).
New Glarus 47, Luther Prep 42
WATERTOWN - The Glarner Knights struggled in the first half, but started the second half on an 18-4 run en route to the non-conference win.
Junior guard Anya Schween triggered the rally for the Knights by scoring six of her 11 points in the third quarter. Sophomore Sierra Watrud also scored 11 points for the Glarner Knights (14-8, 7-3 Capitol South).
Darlington 48, Boscobel 41
BOSCOBEL - Senior Amy Jorgenson scored a game-high 24 points and the Redbirds erased a 17-13 halftime deficit with a 35-point second half in a SWAL contest.
Junior Claire Scott added 10 points and junior Tatum Evenstad contributed a career-high 10 points for the Redbirds (14-8, 10-4 SWAL).
Argyle 54, Albany 43
ALBANY - Sophomore Jessica Treuthardt scored 15 points and Argyle's defense allowed just three points in the first quarter in Six Rivers East Conference action.
The Orioles (7-15, 5-7 Six Rivers East) grabbed a 30-14 halftime lead by using their press to create turnovers.
Junior Cassidy Bump scored 23 points and junior Kirstie Kauk added 14 points for the Comets (5-17, 0-12).
