MONROE - The Monroe girls basketball team expects a tough road with high expectations in a bid to return to state once the WIAA Division 2 tournament tips off.

"We know we have a target on our back," said Monroe senior Sydney Mathiason. "Everyone will give us their best shot. We have to go play our game, and I think we will be all right."

Monroe (20-2), ranked No. 4 in the Division 2 Associated Press state poll, received a No. 1 seed in the top half of the Sun Prairie sectional and a first-round bye. The Cheesemakers will play the winner of 10th-seeded Sauk Prairie and seventh-seeded Portage in a WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal Friday. If Monroe can get by that game, the Cheesemakers would face the winner of Monona Grove and Oregon in a regional championship game Saturday in Monroe.

Monroe junior point guard Sydney Hilliard is averaging 21.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game this season.

"It will be as difficult, if not more difficult, than last year," Hilliard said. "We have to be ready to play tough defense and hit shots."

Portage (8-14) and Sauk Prairie tied for fifth place in the Badger North Conference. The Cheesemakers have knocked off both the Silver Eagles and the Panthers twice this year.

In addition to the Cheesemakers, Monroe coach Sam Mathiason sees any of the other first five seeds in the top half of the sectional - including No. 2 Stoughton (18-4), No. 3 Reedsburg (17-5), No. 4 Oregon (15-7) and No. 5 Monona Grove (12-10) - making a run to the sectional. Both Portage and Sauk Prairie finished 8-14 overall and 5-9 in the Badger North. The Warriors split two games with the Eagles this season.

"Last year, we were not expected to make it to state," Sam Mathiason said. "I really think any of the top five seeds can get hot and make a run. I think the girls know if you lose now, you are done. It doesn't matter what your seed is."

Other players who can provide a scoring punch for the Cheesemakers include junior Emily Benzschawel (15.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg), Sydney Mathiason (10.8 ppg and 7.9 rpg) and sophomore Grace Tostrud (8.6 ppg). Monroe freshman Megan Benzschawel also has shown a knack to score. During the second time through the conference and over the past seven games, she is averaging 10.8 points per game, and scored in double figures in four games.

The only losses for the Cheesemakers came against No. 1-ranked Beaver Dam and Morton, Illinois. Reedsburg has lost two of its past three games. It also fell to Oregon 65-48 in the season opener. Stoughton is 9-1 in its past 10 games. The only way the Cheesemakers would play Beaver Dam again is if both teams make a run to state once more.



Division 3

Brodhead (9-12) will play at Poynette tonight. Brodhead senior Erin Nyhus broke the school record for points in her career last week, surpassing Kylie Moe. Nyhus now has 1,434 career points and will attempt to key the Cardinals upset bid against Poynette. The Cardinals finished seventh in a 10-team Rock Valley Conference.

Nyhus is the go-to scorer for the Cardinals, averaging 20.1 points per game. Senior Brooke Bescup (9.5 ppg) and Alexis Oliver (9.1 ppg) have also delivered big games this season. Oliver has made a team-high 20 three-pointers, and Nyhus has hit 19.

Poynette finished fourth in the Capitol North Conference. The Pumas are led by Ashlynn Klosky, who is averaging a double-double this year (12.6 ppg and 10.2 rpg).

If Brodhead wins, the Cards would advance to play at top-seeded Marshall.



Division 4

Darlington (17-4) received a No. 2 seed in the top half of the Baraboo sectional and will have a first-round bye. The Redbirds won the SWAL and will host the winner of 10th-seeded Luther and seventh-seeded Wisconsin Heights in a regional semifinal game Friday.

Darlington, which made a run to the Division 4 sectional final last year, could face third-seeded Mineral Point in a regional championship game Saturday. The Redbirds are led by juniors Kaylee Meyers (18.1 ppg) and Kathleen Mathias (13.1 ppg).

The Redbirds swept two games from the Pointers this season but won a tight game 64-62 Dec. 1 in Darlington.

Seventh-seeded New Glarus (10-12) will host 10th-seeded Dodgeland (5-17) in a regional quarterfinal game today. The Glarner Knights are coming off a 56-50 win over Wisconsin Heights in the regular season finale.

New Glarus seniors Willow Lee (15.1 ppg) and Julia Barnaby (11.8 ppg) currently lead the Knights' attack. If New Glarus knocks off Dodgeland, the Knights would face second-seeded Cambridge in a regional semifinal Friday. New Glarus is 3-7 in its past 10 games, but three of the losses have come against ranked teams - two against Marshall, ranked No. 6 in the Division 3 WisSports.net Coaches Poll, and another to seventh-ranked Dodgeville.



Division 5

Black Hawk (22-0), ranked No. 1 in Division 5 in both the Associated Press and WisSports.net Coaches polls, are looking to make a run to state after being cut short by Fall River in a regional championship game.

"We understand all too well from last year that anything can happen," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. 

The Warriors received the No. 1 seed in the top half of the Oconomowoc sectional and will host Madison Country Day tonight. With a win, the Warriors will advance and play the winner of ninth-seeded Juda or eighth-seeded Albany in a regional semifinal game Friday. Black Hawk could see fourth-seeded Argyle (15-5) in a regional title game Saturday in South Wayne, though Flanagan isn't looking that far ahead.

"It's nice to have a first-round game," Flanagan said. "It helps us stay in the swing of things. We respect every opponent. Any game from here on out could be your last game."

Flanagan said Argyle, Fall River and Central Wisconsin Christian each present challenges and are possible teams that could make a sectional run.

"To get out of our sectional will be a battle, no matter who makes it," he said.

The Warriors are led by the trio of sophomore Natalie Leuzinger (17.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg), freshman Bailey Butler (14.9 ppg and four steals per game) and sophomore Hannah Butler (12 ppg). Leuzinger is shooting 42.6 percent on 3s, while Bailey Butler is shooting 41.8 percent from beyond the arc and has made a team-high 51 three-pointers.

Juda (8-12) will play at Albany (9-13). It's the third meeting between the two teams, and the Comets won the first two. Albany defeated Juda 46-23 in the regular season finale last week. After going 4-19 last season, Albany has more than doubled its win total this year. Juda defeated the Comets three times last year, and Albany has the chance to do the same this season.

Albany junior Payton Zurfluh is averaging 12 points per game in two games against the Panthers this year. The Comets also rely on the inside game of junior Libby Beck and senior Haley Freitag.

The top scorers for Juda are senior Maddie Roth (9.5 ppg), sophomore Montana Steinmann (9.3 ppg) and senior MacKenzie Byrne (8.3 ppg).

Other regional quarterfinal games tonight: Monticello (4-17), a 12th seed, will play at fifth-seeded Randolph, while fourth-seeded Argyle will host 13th-seeded Cambria-Friesland (5-17). Pecatonica, a 14th seed, will play at third-seeded Central Wisconsin Christian (18-4).

The Ponies (4-17) are making their return to the postseason after a three-year hiatus of varsity basketball. Junior Alyssen Noriega (9.9 ppg) leads the Ponies in scoring. Monticello faces an uphill challenge against Randolph (14-8). The Rockets are led by Brianna Prieve (11.4 ppg), who has made 32 3s and is shooting 32 percent from behind the arc this year. Randolph 6-foot junior JoLea Woreck (8 ppg, 8.6 rpg) gives the Rockets a strong presence inside.

Argyle junior Jena Saalsaa (20.8 ppg, 9.1 rpg) was the top scorer this year in the Six Rivers East Conference. She will lead the Orioles into a tournament game against Cambria-Friesland. The Orioles rely on a full-court press and average 54 points per game. The other top playmaker for the Orioles is junior guard Kirstin Ostby (10.7 ppg).

Cambria-Friesland is averaging 36 points per game. The Orioles will look to force turnovers and set the tempo with their press.

Scoring has been a struggle all season for a young Pecatonica team (1-21) which faces a test against Central Wisconsin Christian. The Vikings are averaging 20 points per game this year. Pecatonica senior Ninah McKeon (5.2 ppg) has come back from an injury and will give the Kings a leadership boost on the court. The lone win for Pecatonica this year came against Madison County Day, 35-12.

Central Wisconsin Christian is led by Claire Jansen (12 ppg) and Makayla DeYoung (11 ppg and 12.2 rpg).