MONROE - As we roll closer to Christmas and winter break, there are five must-see games this week.
Tuesday: Monroe boys basketball at Stoughton
Monroe is coming off an 85-62 loss to Monona Grove and it doesn't get any easier for the Cheesemakers as they face a Stoughton team that shared the Badger South Conference championship with Madison Edgewood last season. Stoughton (3-1, 2-0 Badger South) looks to keep pace with the Silver Eagles atop the conference.
Stoughton has three players averaging double figures led by senior Max Fernholz, who is averaging 14.5 points per game. The other double-digit scorers are Adam Hobson (11 ppg) and 6-6 Tommy McClain (10.2 ppg). Stoughton, like Monona Grove, swept two games against Monroe last year. Fernholz torched the Cheesemakers for five 3-pointers and 23 points in a 71-68 win over the Cheesemakers in Monroe last season. Defending the 3-pointer will be key again in this showdown.
Thursday: Monroe girls basketball vs. Madison Edgewood
First place in the Badger South Conference is on the line in the clash between the Cheesemakers (8-1, 5-0 Badger South) and Crusaders (6-2, 4-1). Edgewood, the defending WIAA Division 3 state champions, graduated their top player from last year in Estella Moschkau, who is now playing basketball at Stanford. However, Edgewood remains a contender in the conference because of senior Caitlin Link, who is a Southern Illinois basketball recruit.
Edgewood shared the conference title with Monroe and Stoughton last year. With a win, the Crusaders could pull even in the conference. The two teams split their games last year. Monroe's win over the Crusaders was a springboard to state.
It will be a tall task against a Monroe team ranked No. 3 in the Division 2 the WisSports.net Coaches Poll. Monroe is a talented team with multiple players who can be threats and hurt teams inside and outside. Monroe junior point guard Sydney Hilliard became the fourth player in program history to score 1,000 points in her career. She's at 1,022 points and counting. The Cheesemakers have three players averaging in double figures led by Hilliard (20.6 ppg). The others are senior Sydney Mathiason (13.6 ppg) and junior Emily Benzschawel (13.6 ppg).
Thursday: Monroe wrestling hosts Milton
Thursday will be a busy night at Monroe High School. In addition to the girls basketball game, the Monroe wrestling team is hosting Milton, which has three wrestlers ranked in the top 10 in the state in Division 1 according to Wisconsin Wrestling Online.
Due to the Monroe girls basketball game, the Cheesemakers will wrestle the Red Hawks in a dual match at 7 p.m. Thursday on the stage at the Performing Arts Center at Monroe High School. It's sure to bring out an even bigger crowd for the dual.
Monroe has two wrestlers ranked in Division 2. Senior Sam Kind (170) is ranked No. 6, and senior Dempzy Foley at 182 is ranked No. 11. Foley is 15-0 with 10 pins. Sophomore Bodie Minder is getting honorable mention recognition in the state rankings at 220.
Milton's ranked wrestlers include sophomore Mason Dauscher (113 pounds) No. 10; senior Vince Digennaro (160), No. 9, and senior Jerry Lipke (195), No. 3.
Thursday: Darlington girls basketball at
Black Hawk
Darlington made a run to the WIAA Division 4 sectional semifinals last year. The Redbirds will look to knock off Black Hawk, the state's No. 1 ranked Division 5 team that is 8-0 this season. The Redbirds and Warriors are two of the premier area girls basketball teams this year.
This game could be a shootout the way both teams shoot. Darlington (6-2, 2-0 SWAL) is tied atop the conference with Cuba City and Boscobel. Darlington has a potent and balanced scoring attack like Black Hawk. Junior Kaylee Meyers averages 15.5 points per game for the Redbirds. The other top scorers for the Redbirds are junior Kathleen Mathias (13.5 ppg) and senior Kennedy Rankin (11 ppg).
The trio of leading scorers for Black Hawk include sophomore Natalie Leuzinger (20.5 ppg), freshman Bailey Butler (15 ppg) and sophomore Hannah Butler (11.9 ppg). The Warriors are averaging 10 three-pointers and 72 points per game.
Friday: New Glarus girls basketball at Belleville
Usually, teams in the Capitol South Conference don't start playing conference games until after winter break and celebrating New Year's.
There will be an early departure from that schedule this year as New Glarus looks to close the door on 2017 by knocking off Highway 69 rival Belleville Friday. New Glarus is off to a 4-4 start, but the real season starts Friday against the Wildcats. A senior-laden lineup should give the Glarner Knights confidence heading into a rivalry game. The top playmakers for the Knights early on are senior Willow Lee (14.9 ppg) and senior Julia Barnaby (13.6 ppg).
Belleville (5-3) has lost two of its past three games. The Wildcats will look to seniors Rachael Heittola (18 ppg) and Kalin O'Rourke (13.8 ppg) to help them to get back on track.
Tuesday: Monroe boys basketball at Stoughton
Monroe is coming off an 85-62 loss to Monona Grove and it doesn't get any easier for the Cheesemakers as they face a Stoughton team that shared the Badger South Conference championship with Madison Edgewood last season. Stoughton (3-1, 2-0 Badger South) looks to keep pace with the Silver Eagles atop the conference.
Stoughton has three players averaging double figures led by senior Max Fernholz, who is averaging 14.5 points per game. The other double-digit scorers are Adam Hobson (11 ppg) and 6-6 Tommy McClain (10.2 ppg). Stoughton, like Monona Grove, swept two games against Monroe last year. Fernholz torched the Cheesemakers for five 3-pointers and 23 points in a 71-68 win over the Cheesemakers in Monroe last season. Defending the 3-pointer will be key again in this showdown.
Thursday: Monroe girls basketball vs. Madison Edgewood
First place in the Badger South Conference is on the line in the clash between the Cheesemakers (8-1, 5-0 Badger South) and Crusaders (6-2, 4-1). Edgewood, the defending WIAA Division 3 state champions, graduated their top player from last year in Estella Moschkau, who is now playing basketball at Stanford. However, Edgewood remains a contender in the conference because of senior Caitlin Link, who is a Southern Illinois basketball recruit.
Edgewood shared the conference title with Monroe and Stoughton last year. With a win, the Crusaders could pull even in the conference. The two teams split their games last year. Monroe's win over the Crusaders was a springboard to state.
It will be a tall task against a Monroe team ranked No. 3 in the Division 2 the WisSports.net Coaches Poll. Monroe is a talented team with multiple players who can be threats and hurt teams inside and outside. Monroe junior point guard Sydney Hilliard became the fourth player in program history to score 1,000 points in her career. She's at 1,022 points and counting. The Cheesemakers have three players averaging in double figures led by Hilliard (20.6 ppg). The others are senior Sydney Mathiason (13.6 ppg) and junior Emily Benzschawel (13.6 ppg).
Thursday: Monroe wrestling hosts Milton
Thursday will be a busy night at Monroe High School. In addition to the girls basketball game, the Monroe wrestling team is hosting Milton, which has three wrestlers ranked in the top 10 in the state in Division 1 according to Wisconsin Wrestling Online.
Due to the Monroe girls basketball game, the Cheesemakers will wrestle the Red Hawks in a dual match at 7 p.m. Thursday on the stage at the Performing Arts Center at Monroe High School. It's sure to bring out an even bigger crowd for the dual.
Monroe has two wrestlers ranked in Division 2. Senior Sam Kind (170) is ranked No. 6, and senior Dempzy Foley at 182 is ranked No. 11. Foley is 15-0 with 10 pins. Sophomore Bodie Minder is getting honorable mention recognition in the state rankings at 220.
Milton's ranked wrestlers include sophomore Mason Dauscher (113 pounds) No. 10; senior Vince Digennaro (160), No. 9, and senior Jerry Lipke (195), No. 3.
Thursday: Darlington girls basketball at
Black Hawk
Darlington made a run to the WIAA Division 4 sectional semifinals last year. The Redbirds will look to knock off Black Hawk, the state's No. 1 ranked Division 5 team that is 8-0 this season. The Redbirds and Warriors are two of the premier area girls basketball teams this year.
This game could be a shootout the way both teams shoot. Darlington (6-2, 2-0 SWAL) is tied atop the conference with Cuba City and Boscobel. Darlington has a potent and balanced scoring attack like Black Hawk. Junior Kaylee Meyers averages 15.5 points per game for the Redbirds. The other top scorers for the Redbirds are junior Kathleen Mathias (13.5 ppg) and senior Kennedy Rankin (11 ppg).
The trio of leading scorers for Black Hawk include sophomore Natalie Leuzinger (20.5 ppg), freshman Bailey Butler (15 ppg) and sophomore Hannah Butler (11.9 ppg). The Warriors are averaging 10 three-pointers and 72 points per game.
Friday: New Glarus girls basketball at Belleville
Usually, teams in the Capitol South Conference don't start playing conference games until after winter break and celebrating New Year's.
There will be an early departure from that schedule this year as New Glarus looks to close the door on 2017 by knocking off Highway 69 rival Belleville Friday. New Glarus is off to a 4-4 start, but the real season starts Friday against the Wildcats. A senior-laden lineup should give the Glarner Knights confidence heading into a rivalry game. The top playmakers for the Knights early on are senior Willow Lee (14.9 ppg) and senior Julia Barnaby (13.6 ppg).
Belleville (5-3) has lost two of its past three games. The Wildcats will look to seniors Rachael Heittola (18 ppg) and Kalin O'Rourke (13.8 ppg) to help them to get back on track.
