WIAA Girls Basketball Sectional Semifinals:
Division 2: Stoughton vs. Monroe, 7 p.m. at Middleton
Division 4: La Crosse Aquinas vs. Darlington, 7 p.m. at Richland Center
Division 5: Central Wisconsin Christian vs. Black Hawk, 7 p.m., at Verona
MONROE - The Road to State has reached Level 4. Tonight Monroe, Darlington and Black Hawk will play in their respective sectional semifinals just two wins from a trip to the state tournament in Green Bay.
Division 2
Monroe vs. Stoughton
7 p.m. at Middleton
The Cheesemakers entered the year with high expectations after returning the core group of players who made a trip to state in 2017. Those expectations so far have been met.
Monroe enters the game with a 22-2 record and a No. 4 ranking in the final Associated Press poll.
Junior Sydney Hilliard leads the team in shooting at 21.6 points per game. Junior Emily Benzschawel (15.0) and senior Sydney Mathiason (10.9) have been consistent scorers and defenders on the team as well. Mathiason averages 8.0 rebounds per game. All three players, plus Grace Tostrud (8.9 ppg) knock down an average of five 3-pointers a game.
"Teams can key on one or two players. The key to basketball is to have a third option," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "The best teams have multiple ways to score and break down the other team. You just hope you can prepare everyone for the opportunity to step up and perform."
The Cheesemakers finished the season unblemished in the Badger South and rolled both Sauk Prairie and Oregon in the regional tournament. Monroe beat Sauk Prairie by 24 and Oregon by 23.
Stoughton (20-4) finished second in the Badger South, three games behind Monroe.
"It's one of those conference foes that we know well," coach Mathiason said. "They are going to come in and play hard."
The Vikings are led in scoring by Cassidy Bach (10.7 ppg), Peighton Trieloff (10.5), Paige Halverson (10.3) and Emma Kissling (9.8). Bach makes her mark from distance, averaging nearly two 3s a game.
"Coach (Brad) Pickett will have them playing their best," coach Mathiason said. "We need to make them work on 'D.' We need to box out and to limit their shots."
The Vikings also received a first-round bye in the regional tournament, proceeding to cut down DeForest by 24 and dominate Reedsburg by 17.
Monroe won the previous two matchups this season against Stoughton by an average of 21.5 points.
"We had our stretches in those first two games when we executed well," coach Mathiason said. "They led by 6 or 8 in that second game, and we went on a run. Now it's the playoffs and it's all about one game."
Any tournament game could be the last one that Mathiason coaches his daughter, Sydney.
"I'm very proud of the way she has developed. She can impact the game not just by scoring but on defense and blocking shots and passing to her teammates," coach Mathiason said. "When you see a kid continue to improve, you can feel good."
The winner of tonight's matchup will take on either Jefferson (23-1) or Waterford (10-15) in the sectional final at 4 p.m. Saturday at Sun Prairie High School. Jefferson and Stoughton were tied for 10th in Division 2 in the final AP poll.
Division 4
Darlington vs. Aquinas
7 p.m. at Richland Center
A season ago, Darlington lost to La Crosse Aquinas in the sectional final by 24 points. Aquinas would suffer its only loss of the 2016-17 season in the state championship to Howards Grove.
This season, the Redbirds (19-4) will get their rematch in the sectional semifinal against the unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Aquinas.
"We certainly are the underdog. If we can put together 36 minutes of good basketball and get them into foul trouble, anything can happen," Darlington coach Kelly Rose said. "Our girls have a never-say-die attitude. They hate losing."
Darlington is led in scoring by Kaylee Meyers at 18.3 points per game. Kathleen Mathias (12.8) and Kennedy Rankin (9.4) give the Redbirds solid secondary options on offense. Rankin will play at Loras College in Dubuque next season, and fellow senior Maddie Douglas will play for Clarke. Both schools are in Dubuque.
"I look forward to watching them play next year, and hopefully I can watch them battle against each other," Rose said.
After plowing through the SWAL conference season, finishing 13-1 in league play and winning the conference title, Darlington made mincemeat of Wisconsin Heights (82-37) before narrowly escaping Mineral Point in the regional final (57-53).
"We're building the program back up. It started in the youth program years ago. This community is so supportive," Rose said.
The four Redbird losses came to three ranked teams - Platteville, Dodgeville, Black Hawk - and rival Cuba City (17-7).
The Cubans were walloped by Aquinas in the regional final Saturday, 76-26. Aquinas opened the postseason with a rousing 77-35 win over Lancaster.
This season, Aquinas has averaged over 75 points per game and hit triple digits in a 110-35 win over La Cross Logan in the final game of the regular season. Lexi Donarski (15.5), Courtney Becker (10.8), Whittni Rezin (10.1) and Kyah Steiner (9.2) lead the way for Aquinas. As a team, Aquinas averages more than seven 3-pointers per contest. Becker, a sophomore, stands at 6 feet tall and has a Division 1 college offer from North Dakota State. Donarski, also a sophomore, is committed to Iowa State. Both Rezin and Steiner are seniors and will play for UW-La Crosse next season along with teammate Jessa Peterson (7.8 ppg). Madessa Collins, a senior, is committed to Viterbo University.
"We've watched a bunch of film on them, and I think we are as prepared as we can be," Rose said. "Aquinas has a very talented team with some very athletic girls, but we do too."
Tonight's winner will face either St. Mary's Springs (22-2) or Cambridge (19-5) at 1 p.m. Saturday in Baraboo.
Division 5
Black Hawk vs. Central Wisconsin Christian
7 p.m. at Verona
After a stunning defeat to Fall River a season ago, the Warriors have been a team on a mission this season. Black Hawk has not lost in 25 games and has been ranked No. 1 in both the Associated Press and WisSports.net Coaches polls since week one.
Sophomore Natalie Leuzinger leads the Warriors in scoring at 17.1 ppg, followed closely by sisters Bailey Butler (15.8), a freshman, and Hannah Butler (12.1), a sophomore.
"We talk a lot about improving throughout the season," Black Hawk head coach Mike Flanagan said. "All the great teams I've ever coached seemed to find another gear at the end that they didn't know they had. These girls are playing at a really high level."
Black Hawk uses a ferocious full-court press on defense that neutralizes most opposing offenses by creating turnovers. When on offense, Black Hawk can run the ball up the floor in transition or settle in for a half-court set. Leuzinger and the Butlers are also strong 3-point shooters, hitting a combined 140 3s between the trio at a collective shooting percentage of 42.1 percent.
The closest game for Black Hawk this year was a nonconference game against Springville, the defending Iowa state champion. The Warriors won that game by 18 points 55-37 on Dec. 16.
Central Wisconsin Christian (21-4) finished second in the Trailways East standings.
Claire Jansen leads CWC in scoring at 11.8 ppg, while teammates Makayla DeYoung (10.5) and Melissa VanDenBerg (9.7) provide secondary scoring opportunities.
"They have some very challenging size. They are not a one-trick-pony team. Their size could give us some trouble," Flanagan said. "On the flip side, their guards are not the strongest that we've seen."
In the playoffs, CWC opened with a 45-point drubbing of Pecatonica and then clipped Barneveld by 5 points and Fall River by 4. Black Hawk beat Barneveld by an average of 34.5 points in two games this season, allowing the Eagles to score 15 points Dec. 19 in the first game and 20 points on Feb. 1.
"They (CWC) have a notch on their belt now. Once the tourney gets going and a team can get a notch like that, they gain confidence and moxie," Flanagan said. "We've got to rise to the challenge."
Division 2
Monroe vs. Stoughton
7 p.m. at Middleton
The Cheesemakers entered the year with high expectations after returning the core group of players who made a trip to state in 2017. Those expectations so far have been met.
Monroe enters the game with a 22-2 record and a No. 4 ranking in the final Associated Press poll.
Junior Sydney Hilliard leads the team in shooting at 21.6 points per game. Junior Emily Benzschawel (15.0) and senior Sydney Mathiason (10.9) have been consistent scorers and defenders on the team as well. Mathiason averages 8.0 rebounds per game. All three players, plus Grace Tostrud (8.9 ppg) knock down an average of five 3-pointers a game.
"Teams can key on one or two players. The key to basketball is to have a third option," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "The best teams have multiple ways to score and break down the other team. You just hope you can prepare everyone for the opportunity to step up and perform."
The Cheesemakers finished the season unblemished in the Badger South and rolled both Sauk Prairie and Oregon in the regional tournament. Monroe beat Sauk Prairie by 24 and Oregon by 23.
Stoughton (20-4) finished second in the Badger South, three games behind Monroe.
"It's one of those conference foes that we know well," coach Mathiason said. "They are going to come in and play hard."
The Vikings are led in scoring by Cassidy Bach (10.7 ppg), Peighton Trieloff (10.5), Paige Halverson (10.3) and Emma Kissling (9.8). Bach makes her mark from distance, averaging nearly two 3s a game.
"Coach (Brad) Pickett will have them playing their best," coach Mathiason said. "We need to make them work on 'D.' We need to box out and to limit their shots."
The Vikings also received a first-round bye in the regional tournament, proceeding to cut down DeForest by 24 and dominate Reedsburg by 17.
Monroe won the previous two matchups this season against Stoughton by an average of 21.5 points.
"We had our stretches in those first two games when we executed well," coach Mathiason said. "They led by 6 or 8 in that second game, and we went on a run. Now it's the playoffs and it's all about one game."
Any tournament game could be the last one that Mathiason coaches his daughter, Sydney.
"I'm very proud of the way she has developed. She can impact the game not just by scoring but on defense and blocking shots and passing to her teammates," coach Mathiason said. "When you see a kid continue to improve, you can feel good."
The winner of tonight's matchup will take on either Jefferson (23-1) or Waterford (10-15) in the sectional final at 4 p.m. Saturday at Sun Prairie High School. Jefferson and Stoughton were tied for 10th in Division 2 in the final AP poll.
Division 4
Darlington vs. Aquinas
7 p.m. at Richland Center
A season ago, Darlington lost to La Crosse Aquinas in the sectional final by 24 points. Aquinas would suffer its only loss of the 2016-17 season in the state championship to Howards Grove.
This season, the Redbirds (19-4) will get their rematch in the sectional semifinal against the unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Aquinas.
"We certainly are the underdog. If we can put together 36 minutes of good basketball and get them into foul trouble, anything can happen," Darlington coach Kelly Rose said. "Our girls have a never-say-die attitude. They hate losing."
Darlington is led in scoring by Kaylee Meyers at 18.3 points per game. Kathleen Mathias (12.8) and Kennedy Rankin (9.4) give the Redbirds solid secondary options on offense. Rankin will play at Loras College in Dubuque next season, and fellow senior Maddie Douglas will play for Clarke. Both schools are in Dubuque.
"I look forward to watching them play next year, and hopefully I can watch them battle against each other," Rose said.
After plowing through the SWAL conference season, finishing 13-1 in league play and winning the conference title, Darlington made mincemeat of Wisconsin Heights (82-37) before narrowly escaping Mineral Point in the regional final (57-53).
"We're building the program back up. It started in the youth program years ago. This community is so supportive," Rose said.
The four Redbird losses came to three ranked teams - Platteville, Dodgeville, Black Hawk - and rival Cuba City (17-7).
The Cubans were walloped by Aquinas in the regional final Saturday, 76-26. Aquinas opened the postseason with a rousing 77-35 win over Lancaster.
This season, Aquinas has averaged over 75 points per game and hit triple digits in a 110-35 win over La Cross Logan in the final game of the regular season. Lexi Donarski (15.5), Courtney Becker (10.8), Whittni Rezin (10.1) and Kyah Steiner (9.2) lead the way for Aquinas. As a team, Aquinas averages more than seven 3-pointers per contest. Becker, a sophomore, stands at 6 feet tall and has a Division 1 college offer from North Dakota State. Donarski, also a sophomore, is committed to Iowa State. Both Rezin and Steiner are seniors and will play for UW-La Crosse next season along with teammate Jessa Peterson (7.8 ppg). Madessa Collins, a senior, is committed to Viterbo University.
"We've watched a bunch of film on them, and I think we are as prepared as we can be," Rose said. "Aquinas has a very talented team with some very athletic girls, but we do too."
Tonight's winner will face either St. Mary's Springs (22-2) or Cambridge (19-5) at 1 p.m. Saturday in Baraboo.
Division 5
Black Hawk vs. Central Wisconsin Christian
7 p.m. at Verona
After a stunning defeat to Fall River a season ago, the Warriors have been a team on a mission this season. Black Hawk has not lost in 25 games and has been ranked No. 1 in both the Associated Press and WisSports.net Coaches polls since week one.
Sophomore Natalie Leuzinger leads the Warriors in scoring at 17.1 ppg, followed closely by sisters Bailey Butler (15.8), a freshman, and Hannah Butler (12.1), a sophomore.
"We talk a lot about improving throughout the season," Black Hawk head coach Mike Flanagan said. "All the great teams I've ever coached seemed to find another gear at the end that they didn't know they had. These girls are playing at a really high level."
Black Hawk uses a ferocious full-court press on defense that neutralizes most opposing offenses by creating turnovers. When on offense, Black Hawk can run the ball up the floor in transition or settle in for a half-court set. Leuzinger and the Butlers are also strong 3-point shooters, hitting a combined 140 3s between the trio at a collective shooting percentage of 42.1 percent.
The closest game for Black Hawk this year was a nonconference game against Springville, the defending Iowa state champion. The Warriors won that game by 18 points 55-37 on Dec. 16.
Central Wisconsin Christian (21-4) finished second in the Trailways East standings.
Claire Jansen leads CWC in scoring at 11.8 ppg, while teammates Makayla DeYoung (10.5) and Melissa VanDenBerg (9.7) provide secondary scoring opportunities.
"They have some very challenging size. They are not a one-trick-pony team. Their size could give us some trouble," Flanagan said. "On the flip side, their guards are not the strongest that we've seen."
In the playoffs, CWC opened with a 45-point drubbing of Pecatonica and then clipped Barneveld by 5 points and Fall River by 4. Black Hawk beat Barneveld by an average of 34.5 points in two games this season, allowing the Eagles to score 15 points Dec. 19 in the first game and 20 points on Feb. 1.
"They (CWC) have a notch on their belt now. Once the tourney gets going and a team can get a notch like that, they gain confidence and moxie," Flanagan said. "We've got to rise to the challenge."
