MONROE - After losing a regular season finale and entering the tournament riding a four-game losing streak, Monroe coach Pat Murphy can't wait to tip off the second season.
Monroe (9-13) will host Portage (6-16) in a WIAA Division 2 regional quarterfinal at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
"It's an intense time of the year," Murphy said. "Records at this time of the year don't mean anything. We are lucky we get to play another home game after Senior Night. In the next loss, we turn in our uniforms."
Monroe's half-sectional includes Stoughton (19-3), ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press Division 2 state poll, and Mount Horeb (17-5), ranked No. 7 and the Badger North Conference champion.
"Our half-sectional is loaded," Murphy said. "It's safe to say whoever comes out of our half-sectional will be sitting pretty good for a trip to state."
The last time Monroe played Portage in the Badger Challenge last year, the Cheesemakers beat the Warriors 60-46. Portage is led by Sam Harkins who averages 15.4 points per game.
"They have a lot of guys on the perimeter who like to drive and can shoot," Murphy said. "We are lucky to get a home game. The key for us will be staying in front of them and securing the rebound."
Both the Cheesemakers and their opponents have shot 39.1 percent this season. The Cheesemakers are led by junior Ben Latimer (11.2 ppg), sophomore Alex Tordoff (7.6 ppg) and senior Logan Weckerly (6.9 ppg).
"The difference is our opponents have been attempting more shots and they have been attempting more free throws," Murphy said. "We have to find a way to get to the free-throw line."
Division 3
Fifth-seeded Brodhead (7-15) will get a rematch against at fourth-seeded Edgerton. The Crimson Tide defeated the Cardinals 57-39 earlier this year. Brodhead junior Ned Slocum (18.1 ppg) and senior Josiah DeLorme (10 ppg) lead the Cardinals. If Brodhead wins, the Cardinals would play at top-seeded Beloit Turner Friday in a regional semifinal game.
Division 4
The class of the bottom half of the Baraboo Division 4 sectional is Mineral point (22-0), which is ranked No. 3. The regional for Darlington (19-3) has three of the state's top teams. Darlington, ranked No. 7 and Cuba City, which was ranked most of the season before dropping out of the poll last week, are two of the top teams in the regional along with the Pointers. Second-seeded Darlington received a first-round bye and will play the winner of third-seeded Cuba City and sixth-seeded New Glarus Friday in a regional semifinal game. The Redbirds have three players averaging double figures led by senior Cole McDonald (13.8 ppg), senior Ben Muhlstein (11.8 ppg) and sophomore Hunter Johnson (10.4 ppg).
New Glarus (10-12) has the tall task of opening the regional Tuesday at Cuba City. The Cubans are led by Zachary Gaines (13.4 ppg) and Preston Droessler (11.1 ppg). New Glarus junior Gavin Binger (13.2 ppg) leads the Knights along with junior Austin Schlueter (10.8 ppg).
Division 5
Pecatonica (17-5) will host seventh-seeded Cassville in a regional quarterfinal game Tuesday. The Vikings, the Six Rivers East Conference champions, are the No. 2 seed behind top-seeded and fifth-ranked Shullsburg in the regional. The Vikings and Miners look to be on a collision course to meet in a regional championship game Saturday.
"Our regional is loaded," Pecatonica coach Matt Fink said. "There are six or seven teams that could win it. We have to come ready to survive and advance."
However, Barneveld (13-9), which has won five straight games and seven of its last eight games, could be a roadblock for the Miners.
Pecatonica is led by sophomore A.J. Hendrickson (23.2 ppg), sophomore Logan Green (12.6 ppg) and junior Brooks Chandler (9.9 ppg). The Vikings got a lift when senior Drew Schliem returned from a broken ankle and scored 17 points in the regular season finale.
In the top half of the Watertown sectional, Williams Bay received a No. 1 regional seed and will host Monticello. Monticello (1-21) is led by senior Ben May (19.9 ppg).
Second-seeded Black Hawk (12-10) will host seventh-seeded Johnson Creek Tuesday. If Black Hawk wins, the Warriors would face the winner of third-seeded Abundant Life/St. Ambrose and sixth-seeded Argyle (5-16). Black Hawk is led by senior Heath Butler (25.1 ppg).
Argyle junior Riley Ostby (20.4 ppg) and junior Kyle Emberson (11.4 ppg) will look to lead the Orioles to an upset at Abundant Life/St. Ambrose.
Fifth-seeded Juda (8-14) will play at fourth-seeded Albany (10-12). It's the third time the two teams will play this season. Albany is 9-3 in its last 12 games and swept the Panthers this year in two close games.
Albany is led by junior point guard Tyler Dahl (18.9 ppg) and senior Cole Trapp (11.2 ppg). Juda sophomore Matt Schmitt (17.2 ppg) and senior Cory Segner (12.9 ppg) have the ability to get hot and knock off the Comets.
Black Hawk coach Charlie Anderson sees parity in the Division 5 regional this year.
"There is no team we can't beat and there is no one we can't get beat by," Anderson said. "It's wide open."
Monroe (9-13) will host Portage (6-16) in a WIAA Division 2 regional quarterfinal at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
"It's an intense time of the year," Murphy said. "Records at this time of the year don't mean anything. We are lucky we get to play another home game after Senior Night. In the next loss, we turn in our uniforms."
Monroe's half-sectional includes Stoughton (19-3), ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press Division 2 state poll, and Mount Horeb (17-5), ranked No. 7 and the Badger North Conference champion.
"Our half-sectional is loaded," Murphy said. "It's safe to say whoever comes out of our half-sectional will be sitting pretty good for a trip to state."
The last time Monroe played Portage in the Badger Challenge last year, the Cheesemakers beat the Warriors 60-46. Portage is led by Sam Harkins who averages 15.4 points per game.
"They have a lot of guys on the perimeter who like to drive and can shoot," Murphy said. "We are lucky to get a home game. The key for us will be staying in front of them and securing the rebound."
Both the Cheesemakers and their opponents have shot 39.1 percent this season. The Cheesemakers are led by junior Ben Latimer (11.2 ppg), sophomore Alex Tordoff (7.6 ppg) and senior Logan Weckerly (6.9 ppg).
"The difference is our opponents have been attempting more shots and they have been attempting more free throws," Murphy said. "We have to find a way to get to the free-throw line."
Division 3
Fifth-seeded Brodhead (7-15) will get a rematch against at fourth-seeded Edgerton. The Crimson Tide defeated the Cardinals 57-39 earlier this year. Brodhead junior Ned Slocum (18.1 ppg) and senior Josiah DeLorme (10 ppg) lead the Cardinals. If Brodhead wins, the Cardinals would play at top-seeded Beloit Turner Friday in a regional semifinal game.
Division 4
The class of the bottom half of the Baraboo Division 4 sectional is Mineral point (22-0), which is ranked No. 3. The regional for Darlington (19-3) has three of the state's top teams. Darlington, ranked No. 7 and Cuba City, which was ranked most of the season before dropping out of the poll last week, are two of the top teams in the regional along with the Pointers. Second-seeded Darlington received a first-round bye and will play the winner of third-seeded Cuba City and sixth-seeded New Glarus Friday in a regional semifinal game. The Redbirds have three players averaging double figures led by senior Cole McDonald (13.8 ppg), senior Ben Muhlstein (11.8 ppg) and sophomore Hunter Johnson (10.4 ppg).
New Glarus (10-12) has the tall task of opening the regional Tuesday at Cuba City. The Cubans are led by Zachary Gaines (13.4 ppg) and Preston Droessler (11.1 ppg). New Glarus junior Gavin Binger (13.2 ppg) leads the Knights along with junior Austin Schlueter (10.8 ppg).
Division 5
Pecatonica (17-5) will host seventh-seeded Cassville in a regional quarterfinal game Tuesday. The Vikings, the Six Rivers East Conference champions, are the No. 2 seed behind top-seeded and fifth-ranked Shullsburg in the regional. The Vikings and Miners look to be on a collision course to meet in a regional championship game Saturday.
"Our regional is loaded," Pecatonica coach Matt Fink said. "There are six or seven teams that could win it. We have to come ready to survive and advance."
However, Barneveld (13-9), which has won five straight games and seven of its last eight games, could be a roadblock for the Miners.
Pecatonica is led by sophomore A.J. Hendrickson (23.2 ppg), sophomore Logan Green (12.6 ppg) and junior Brooks Chandler (9.9 ppg). The Vikings got a lift when senior Drew Schliem returned from a broken ankle and scored 17 points in the regular season finale.
In the top half of the Watertown sectional, Williams Bay received a No. 1 regional seed and will host Monticello. Monticello (1-21) is led by senior Ben May (19.9 ppg).
Second-seeded Black Hawk (12-10) will host seventh-seeded Johnson Creek Tuesday. If Black Hawk wins, the Warriors would face the winner of third-seeded Abundant Life/St. Ambrose and sixth-seeded Argyle (5-16). Black Hawk is led by senior Heath Butler (25.1 ppg).
Argyle junior Riley Ostby (20.4 ppg) and junior Kyle Emberson (11.4 ppg) will look to lead the Orioles to an upset at Abundant Life/St. Ambrose.
Fifth-seeded Juda (8-14) will play at fourth-seeded Albany (10-12). It's the third time the two teams will play this season. Albany is 9-3 in its last 12 games and swept the Panthers this year in two close games.
Albany is led by junior point guard Tyler Dahl (18.9 ppg) and senior Cole Trapp (11.2 ppg). Juda sophomore Matt Schmitt (17.2 ppg) and senior Cory Segner (12.9 ppg) have the ability to get hot and knock off the Comets.
Black Hawk coach Charlie Anderson sees parity in the Division 5 regional this year.
"There is no team we can't beat and there is no one we can't get beat by," Anderson said. "It's wide open."
