I've been in the newspaper business for 20 years now, and I'm sure I've never seen the same school from a local coverage area send both a boys and girls basketball team to the state tournament.
Until this year.
When Emily Rufenacht hit a 3-pointer with 6.3 seconds left in the game Saturday, she gave the Monroe Lady Cheesemakers their second Division 2 state tournament berth in three years. They won the title in 2006.
Their feat follows the Monroe boys' of a week ago. The Cheesemakers played in their second consecutive state tournament last Friday, a loss to eventual state champion New Berlin Eisenhower.
Hopefully, Monroe's fans realize how fortunate they are to have two programs clicking at the same time like the school's basketball teams are.
The scary thing for opponents has to be that the talent, teamwork and discipline that is extremely evident at the varsity levels carries down to the youth levels. My stepson plays fifth-grade basketball for Freeport's public school, and his team won a conference championship two weekends ago. But when his team came to Monroe to play in a tournament in early January, it got clobbered by two Monroe fifth-grade teams. It was obvious to me then that Monroe basketball isn't just a collection of teams, it's a program. It's a machine.
That's something Monroe fans should be proud of - proud of its coaches, kids and parents. There's a certain dedication and pride required to reach that level of discipline and excellence. Monroe certainly seems to have it.
• • •
Look for a special section previewing the Lady Cheesemakers' state tournament appearance in Thursday's newspaper and online.
And after Friday's game, check out our photo gallery of shots from the Kohl Center. It might take us until around midnight to get those online, but it will certainly be there for you to look at by Saturday morning.
Until this year.
When Emily Rufenacht hit a 3-pointer with 6.3 seconds left in the game Saturday, she gave the Monroe Lady Cheesemakers their second Division 2 state tournament berth in three years. They won the title in 2006.
Their feat follows the Monroe boys' of a week ago. The Cheesemakers played in their second consecutive state tournament last Friday, a loss to eventual state champion New Berlin Eisenhower.
Hopefully, Monroe's fans realize how fortunate they are to have two programs clicking at the same time like the school's basketball teams are.
The scary thing for opponents has to be that the talent, teamwork and discipline that is extremely evident at the varsity levels carries down to the youth levels. My stepson plays fifth-grade basketball for Freeport's public school, and his team won a conference championship two weekends ago. But when his team came to Monroe to play in a tournament in early January, it got clobbered by two Monroe fifth-grade teams. It was obvious to me then that Monroe basketball isn't just a collection of teams, it's a program. It's a machine.
That's something Monroe fans should be proud of - proud of its coaches, kids and parents. There's a certain dedication and pride required to reach that level of discipline and excellence. Monroe certainly seems to have it.
• • •
Look for a special section previewing the Lady Cheesemakers' state tournament appearance in Thursday's newspaper and online.
And after Friday's game, check out our photo gallery of shots from the Kohl Center. It might take us until around midnight to get those online, but it will certainly be there for you to look at by Saturday morning.
