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Cheesemakers aim for state

Tall jokes aside, Monroe High School's girls basketball team has grown accustomed to the view from above.

Winners of six straight Badger South titles, the Cheesemakers also have made two straight appearances at the WIAA Division 2 state tournament.

Expectations are as high as ever for 22nd-year coach Kevin Keen, whose team returns four starters, three of whom stand at least 5-10. Monroe's twin towers, Ashley Hermanson and Jamie Armstrong, as well as versatile point guard Gwen Sutter, were starters when the Cheesemakers won the state titles as sophomores in 2008.

"We have good team size and should have balanced scoring," Keen said. "I would hope that we contend for another conference title this season."

The Cheesemakers fell to Grafton, 53-45, in the state semifinal last season.

Edgewood, which split both the regular-season series and the conference title with the Cheesemakers last season, will be hard-pressed to keep pace. As stocked as Monroe is, Edgewood is equally fresh-faced with just one senior after the graduation of a pair of first-teamers, Laura Atkinson and MacKenzie Kolb.

"Depending on the development of our younger players…and with a little luck…we could compete for a share of the title again," Edgewood coach Lora Staveness said.

Perhaps posing the most credible threat to the Cheesemakers will be an upstart Milton team that returns natural scorer Amber Davis, a first-team selection who was third in the conference at 13.6 points a game last season.

Oregon might slip a little after graduating two first-team selections in Laura Atkinson and MacKenzie Kolb. That is unless April Cook has anything to say about it. The 5-11 senior averaged more than four points per game a year ago.

"We're hoping our winning attitude from last year and the summer can carry over to the next season," Salih said.

Stoughton appears ready to break out of last place after back-to-back two-win seasons in the South. Junior Brianna Bower posted more than 12 points per game last season and leads a team that returns the bulk of last season's roster.

Fort Atkinson will lean on its sophomore backcourt of Lexie Wiegand and Marie Fitzgerald. Conversely, Monona Grove hopes its experience, having returned all but one player from last year's roster, will help the Silver Eagles make improvements on last season's 3-9 league mark.

Badger South at a glance

'09-10 Coaches' Picks

1. Monroe; 2. Milton; 3. Edgewood

FORT ATKINSON

Head coach: Scott Lastusky, first year.

2008-09 record: 4-17, 2-10 in Badger South (tied for sixth place)

Key losses: Ralissa Nelson, All-Badger South honorable mention.

Top prospects: Marie Fitzgerald, 5-0, so.; Lexie Wiegand, 5-6, so.; Ashley Boos, 5-8, sr.; Niki Boos, 5-8, sr.; Courtney Lanza, 5-6, sr.; Cassidy Lyons, 5-8, sr.

Season outlook: Despite picking up just 10 wins over their last three seasons, the Blackhawks have reasons for optimism. Lexie Wiegand averaged more than 10 points per game as a freshman last season and is one of two talented sophomores starting in Fort's backcourt. Stinginess will be key as, in a defensive-minded league, the Blackhawks gave up nearly 54 points per game last season. That will prove a daunting task as two of Fort's posts will miss up to eight weeks because of injuries.

MADISON EDGEWOOD

Head coach: Lora Staveness, 17th year.

2008-09 record: 21-4, 11-1 in Badger South (tied for first place)

Last conference title: 2008-09

Key losses: MacKenzie Kolb, All-Badger South first team; Becky Gifford, first team.

Top prospects: Erin Barney, 5-5, sr.; Becca Conn, 5-9, jr.; Ali Cross, 5-9, jr.; Hannah Elfman, 5-5, jr.; Loraine Guerin, 5-8, jr.; MacKenzie Reese, 5-10, jr.; Megan Tancill, 5-6, jr.; Alyssa Wiese, 5-10, jr.

Season outlook: In order to stick with Monroe atop the South, Edgewood will need its youth movement to be successful after the graduation of the celebrated duo of MacKenzie Kolb and Becky Gifford. The Crusaders return just one senior, a non-starter, but their underclassmen are a quick-footed bunch that loathes losing. Rebounding and offensive consistency will be pivotal areas for the small Crusaders.

MILTON

Head coach: Scott Randall, fourth year (38-27).

2008-09 record: 6-15, 5-7 in Badger South (fourth place).

Last conference title: 1998-99 (Southern Lakes).

Top prospects: Val Arnold, 5-6, sr.; Amber Davis, 5-6, sr.; Leah Devries, 5-5, sr.; Katie Little, 5-5, sr.; Marie McNall, 5-9, sr.; Chelsea Roth, 5-7, sr.; Lindsay Tiffany, 5-9, sr.; Liz Eide, 6-2, jr.

Season outlook: Growing pains behind them, the Red Hawks are poised to make a run at a conference title behind All-Badger South first-team performer Amber Davis. Liz Eide, a 6-2 junior with a variety of skills, will be leaned on by an otherwise undersized team. The Red Hawks will need to clamp down after allowing more than 56 points per game last season.

MONONA GROVE

Head coach: Eric Nelson, second year (4-17).

2008-09 record: 4-17, 3-9 in Badger South (fifth place)

Top prospects: Cassie Blazer, 5-8, sr.; Megan Blazer, 5-7, sr.; Angela Boushea, 5-11, sr.; Tessa Ruid, 5-7, sr.; Madeline Ruid, 5-10, sr.; Jessica Schmitz, 5-10, sr.; Jenna Braund, 5-6, jr.; Taylor Ellestad, 5-10, jr.; Kaitlyn Frey, 5-6, jr.; Emily Schmitz, 5-8, jr.; Alyssa Strangstalien, 5-8, jr.; Kelsey Verserat, 5-6, jr.; Lindsay Jones, 5-10, so.

Season outlook: The Silver Eagles enter with a wealth of experience, having only graduated one player from last year's roster. Senior Jessica Schmitz posted more than 13 points per game last season.

MONROE

Head coach: Kevin Keen, 22nd year (369-125).

2008-09 record: 23-3, 11-1 in Badger South (tied for first place).

Last conference title: 2008-2009

Key losses: Emily Rufenacht, All-Badger South first team.

Top prospects: Jamie Armstrong, 6-2, sr.; Paisley Bennett, 5-5, sr.; Chelsea Brice, 5-7, sr.; Ashley Hermanson, 6-0, sr.; Alyssa Studer, 5-6, sr.; Gwen Sutter, 5-10, sr.; Kendra Clark, 5-7, jr.; Jaclyn Ditter, 5-10, jr.; Kelsey Erickson, 5-6, jr.; Abby Jaconbson, 5-7, jr.; Jessica Leu, 5-11, jr.; Kristin McArdle, 5-7, jr.; Kylee Ritschard, 5-8, jr.; Kyleigh Sellnow, 5-8, jr.

Season outlook: The Cheesemakers look poised for a seventh straight Badger South title, having returned three starters who stand over 5-10 and play as big as their frames. Ashley Hermanson, Jamie Armstrong and Gwen Sutter were all first-team selections last season and the team returns six of its eight top overall players from last season.

OREGON

Head coach: Sam Salih.

2008-09 record: 17-6, 8-4 in Badger South (third place).

Key losses: Laura Atkinson, All-Badger South first team; Kayla Crowley, first team.

Top prospects: Bryn Anderson, 6-0, sr.; April Cook, 5-11, sr.; Kelly Hanson, 5-8, sr.; Jenna Kleitsch, 6-0, sr.; Kayla Lien, 5-7, sr.; Hiedi Noyce, 5-10, sr.; Juliayn Rietzler, 5-3, sr.; Shelby Wilhelm, 5-8, jr.

Season outlook: While Oregon lost two tremendous contributors in Laura Atkinson and Kayla Crowley, both first-team selections last season, 5-11 senior April Cook is poised to be one of the conference's premier players this season. After averaging more than eight points per game last season, the honorable mention selection will anchor a deep front line for Oregon.

STOUGHTON

Head coach: Rami Hoaglin.

2008-09 record: 2-19, 2-10 in Badger South (tied for sixth place).

Varsity prospects: MacKenzie Bower, sr.; Alexis Crause, sr.; Danae Dallenbach, sr.; Alicia Fields, sr.; Chelsea Olson, sr.; Becca Olson, sr.; Brianna Bower, jr.; Kayla Rowley, jr.

Season outlook: The Vikings hope to move up after back-to-back last-place finishes. After winning just two conference games in both of the last two seasons, they return the majority of their roster, including honorable mention selection Brianna Bower, a junior who scored more than 12 points per game as as sophomore.