MONROE - Brodhead sophomore Carly Mohns doesn't need to be convinced that the best offense at times starts at the defensive end.
Brodhead went on an 11-0 run to start the third quarter fueled by their defense and knocked off Monroe in the season opener 47-36 on Saturday. Mohns had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Cardinals. Brodhead junior Taylor Douglas scored 11 points and had four steals.
"I think it pumped up the momentum a lot," Mohns said of the Cardinals' defense. "We were pressuring the ball more. I just think we were less tired. I think our conditioning helped out a lot."
The Cheesemakers had three straight turnovers to start the third quarter. Mohns came up with a steal and drove in for a layup to start the second half. The Cheesemakers were called for a 5-second violation and traveling. Douglas scored down low, sophomore Meg Duffield drilled a 3-pointer and Mohns drove in and hit a shot to give the Cardinals a 27-14 lead about midway through the third quarter. Duffield scored 10 points and hit three 3-pointers.
"We got some turnovers and the confidence started to get bigger," Brodhead coach Brad Pickett said. "There are times where we will go through droughts. Defense has been the staple of our team. At halftime, we talked about extending the defense and pressuring the ball a little more."
Monroe senior Brooke McBain kept the Cheesemakers in the game, scoring a game-high 17 points. She scored 10 of Monroe's 14 points in the first half as the Cheesemakers trailed just 16-14 at halftime.
"The one thing we talked about as a team is we can't just have one part," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "It's just like a machine. For a machine to work, it has to have every part working. We have to find a way for our parts to work together like an efficient machine. Teams are going to focus on her (McBain). We will need to have someone else step up and score."
Monroe junior Heather Barta came in off the bench and gave the Cheesemakers a spark, scoring five consecutive points to trim the Cardinals' lead to 29-21. The Cardinals went to a press in spurts in the second half to force turnovers.
"I felt like we were getting closer and closing that gap and they would make a shot and you would get frustrated," McBain said. "We wanted to come out with more energy in the second half. That (third-quarter run) was probably the difference."
The Cheesemakers trailed by just six points late in the third quarter before the Cardinals ended the period with a bang as Douglas came up with a steal that led to sophomore Jordan Halvorson's layup to push the lead back to 33-23.
"We are looking for Heather and Vanessa Studer to come in and give us a spark," Mathiason said. "I think they did some good things out there."
McBain hit a 3-pointer to cut the Cardinals' lead to 33-26, but that is as close as the Cheesemakers would get. Duffield answered, hitting a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 36-26.
"Meg Duffield hit some big shots for us," Pickett said. "She is definitely capable of doing that."
The Cardinals had a balanced attack. In addition to Mohns, Douglas and Duffield, sophomore Rachel Heller had nine points.
Monroe sophomore Taylor Barrett scored six points and Barta added five.
Mathiason admits that Duffield's 3-pointer that extended the lead to 10 points at the end of the third quarter was a big shot.
"They just have so many players who can score," Mathiason said of the Cardinals. "When they hit some of those 3-pointers they are a very good team. Give Brodhead credit for coming out and making us work for everything."
Brodhead went on an 11-0 run to start the third quarter fueled by their defense and knocked off Monroe in the season opener 47-36 on Saturday. Mohns had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Cardinals. Brodhead junior Taylor Douglas scored 11 points and had four steals.
"I think it pumped up the momentum a lot," Mohns said of the Cardinals' defense. "We were pressuring the ball more. I just think we were less tired. I think our conditioning helped out a lot."
The Cheesemakers had three straight turnovers to start the third quarter. Mohns came up with a steal and drove in for a layup to start the second half. The Cheesemakers were called for a 5-second violation and traveling. Douglas scored down low, sophomore Meg Duffield drilled a 3-pointer and Mohns drove in and hit a shot to give the Cardinals a 27-14 lead about midway through the third quarter. Duffield scored 10 points and hit three 3-pointers.
"We got some turnovers and the confidence started to get bigger," Brodhead coach Brad Pickett said. "There are times where we will go through droughts. Defense has been the staple of our team. At halftime, we talked about extending the defense and pressuring the ball a little more."
Monroe senior Brooke McBain kept the Cheesemakers in the game, scoring a game-high 17 points. She scored 10 of Monroe's 14 points in the first half as the Cheesemakers trailed just 16-14 at halftime.
"The one thing we talked about as a team is we can't just have one part," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "It's just like a machine. For a machine to work, it has to have every part working. We have to find a way for our parts to work together like an efficient machine. Teams are going to focus on her (McBain). We will need to have someone else step up and score."
Monroe junior Heather Barta came in off the bench and gave the Cheesemakers a spark, scoring five consecutive points to trim the Cardinals' lead to 29-21. The Cardinals went to a press in spurts in the second half to force turnovers.
"I felt like we were getting closer and closing that gap and they would make a shot and you would get frustrated," McBain said. "We wanted to come out with more energy in the second half. That (third-quarter run) was probably the difference."
The Cheesemakers trailed by just six points late in the third quarter before the Cardinals ended the period with a bang as Douglas came up with a steal that led to sophomore Jordan Halvorson's layup to push the lead back to 33-23.
"We are looking for Heather and Vanessa Studer to come in and give us a spark," Mathiason said. "I think they did some good things out there."
McBain hit a 3-pointer to cut the Cardinals' lead to 33-26, but that is as close as the Cheesemakers would get. Duffield answered, hitting a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 36-26.
"Meg Duffield hit some big shots for us," Pickett said. "She is definitely capable of doing that."
The Cardinals had a balanced attack. In addition to Mohns, Douglas and Duffield, sophomore Rachel Heller had nine points.
Monroe sophomore Taylor Barrett scored six points and Barta added five.
Mathiason admits that Duffield's 3-pointer that extended the lead to 10 points at the end of the third quarter was a big shot.
"They just have so many players who can score," Mathiason said of the Cardinals. "When they hit some of those 3-pointers they are a very good team. Give Brodhead credit for coming out and making us work for everything."
