MONROE - Brodhead sophomore Kylie Moe began her first season as a starting point guard with a promising debut.
Moe scored 10 points and made two 3-pointers to help propel Brodhead to a 46-23 win over Monroe Monday.
"I'm a lot more comfortable this year," Moe said. "I feel more in control this year. I'm more confident now. I feel like I can just go out and play my best."
There are several lessons the Cheesemakers can take away from the game against Brodhead, which is ranked No. 2 in the preseason Division 3 state poll.
"I think part of it is understanding the level of intensity you have to play with for 32 minutes," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "Brodhead is one of the best teams in the state in Division 3. We have some young players and they have to get adjusted to the varsity game and making quicker decisions. It's a different speed. It's understanding the quickness and size. This is another step in the road for us."
Monroe (1-1) limited Brodhead senior Carly Mohns, an Iowa recruit, to just 12 points. The Cheesemakers trailed just 12-7 early in the second quarter after Monroe senior Whitney Disch hit a jumper. The Cardinals went on an 8-0 run sparked by a defense that forced the Cheesemakers into a string of turnovers.
Brodhead senior Jordan Halvorsen came up with a steal and scored on a layup to give the Cardinals a 16-7 lead midway through the second quarter. Halvorsen had another steal and Mohns scored on a putback. Mohns then banked in a jumper with about 3 minutes left in the second quarter to give the Cardinals a 20-7 lead. Monroe junior MacKenzie Hesgard answered with a 3-pointer, but it didn't take the Cardinals long to respond. Moe drilled a 3-pointer to give the Cardinals a 23-10 lead at the half.
"It's one of those situations where we had a lot of possessions and didn't convert," Mathiason said. "They got on that 8-0 run and we couldn't match it or close it. Defensively, we held them to 46 points which is pretty good."
Brodhead coach Brad Pickett always looks forward to playing Monroe.
"I always say Monroe is a very good non-conference game for us," Pickett said. "Throw out the records. They are always very solid on defense and will test us. It was a typical first game with the turnovers. We have to do a better job of taking care of the ball. We have to handle pressure."
Mohns sees another area the Cardinals can improve.
"It was a physical game," she said. "Sometimes we shied away from contact instead of taking it into contact."
The Cheesemakers were 1-for-8 shooting at the start of the third quarter and the Cardinals were able to extend their lead with Mohns scoring down low to push the lead to 31-16. Halvorsen knocked down a 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter to give the Cardinals a 34-16 lead.
"We had some good opportunities," Mathiason said of scoring in the second half. "We just have to continue working on finding ways to convert."
Disch scored six points to lead the Cheesemakers. Senior Taylor Barrett added five points and Kayla Updike chipped in four. Mathiason is excited about the play he has been getting from Disch in the first two games.
"I think as a second-year varsity player it's paying off for her and she has been able to convert," he said. "She has done a nice job rebounding and will have some opportunities for some putbacks."
Mathiason wants to see the Cheesemakers be more efficient and take advantage of more opportunities in the post.
"As a post player you have to rely on the perimeter," he said. "Tonight, it seemed like there were more opportunities. We just weren't quick enough to get that conversion."
Moe scored 10 points and made two 3-pointers to help propel Brodhead to a 46-23 win over Monroe Monday.
"I'm a lot more comfortable this year," Moe said. "I feel more in control this year. I'm more confident now. I feel like I can just go out and play my best."
There are several lessons the Cheesemakers can take away from the game against Brodhead, which is ranked No. 2 in the preseason Division 3 state poll.
"I think part of it is understanding the level of intensity you have to play with for 32 minutes," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "Brodhead is one of the best teams in the state in Division 3. We have some young players and they have to get adjusted to the varsity game and making quicker decisions. It's a different speed. It's understanding the quickness and size. This is another step in the road for us."
Monroe (1-1) limited Brodhead senior Carly Mohns, an Iowa recruit, to just 12 points. The Cheesemakers trailed just 12-7 early in the second quarter after Monroe senior Whitney Disch hit a jumper. The Cardinals went on an 8-0 run sparked by a defense that forced the Cheesemakers into a string of turnovers.
Brodhead senior Jordan Halvorsen came up with a steal and scored on a layup to give the Cardinals a 16-7 lead midway through the second quarter. Halvorsen had another steal and Mohns scored on a putback. Mohns then banked in a jumper with about 3 minutes left in the second quarter to give the Cardinals a 20-7 lead. Monroe junior MacKenzie Hesgard answered with a 3-pointer, but it didn't take the Cardinals long to respond. Moe drilled a 3-pointer to give the Cardinals a 23-10 lead at the half.
"It's one of those situations where we had a lot of possessions and didn't convert," Mathiason said. "They got on that 8-0 run and we couldn't match it or close it. Defensively, we held them to 46 points which is pretty good."
Brodhead coach Brad Pickett always looks forward to playing Monroe.
"I always say Monroe is a very good non-conference game for us," Pickett said. "Throw out the records. They are always very solid on defense and will test us. It was a typical first game with the turnovers. We have to do a better job of taking care of the ball. We have to handle pressure."
Mohns sees another area the Cardinals can improve.
"It was a physical game," she said. "Sometimes we shied away from contact instead of taking it into contact."
The Cheesemakers were 1-for-8 shooting at the start of the third quarter and the Cardinals were able to extend their lead with Mohns scoring down low to push the lead to 31-16. Halvorsen knocked down a 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter to give the Cardinals a 34-16 lead.
"We had some good opportunities," Mathiason said of scoring in the second half. "We just have to continue working on finding ways to convert."
Disch scored six points to lead the Cheesemakers. Senior Taylor Barrett added five points and Kayla Updike chipped in four. Mathiason is excited about the play he has been getting from Disch in the first two games.
"I think as a second-year varsity player it's paying off for her and she has been able to convert," he said. "She has done a nice job rebounding and will have some opportunities for some putbacks."
Mathiason wants to see the Cheesemakers be more efficient and take advantage of more opportunities in the post.
"As a post player you have to rely on the perimeter," he said. "Tonight, it seemed like there were more opportunities. We just weren't quick enough to get that conversion."
