ELKHORN - Monroe opened up its 2008-09 season a bit differently, and better, than a year ago. Last fall, the Cheesemakers lost in overtime to Elkhorn to start the season - but recovered well to win the WIAA Division 2 state title.
Friday, the experienced Lady Cheesemakers opened the season with a solid 55-45 win over another veteran Elkhorn team.
"We know that every team is going out to play their best game against us," Monroe head coach Kevin Keen said after the win.
"To get a win tonight after losing to them last year, it's a good win for us. They have four returning starters, so we know they are good, too."
After winning the Division 2 state title last spring, the Cheesemakers realize every team is going to be gunning for them.
The Elks were just Team No. 1.
Monroe started the game a bit sluggish before opening up a 14-9 lead after the first quarter. Elkhorn's Ashlyn Anderson hit a short jumper right before time expired in the quarter.
In the second quarter, Monroe's defense had a few miscues, and the offense followed suit.
"We went 13 possessions without getting a score when they went to zone in the first half," Keen said. "We got a little impatient and it showed."
It took Monroe more than five minutes to score in the second quarter, and Elkhorn had bounced back to take an 18-14 lead with just under three minutes to play in the half.
Finally, the Cheese hit a shot, sophomore forward Kylee Ritschard's score from under the basket with 2:56 left. Then junior standout Jamie Armstrong followed suit on the next possession to even the score.
The Elks' Carly Larson hit a jumper to give Elkhorn a 20-18 advantage, but Kyleigh Sellnow nailed a 3-pointer with about a minute left to give Monroe the lead.
"With Jamie and Ashley (Hermanson), we have a pretty strong post presence. Their presence inside is going to help everybody on the outside," Keen said. "And Kyleigh sees the floor very well and knows what to do with the ball."
Ritschard again hit a shot from under the hoop with time winding down, but Elkhorn responded once more before the break to cut Monroe's halftime edge to 23-22.
"At halftime we talked about being patient. I thought the second half we did a much better job. We didn't start out that bad, but when they went into a zone in the second quarter, we started getting a little impatient," Keen said.
Armstrong, knowing she's the team leader, stepped up even bigger in the second half with nine points, two blocks and a handful of rebounds. With Hermanson in foul trouble, Armstrong had to carry much of the team's weight on her own shoulders.
"I means a lot to me to be the leader of the team," Armstrong said. "I have to pick everyone up."
Armstrong got the team going in the first minute of the second half and Monroe took control of the game. The Cheesemakers pounded out 20 points in the third quarter, opening up a 43-31 lead before the final frame.
"I think the first half we got out all of the nerves of it being the first game - for some people it's their first time on varsity. In the second half we just kind of hit the flow and took off and played our game," Armstrong said.
In the fourth, Monroe held onto the ball and kept up its pressure defense. The Elks initially cut the lead to 43-36, but Monroe scored 11 of the next 14 points.
Monroe shot great from the free-throw line down the stretch and all night, finishing 13-of-16 from the charity stripe.
Armstrong led the Cheesemakers with 19 points, more than a handful of rebounds and four blocks. Hermanson added 11 points, three steals and a handful of rebounds before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.
Sellnow finished with nine points, all on 3-pointers, and added three steals. Gwen Sutter hit a pair of big 3s in the fourth quarter to finish with six points. Ritschard had five points and senior point guard Emily Rufenacht had four.
Anderson led the way for Elkhorn, scoring 15 points.
Monroe gears up for its conference opener Tuesday at home against Milton.
Friday, the experienced Lady Cheesemakers opened the season with a solid 55-45 win over another veteran Elkhorn team.
"We know that every team is going out to play their best game against us," Monroe head coach Kevin Keen said after the win.
"To get a win tonight after losing to them last year, it's a good win for us. They have four returning starters, so we know they are good, too."
After winning the Division 2 state title last spring, the Cheesemakers realize every team is going to be gunning for them.
The Elks were just Team No. 1.
Monroe started the game a bit sluggish before opening up a 14-9 lead after the first quarter. Elkhorn's Ashlyn Anderson hit a short jumper right before time expired in the quarter.
In the second quarter, Monroe's defense had a few miscues, and the offense followed suit.
"We went 13 possessions without getting a score when they went to zone in the first half," Keen said. "We got a little impatient and it showed."
It took Monroe more than five minutes to score in the second quarter, and Elkhorn had bounced back to take an 18-14 lead with just under three minutes to play in the half.
Finally, the Cheese hit a shot, sophomore forward Kylee Ritschard's score from under the basket with 2:56 left. Then junior standout Jamie Armstrong followed suit on the next possession to even the score.
The Elks' Carly Larson hit a jumper to give Elkhorn a 20-18 advantage, but Kyleigh Sellnow nailed a 3-pointer with about a minute left to give Monroe the lead.
"With Jamie and Ashley (Hermanson), we have a pretty strong post presence. Their presence inside is going to help everybody on the outside," Keen said. "And Kyleigh sees the floor very well and knows what to do with the ball."
Ritschard again hit a shot from under the hoop with time winding down, but Elkhorn responded once more before the break to cut Monroe's halftime edge to 23-22.
"At halftime we talked about being patient. I thought the second half we did a much better job. We didn't start out that bad, but when they went into a zone in the second quarter, we started getting a little impatient," Keen said.
Armstrong, knowing she's the team leader, stepped up even bigger in the second half with nine points, two blocks and a handful of rebounds. With Hermanson in foul trouble, Armstrong had to carry much of the team's weight on her own shoulders.
"I means a lot to me to be the leader of the team," Armstrong said. "I have to pick everyone up."
Armstrong got the team going in the first minute of the second half and Monroe took control of the game. The Cheesemakers pounded out 20 points in the third quarter, opening up a 43-31 lead before the final frame.
"I think the first half we got out all of the nerves of it being the first game - for some people it's their first time on varsity. In the second half we just kind of hit the flow and took off and played our game," Armstrong said.
In the fourth, Monroe held onto the ball and kept up its pressure defense. The Elks initially cut the lead to 43-36, but Monroe scored 11 of the next 14 points.
Monroe shot great from the free-throw line down the stretch and all night, finishing 13-of-16 from the charity stripe.
Armstrong led the Cheesemakers with 19 points, more than a handful of rebounds and four blocks. Hermanson added 11 points, three steals and a handful of rebounds before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.
Sellnow finished with nine points, all on 3-pointers, and added three steals. Gwen Sutter hit a pair of big 3s in the fourth quarter to finish with six points. Ritschard had five points and senior point guard Emily Rufenacht had four.
Anderson led the way for Elkhorn, scoring 15 points.
Monroe gears up for its conference opener Tuesday at home against Milton.
