MONROE - A year ago, Sauk Prairie's Kelsey Budd drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer, capping a 17-0 run to close out the game, and the Eagles handed the Cheesemakers girls their first loss of the season. Thursday night, Monroe, undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the state in two polls in Division 2, found sweet revenge, burying Sauk Prairie, 51-32.
"We didn't have a fourth-quarter collapse this year," head coach Kevin Keen said. "I was really pleased with the defense tonight. It was good team defense. We didn't give them anything easy."
Not only did the Cheesemakers close out the game by outscoring the Eagles 20-15 in the second half, but they took away Budd, Sauk Prairie's leading scorer.
"She's a very good player. It got me pumped up, as well as the whole team," said Monroe junior Kylee Ritschard, who defended Budd for much of the game. "We had last year in mind. We knew it was going to be a big game."
Sauk Prairie (13-3, 7-1) is the leader of the Badger North Conference and went into the contest ranked 13th in the state in the WisSports.net Coaches Poll.
Monroe (15-0, 8-0 Badger South) opened the game rolling on offense. The Cheesemakers found their way deep into the post early and often. Mixed with its staunch defense and fluid offense, Monroe never trailed.
"A lot of games teams will collapse down (in the post), but this team didn't," Hermanson said, who scored a game-high 16 points. "Our whole locker room speech was about revenge and to take it to them and not let up the whole time. I'm just so ecstatic right now. We wanted it so bad and we got it."
Monroe led 15-6 after the first quarter and 31-15 at halftime.
"This was probably one of our better efforts of the season," Keen said.
Along with Hermanson, fellow 6-foot post player Jamie Armstrong found her way into the paint for points and rebounds. Armstrong scored 15 points and drilled a 3-pointer just under two minutes into the second quarter, giving Monroe a commanding 20-6 advantage.
"Jamie and Ashley proved that they are two of the better post players in the state of Wisconsin. It's certainly nice to have both of them getting back to full strength this time of the year," Keen said.
Playing without injured starting guard Kyleigh Sellnow, Chelsea Brice and Ritschard had little problem keeping the offense flowing. The two combined for double-digits in assists and held Budd (18.6 points per game) to a low shooting percentage. Budd still managed to score 14 points.
"We didn't really give Kelsey Budd any good looks. Kylee Ritschard held her down for much of the first half until she got her second foul, then Chelsea Brice and Gwen Sutter did a nice job," Keen said.
Monroe (15-0) will look to keep its unbeaten status Saturday across the border at Freeport, in the third installation of the "Snack Bowl." Last year, the Cheesemakers upended the Pretzels, who were then ranked fourth in Illinois Class 3A, in a tight game.
"It's always a fun time with the boys-girls doubleheader," Keen said. It's an opportunity for us to do a Thursday-Saturday (game schedule). That's what we do in the regional and sectional. It will be good to see how rested we are when we play."
The girls' varsity game at Freeport starts at 6 p.m. with the boys contest following at approximately 7:30 p.m.
"We didn't have a fourth-quarter collapse this year," head coach Kevin Keen said. "I was really pleased with the defense tonight. It was good team defense. We didn't give them anything easy."
Not only did the Cheesemakers close out the game by outscoring the Eagles 20-15 in the second half, but they took away Budd, Sauk Prairie's leading scorer.
"She's a very good player. It got me pumped up, as well as the whole team," said Monroe junior Kylee Ritschard, who defended Budd for much of the game. "We had last year in mind. We knew it was going to be a big game."
Sauk Prairie (13-3, 7-1) is the leader of the Badger North Conference and went into the contest ranked 13th in the state in the WisSports.net Coaches Poll.
Monroe (15-0, 8-0 Badger South) opened the game rolling on offense. The Cheesemakers found their way deep into the post early and often. Mixed with its staunch defense and fluid offense, Monroe never trailed.
"A lot of games teams will collapse down (in the post), but this team didn't," Hermanson said, who scored a game-high 16 points. "Our whole locker room speech was about revenge and to take it to them and not let up the whole time. I'm just so ecstatic right now. We wanted it so bad and we got it."
Monroe led 15-6 after the first quarter and 31-15 at halftime.
"This was probably one of our better efforts of the season," Keen said.
Along with Hermanson, fellow 6-foot post player Jamie Armstrong found her way into the paint for points and rebounds. Armstrong scored 15 points and drilled a 3-pointer just under two minutes into the second quarter, giving Monroe a commanding 20-6 advantage.
"Jamie and Ashley proved that they are two of the better post players in the state of Wisconsin. It's certainly nice to have both of them getting back to full strength this time of the year," Keen said.
Playing without injured starting guard Kyleigh Sellnow, Chelsea Brice and Ritschard had little problem keeping the offense flowing. The two combined for double-digits in assists and held Budd (18.6 points per game) to a low shooting percentage. Budd still managed to score 14 points.
"We didn't really give Kelsey Budd any good looks. Kylee Ritschard held her down for much of the first half until she got her second foul, then Chelsea Brice and Gwen Sutter did a nice job," Keen said.
Monroe (15-0) will look to keep its unbeaten status Saturday across the border at Freeport, in the third installation of the "Snack Bowl." Last year, the Cheesemakers upended the Pretzels, who were then ranked fourth in Illinois Class 3A, in a tight game.
"It's always a fun time with the boys-girls doubleheader," Keen said. It's an opportunity for us to do a Thursday-Saturday (game schedule). That's what we do in the regional and sectional. It will be good to see how rested we are when we play."
The girls' varsity game at Freeport starts at 6 p.m. with the boys contest following at approximately 7:30 p.m.
