VERONA - Every day in practice, members of the Monroe girls basketball team spend a large chunk of time shooting free throws.
On Saturday, the Cheesemakers spent a large chunk of time at the free throw line, and it paid off, as Monroe (21-2) downed McFarland 49-37 to capture a Division 2 regional title. The Cheesemakers sank 27 of 33 free throws.
"The free throw line is so important; that's why we do our drills every day," Jamie Armstrong said. "It pays off."
It did for Armstrong. She led Monroe with 22 points, 12 of those coming on 14 free throws. Armstrong alone made twice as many free throws as McFarland attempted. The Spartans were just 4 of 6 from the line; they didn't attempt a free throw in the second half.
"We did a good job defensively," head coach Kevin Keen said. "For the most part, they were very aggressive, and they got after us, but we were able to withstand the pressure."
McFarland used its size advantage inside, especially 6-foot, 2-inch Julia Thorson, to keep the game close in the second quarter. Thorson scored six straight points near the end of the third quarter to help trim a 29-20 deficit to 30-28.
"I thought we'd be able to shut her down more," said Monroe's Ashley Hermanson, who drew guarding duty on Thorson. She finished with eight points. "She had a height advantage and took advantage of that."
Enter Armstrong. Like she had done at the start of the third quarter, when she scored six straight Monroe points, the junior added two baskets and three free throws down the stretch to put the game away.
"Getting to the line 33 times is huge," Keen said. "And Jamie doing what she did, I like to see her at the line. She's one of our best, if not our best, free throw shooter."
Monroe led by as many as nine points in the first half, 21-12, with about 1:50 left, but the Spartans ended the half with a 6-0 run to make it 21-18 at halftime. The Cheesemakers began to pull away with an 8-2 run to start the third quarter to bump its lead back to nine.
The Cheesemakers made 17 of 21 free throws before McFarland started to foul to stop the clock with 1:46 left in the game. From there, Monroe made 10 of 12 free throws to maintain its healthy lead.
For its efforts, the Cheesemakers get to square off against Richland Center at 7 p.m. Friday in Waunakee. The Hornets were the No. 1 seed from their regional, and boast a 19-3 record. Richland Center lost its first three games of the year before winning 19 straight.
"They've got a lot of young kids, kind of like what our team was last year," Keen said. "It will be a dogfight."
Should Monroe get past Richland Center, a sectional final matchup against Madison Edgewood (20-3) may be waiting. The Crusaders knocked off top-ranked and unbeaten Columbus 59-50. Edgewood plays Union Grove in the other sectional semifial.
Edgewood is on a 16-game winning streak. Its last loss came on Dec. 12 against the Cheesemakers.
"Seeing Columbus lose gave us more confidence, but we can't look past any game," Armstrong said. "We didn't come out this game with our best effort, and we can't do that in sectionals."
Tickets for Friday's game go on sale Tuesday morning at Ruf's and at the high school office.
On Saturday, the Cheesemakers spent a large chunk of time at the free throw line, and it paid off, as Monroe (21-2) downed McFarland 49-37 to capture a Division 2 regional title. The Cheesemakers sank 27 of 33 free throws.
"The free throw line is so important; that's why we do our drills every day," Jamie Armstrong said. "It pays off."
It did for Armstrong. She led Monroe with 22 points, 12 of those coming on 14 free throws. Armstrong alone made twice as many free throws as McFarland attempted. The Spartans were just 4 of 6 from the line; they didn't attempt a free throw in the second half.
"We did a good job defensively," head coach Kevin Keen said. "For the most part, they were very aggressive, and they got after us, but we were able to withstand the pressure."
McFarland used its size advantage inside, especially 6-foot, 2-inch Julia Thorson, to keep the game close in the second quarter. Thorson scored six straight points near the end of the third quarter to help trim a 29-20 deficit to 30-28.
"I thought we'd be able to shut her down more," said Monroe's Ashley Hermanson, who drew guarding duty on Thorson. She finished with eight points. "She had a height advantage and took advantage of that."
Enter Armstrong. Like she had done at the start of the third quarter, when she scored six straight Monroe points, the junior added two baskets and three free throws down the stretch to put the game away.
"Getting to the line 33 times is huge," Keen said. "And Jamie doing what she did, I like to see her at the line. She's one of our best, if not our best, free throw shooter."
Monroe led by as many as nine points in the first half, 21-12, with about 1:50 left, but the Spartans ended the half with a 6-0 run to make it 21-18 at halftime. The Cheesemakers began to pull away with an 8-2 run to start the third quarter to bump its lead back to nine.
The Cheesemakers made 17 of 21 free throws before McFarland started to foul to stop the clock with 1:46 left in the game. From there, Monroe made 10 of 12 free throws to maintain its healthy lead.
For its efforts, the Cheesemakers get to square off against Richland Center at 7 p.m. Friday in Waunakee. The Hornets were the No. 1 seed from their regional, and boast a 19-3 record. Richland Center lost its first three games of the year before winning 19 straight.
"They've got a lot of young kids, kind of like what our team was last year," Keen said. "It will be a dogfight."
Should Monroe get past Richland Center, a sectional final matchup against Madison Edgewood (20-3) may be waiting. The Crusaders knocked off top-ranked and unbeaten Columbus 59-50. Edgewood plays Union Grove in the other sectional semifial.
Edgewood is on a 16-game winning streak. Its last loss came on Dec. 12 against the Cheesemakers.
"Seeing Columbus lose gave us more confidence, but we can't look past any game," Armstrong said. "We didn't come out this game with our best effort, and we can't do that in sectionals."
Tickets for Friday's game go on sale Tuesday morning at Ruf's and at the high school office.
