MONROE - Taylor Barrett has worked hard to develop her outside shooting as well as her inside post game.
The Monroe sophomore's outside shooting was a big weapon Tuesday night. Barrett scored a game-high 22 points and hit five 3-pointers to propel the Cheesemakers to their first win 55-50 over Elkhorn.
"I have been working hard on it," Barrett said of her outside shooting. "I have never hit five 3-pointers in my life. Non-conference games are there to prepare you for conference games. I think it will be a big confidence booster for the girls and I. It shows us that we are not as bad as what people are thinking."
Monroe (1-3, 0-1 Badger South) received several key contributions during a 13-4 third-quarter run. Barrett ignited the spurt by knocking down two 3-pointers. Monroe senior Chelsea Haffele hit two jumpers and senior Ashley Segner drilled a 3-pointer to give the Cheesemakers a 36-27 lead with 2 minutes, 8 seconds to go in the third quarter. With Monroe senior Brooke McBain battling foul trouble in the fourth quarter, the Cheesemakers turned to the bench to deliver. The Cheesemakers got 15 points from their bench.
"We had a number of girls contribute and make plays and shots when we needed them to," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "We can't have just one or two scorers. We have to have threats from all the spots. It's just finding their roles."
Early on, it looked like the game would come down to the wire. The Elks went on an 11-4 run in the second quarter and took a 21-16 lead after senior Emily Schahczinski scored down low. The Cheesemakers answered with Barrett hitting a 3-pointer and senior Gracie Schilt hitting a jumper to help the Cheesemakers come back and tie the game at 23 at halftime.
The Cheesemakers had a 41-34 lead heading into the fourth quarter that the Ells erased with a 6-0 spurt. Elkhorn junior Allyson Reeves hit two jumpers and senior Grace Ames scored down low to cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 41-40 early in the fourth quarter. The Monroe weathered the run and Barrett drove in and nailed a jumper in the lane with 2:50 to go to give the Cheesemakers a 50-44 lead.
"Basketball is a game where you have to be able to play inside and outside," Mathiason said. "Both Brooke and Taylor have the ability to shoot it when they set up. Any time you can shoot it from the outside, it will open up other parts of the game."
McBain fouled out with 1:43 left. The Elks didn't go away quietly. Elkhorn sophomore Erin Schahczinski scored on a layup with 1:01 left to cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 52-48 with 1:01 to go. Reeves came up with a steal and scored on a layup with 32 seconds left to slice the Cheesemakers' lead to 53-50, but that is as close as the Elks would get. The Cheesemakers made 7 of 10 free throws in the final 4:55 including 3 of 6 free throws in the final 50 seconds to hang on for the win.
Monroe has played several close games including losing in overtime to Madison La Follette and losing late in the fourth quarter to Milton.
Mathiason said the Cheesemakers had to find a way to get some stops on defense. The Cheesemakers overcame 13 turnovers.
"I told them we had to get our first win before we get the second win," Mathiason said.
McBain finished with seven points, which all came in the first half. Monroe sophomore Vanessa Studer scored six points and senior Abbey Foulker had five.
Monroe hosts Oregon at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
"I think we will get our first conference win," Barrett said. "I am confident."
The Monroe sophomore's outside shooting was a big weapon Tuesday night. Barrett scored a game-high 22 points and hit five 3-pointers to propel the Cheesemakers to their first win 55-50 over Elkhorn.
"I have been working hard on it," Barrett said of her outside shooting. "I have never hit five 3-pointers in my life. Non-conference games are there to prepare you for conference games. I think it will be a big confidence booster for the girls and I. It shows us that we are not as bad as what people are thinking."
Monroe (1-3, 0-1 Badger South) received several key contributions during a 13-4 third-quarter run. Barrett ignited the spurt by knocking down two 3-pointers. Monroe senior Chelsea Haffele hit two jumpers and senior Ashley Segner drilled a 3-pointer to give the Cheesemakers a 36-27 lead with 2 minutes, 8 seconds to go in the third quarter. With Monroe senior Brooke McBain battling foul trouble in the fourth quarter, the Cheesemakers turned to the bench to deliver. The Cheesemakers got 15 points from their bench.
"We had a number of girls contribute and make plays and shots when we needed them to," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "We can't have just one or two scorers. We have to have threats from all the spots. It's just finding their roles."
Early on, it looked like the game would come down to the wire. The Elks went on an 11-4 run in the second quarter and took a 21-16 lead after senior Emily Schahczinski scored down low. The Cheesemakers answered with Barrett hitting a 3-pointer and senior Gracie Schilt hitting a jumper to help the Cheesemakers come back and tie the game at 23 at halftime.
The Cheesemakers had a 41-34 lead heading into the fourth quarter that the Ells erased with a 6-0 spurt. Elkhorn junior Allyson Reeves hit two jumpers and senior Grace Ames scored down low to cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 41-40 early in the fourth quarter. The Monroe weathered the run and Barrett drove in and nailed a jumper in the lane with 2:50 to go to give the Cheesemakers a 50-44 lead.
"Basketball is a game where you have to be able to play inside and outside," Mathiason said. "Both Brooke and Taylor have the ability to shoot it when they set up. Any time you can shoot it from the outside, it will open up other parts of the game."
McBain fouled out with 1:43 left. The Elks didn't go away quietly. Elkhorn sophomore Erin Schahczinski scored on a layup with 1:01 left to cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 52-48 with 1:01 to go. Reeves came up with a steal and scored on a layup with 32 seconds left to slice the Cheesemakers' lead to 53-50, but that is as close as the Elks would get. The Cheesemakers made 7 of 10 free throws in the final 4:55 including 3 of 6 free throws in the final 50 seconds to hang on for the win.
Monroe has played several close games including losing in overtime to Madison La Follette and losing late in the fourth quarter to Milton.
Mathiason said the Cheesemakers had to find a way to get some stops on defense. The Cheesemakers overcame 13 turnovers.
"I told them we had to get our first win before we get the second win," Mathiason said.
McBain finished with seven points, which all came in the first half. Monroe sophomore Vanessa Studer scored six points and senior Abbey Foulker had five.
Monroe hosts Oregon at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
"I think we will get our first conference win," Barrett said. "I am confident."
