FORT ATKINSON - The Monroe High School girls basketball team stayed unbeaten, but it wasn't as easy as the score might indicate.
The Cheesemakers held off Fort Atkinson in the second half to top the Blackhawks 41-26 Friday night.
Monroe (5-0, 3-0 Badger South) led by as many as 13 points in the first half. However, Fort Atkinson cut the Cheesemakers' lead to five points, 28-23, with 7 minutes to go. The Cheesemakers responded with a 13-0 run to seal the win.
The Blackhawks used a 1-3-1 zone to try to slow down the Cheesemakers.
"They were able to slow the game down enough," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "There was no flow. It's a style Fort Atkinson has played the last few years. Not many teams are set up to play a zone like that. I'm sure some people will study that and some teams will try some different things against us. We have to be prepared to play against different defenses teams may play against us."
Monroe sophomore Sydney Hilliard scored a game-high 18 points. Monroe junior Sydney Mathiason and sophomore Emily Benzschawel each added seven points.
Early on, it looked like Monroe would roll by the Blackhawks. The Cheesemakers opened the game with a 15-2 run. Fort Atkinson got back into the game when 3-pointers by freshman Evie Coleman and senior Morgan Dunkleberger sliced the deficit to 15-11. Monroe held a 19-11 lead at the half.
The Cheesemakers extended their lead late in the second half by forcing turnovers and scoring in transition.
"They (Fort Atkinson) had a couple of turnovers, and we were able to get some conversions," Mathiason said.
The Cheesemakers held off Fort Atkinson in the second half to top the Blackhawks 41-26 Friday night.
Monroe (5-0, 3-0 Badger South) led by as many as 13 points in the first half. However, Fort Atkinson cut the Cheesemakers' lead to five points, 28-23, with 7 minutes to go. The Cheesemakers responded with a 13-0 run to seal the win.
The Blackhawks used a 1-3-1 zone to try to slow down the Cheesemakers.
"They were able to slow the game down enough," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "There was no flow. It's a style Fort Atkinson has played the last few years. Not many teams are set up to play a zone like that. I'm sure some people will study that and some teams will try some different things against us. We have to be prepared to play against different defenses teams may play against us."
Monroe sophomore Sydney Hilliard scored a game-high 18 points. Monroe junior Sydney Mathiason and sophomore Emily Benzschawel each added seven points.
Early on, it looked like Monroe would roll by the Blackhawks. The Cheesemakers opened the game with a 15-2 run. Fort Atkinson got back into the game when 3-pointers by freshman Evie Coleman and senior Morgan Dunkleberger sliced the deficit to 15-11. Monroe held a 19-11 lead at the half.
The Cheesemakers extended their lead late in the second half by forcing turnovers and scoring in transition.
"They (Fort Atkinson) had a couple of turnovers, and we were able to get some conversions," Mathiason said.
