MONROE - Freshman Emily Benzschawel knew the best way for the Monroe High School girls basketball team to solve Fort Atkinson's 1-3-1 zone was to push the ball on the fastbreak.
The Cheesemakers did just that late in the second half and ended the game on a 12-0 run to roll to a 46-29 win over Fort Atkinson Tuesday night.
Benzschawel scored a team-high 14 points, and freshman Sydney Hilliard scored 12 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had three steals to help the Cheesemakers snap a four-game losing streak. Monroe junior Jordan Hirsbrunner added eight points and had seven rebounds.
"I think we can push the ball more and make shots," Benzschawel said. "We just have to jump the ball (on defense). Once we get an open layup, it's an easy basket. We will take it. It feels really good, especially coming off a couple of losses."
Monroe (2-4, 1-2 Badger South) was clicking on all cylinders early and opened the game with a 15-2 run in the first half. Benzschawel scored on two layups and junior Lexi Hilliard drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key to spark the Cheesemakers' outburst.
"We didn't get down," Benzschawel said of the losing streak. "We definitely always try to come out with fire. I think it's a good boost. We just have to take it one game at a time."
Fort Atkinson (2-4, 0-2 Badger South) shot just 1-for-17 the first 8 minutes of the game, and the Cheesemakers capitalized.
The Blackhawks relied on a pressure 1-3-1 zone defense to try to claw their way back. The Cheesemakers' offense bogged down as they tried to attack the zone with lob passes that led to turnovers. The Cheesemakers had 12 of their 19 turnovers in the first half.
The Blackhawks went on an 11-4 run late in the first half to cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 19-13 at the half.
"We talked about getting our post players down to the block more so we could make that zone cave," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "It's one of those situations where you just keep trying to play to the best of your ability. We did a much better job of that in the second half. You never know what kind of shots you will get against the 1-3-1. We talked about getting out in transition and running more before the zone could set up."
Benzschawel absorbed Mathiason's message at the half.
"We were told to make a ball fake and get open to make the pass easier," she said.
Monroe junior Brooke Adams scored on a layup to start the second half to give the Cheesemakers a 21-13 lead.
The Blackhawks battled back and cut the Cheesemakers' lead to five points.
The Cheesemakers closed the final 4 minutes, 34 seconds of the game on a 12-0 run. Hirsbrunner scored on a layup. Monroe senior Hannah Vetterli scored down low. Benzschawel scored on two layups to ice the victory.
"She (Benzschawel) has the ability to handle the ball and penetrate when she sees a seam," Mathiason said. "Emily gave us some scoring punch in the second half. It could be a lot of different people on any given night, and she did a nice job of getting some of those conversions."
Mathiason also credited Hirsbrunner and junior Alicia Kuester for their performances off the bench.
"Jordan came in and did a good job of scoring for us," Mathiason said. "Alicia Kuester came in and rebounded hard. We had some people who took advantage of their minutes and gave us a boost."
Monroe will host Elkhorn in a nonconference game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
"You just have to keep playing at the high level we need to every game," Mathiason said.
The Cheesemakers did just that late in the second half and ended the game on a 12-0 run to roll to a 46-29 win over Fort Atkinson Tuesday night.
Benzschawel scored a team-high 14 points, and freshman Sydney Hilliard scored 12 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had three steals to help the Cheesemakers snap a four-game losing streak. Monroe junior Jordan Hirsbrunner added eight points and had seven rebounds.
"I think we can push the ball more and make shots," Benzschawel said. "We just have to jump the ball (on defense). Once we get an open layup, it's an easy basket. We will take it. It feels really good, especially coming off a couple of losses."
Monroe (2-4, 1-2 Badger South) was clicking on all cylinders early and opened the game with a 15-2 run in the first half. Benzschawel scored on two layups and junior Lexi Hilliard drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key to spark the Cheesemakers' outburst.
"We didn't get down," Benzschawel said of the losing streak. "We definitely always try to come out with fire. I think it's a good boost. We just have to take it one game at a time."
Fort Atkinson (2-4, 0-2 Badger South) shot just 1-for-17 the first 8 minutes of the game, and the Cheesemakers capitalized.
The Blackhawks relied on a pressure 1-3-1 zone defense to try to claw their way back. The Cheesemakers' offense bogged down as they tried to attack the zone with lob passes that led to turnovers. The Cheesemakers had 12 of their 19 turnovers in the first half.
The Blackhawks went on an 11-4 run late in the first half to cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 19-13 at the half.
"We talked about getting our post players down to the block more so we could make that zone cave," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "It's one of those situations where you just keep trying to play to the best of your ability. We did a much better job of that in the second half. You never know what kind of shots you will get against the 1-3-1. We talked about getting out in transition and running more before the zone could set up."
Benzschawel absorbed Mathiason's message at the half.
"We were told to make a ball fake and get open to make the pass easier," she said.
Monroe junior Brooke Adams scored on a layup to start the second half to give the Cheesemakers a 21-13 lead.
The Blackhawks battled back and cut the Cheesemakers' lead to five points.
The Cheesemakers closed the final 4 minutes, 34 seconds of the game on a 12-0 run. Hirsbrunner scored on a layup. Monroe senior Hannah Vetterli scored down low. Benzschawel scored on two layups to ice the victory.
"She (Benzschawel) has the ability to handle the ball and penetrate when she sees a seam," Mathiason said. "Emily gave us some scoring punch in the second half. It could be a lot of different people on any given night, and she did a nice job of getting some of those conversions."
Mathiason also credited Hirsbrunner and junior Alicia Kuester for their performances off the bench.
"Jordan came in and did a good job of scoring for us," Mathiason said. "Alicia Kuester came in and rebounded hard. We had some people who took advantage of their minutes and gave us a boost."
Monroe will host Elkhorn in a nonconference game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
"You just have to keep playing at the high level we need to every game," Mathiason said.
