MONROE - The Monroe High School girls basketball team took Oregon's best shot Friday, responded with a second-half surge and rolled to a 64-37 win over the Panthers.
Monroe (4-0, 2-0 Badger South), ranked No. 10 in the WisSports.net Division 2 coaches poll, led by 13 points at the half, 29-16.
Oregon got within six points midway through the second half. After the Panthers cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 37-31, Monroe answered by closing the game on a 27-6 run.
"I think we have players who have that experience," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "We have three girls who have been on the varsity for three years. They know what it takes in the conference, and they are developing."
Monroe sophomore Sydney Hilliard scored a game-high 26 points. Sophomore Emily Benzschawel added 17 points, and junior Sydney Mathiason had 12 points.
Sam Mathiason didn't allow the Panthers' run to dampen the confidence the Cheesemakers had on the court early on. Oregon switched to a zone to slow down Hilliard and Benzschawel's slashes to the basket.
"I thought we were getting good shots they just weren't going in," Sam Mathiason said. "I thought we may have settled for too many 3-pointers against their zone. They were really packing it in."
During the closing run in the second half, Mathiason said Sydney Hilliard and Benzschawel had several steals that led to layups in transition.
Oregon's Ellen McCorkle scored 12 of her team-high 16 points in the first half.
"We had three different girls guarding her, and I think they did a good job," Mathiason said. "We wanted to make it tough on her (McCorkle) when she touched the ball. Rachel Meier, Alicia Kuester, Madison Katzenberger and Kaylynn Conway gave us some good minutes."
Shullsburg 61,
Juda 41
JUDA - Senior Hattie Rennert scored a game-high 19 points to help the Miners run away from Juda.
Shullsburg's Brianna Leahy added 17 points, and Cora Holland chipped in 11 points.
Juda senior Chelsea Burkhalter scored a team-high 10 points, including two 3-pointers. Senior Alexis Goecks and junior Hailey Kammerer each added seven points.
Cuba City 57, Darlington 47
DARLINGTON - Senior Morgan Vosberg scored a game-high 17 points to propel the Cubans over rival Darlington.
Darlington (4-1) trailed by one point at the half. Cuba City outscored the Redbirds 35-26 in the second half.
Vosberg made three 3-pointers.
Darlington sophomore Kaylee Meyers scored a team-high 13 points, including two 3-pointers. Junior Kennedy Rankin chipped in nine points.
In other action, Cassville cruised to a 40-22 win over Pecatonica.
Monroe (4-0, 2-0 Badger South), ranked No. 10 in the WisSports.net Division 2 coaches poll, led by 13 points at the half, 29-16.
Oregon got within six points midway through the second half. After the Panthers cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 37-31, Monroe answered by closing the game on a 27-6 run.
"I think we have players who have that experience," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "We have three girls who have been on the varsity for three years. They know what it takes in the conference, and they are developing."
Monroe sophomore Sydney Hilliard scored a game-high 26 points. Sophomore Emily Benzschawel added 17 points, and junior Sydney Mathiason had 12 points.
Sam Mathiason didn't allow the Panthers' run to dampen the confidence the Cheesemakers had on the court early on. Oregon switched to a zone to slow down Hilliard and Benzschawel's slashes to the basket.
"I thought we were getting good shots they just weren't going in," Sam Mathiason said. "I thought we may have settled for too many 3-pointers against their zone. They were really packing it in."
During the closing run in the second half, Mathiason said Sydney Hilliard and Benzschawel had several steals that led to layups in transition.
Oregon's Ellen McCorkle scored 12 of her team-high 16 points in the first half.
"We had three different girls guarding her, and I think they did a good job," Mathiason said. "We wanted to make it tough on her (McCorkle) when she touched the ball. Rachel Meier, Alicia Kuester, Madison Katzenberger and Kaylynn Conway gave us some good minutes."
Shullsburg 61,
Juda 41
JUDA - Senior Hattie Rennert scored a game-high 19 points to help the Miners run away from Juda.
Shullsburg's Brianna Leahy added 17 points, and Cora Holland chipped in 11 points.
Juda senior Chelsea Burkhalter scored a team-high 10 points, including two 3-pointers. Senior Alexis Goecks and junior Hailey Kammerer each added seven points.
Cuba City 57, Darlington 47
DARLINGTON - Senior Morgan Vosberg scored a game-high 17 points to propel the Cubans over rival Darlington.
Darlington (4-1) trailed by one point at the half. Cuba City outscored the Redbirds 35-26 in the second half.
Vosberg made three 3-pointers.
Darlington sophomore Kaylee Meyers scored a team-high 13 points, including two 3-pointers. Junior Kennedy Rankin chipped in nine points.
In other action, Cassville cruised to a 40-22 win over Pecatonica.
