MONROE - The Monroe girls basketball team couldn't overcome a cold shooting game and lost to Monona Grove 51-37 Saturday.
"I think we need to learn to come out stronger," said Monroe senior Kylee Ritschard, who scored 16 of her team-high 20 points in the second half. "We always seem to have to dig ourselves out of a hole. It would nice to get an early lead instead of having to dig out of a hole. I think we need to get pumped up in the beginning."
The Silver Eagles opened the game with an 11-3 run sparked by a steal and layup by Monona Grove freshman Alexa Kelsey and Taylor Nelson's jumper. Nelson scored 14 of her game-high 21 points in the second half.
The Cheesemakers (5-5, 1-3 Badger South) went more than 10 minutes without a field goal including the entire second quarter when they were outscored by the Silver Eagles 12-4. The only points the Cheesemakers scored in the second quarter came on two free throws from Ritschard and two from senior Kyleigh Sellnow.
The Cheesemakers shot 13.3 percent in the first half (2-for-15) and had as many turnovers as points at halftime (9). The Cheesemakers trailed 23-9 at halftime and trailed by as many as 19-points in the second half.
"We knew coming into the game that they would press us and try to get us out of our comfort zone," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "They did a good job of that in the first half."
The Silver Eagles had several offensive rebounds that led to second chance scoring opportunities. Mathiason didn't see the offensive rebounding by the Silver Eagles as the difference.
"I thought more of it was our inability to convert and work our offense," Mathiason said. "They want you to get into a faster pace than you are comfortable with. We took some quick shots and if you don't convert them then you are in trouble."
Ritschard said the focus going into the second half was to make the extra pass.
"They did a good job of getting in our faces and making us feel uncomfortable with the ball in our hands," Ritschard said. "We started to play our game. We locked down on defense. I just think we wanted it more in the second half after seeing them come out in the first half."
Monroe junior Brooke McBain scored down low with 5 minutes, 51 seconds left in the third quarter to snap a more than 10-minute drought without a basket to cut the Silver Eagles' lead to 26-13. Ritschard drilled a 3-pointer with 4:25 to go in the third quarter to cut the Silver Eagles' lead to 29-16. Nelson answered with a jumper and a 3-pointer to push the Silver Eagles' lead to 32-16.
The Cheesemakers went on a late run spearheaded by Ritschard and Sellnow. Sellnow came through with two steals and scored a layup to help the Cheesemakers slice the lead to 13 points. Sellnow scored 10 points and McBain had seven.
"As our senior leaders that is what you want to see," Mathiason said of Ritschard and Sellnow.
The shooting struggles are something the Cheesemakers are looking to improve on.
"I think shooting is a confidence thing," Mathiason said. "If you make your first one, you are a little more confident and if you miss your first one, you are a little more hesitant. We will keep working on it to get better."
"I think we need to learn to come out stronger," said Monroe senior Kylee Ritschard, who scored 16 of her team-high 20 points in the second half. "We always seem to have to dig ourselves out of a hole. It would nice to get an early lead instead of having to dig out of a hole. I think we need to get pumped up in the beginning."
The Silver Eagles opened the game with an 11-3 run sparked by a steal and layup by Monona Grove freshman Alexa Kelsey and Taylor Nelson's jumper. Nelson scored 14 of her game-high 21 points in the second half.
The Cheesemakers (5-5, 1-3 Badger South) went more than 10 minutes without a field goal including the entire second quarter when they were outscored by the Silver Eagles 12-4. The only points the Cheesemakers scored in the second quarter came on two free throws from Ritschard and two from senior Kyleigh Sellnow.
The Cheesemakers shot 13.3 percent in the first half (2-for-15) and had as many turnovers as points at halftime (9). The Cheesemakers trailed 23-9 at halftime and trailed by as many as 19-points in the second half.
"We knew coming into the game that they would press us and try to get us out of our comfort zone," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "They did a good job of that in the first half."
The Silver Eagles had several offensive rebounds that led to second chance scoring opportunities. Mathiason didn't see the offensive rebounding by the Silver Eagles as the difference.
"I thought more of it was our inability to convert and work our offense," Mathiason said. "They want you to get into a faster pace than you are comfortable with. We took some quick shots and if you don't convert them then you are in trouble."
Ritschard said the focus going into the second half was to make the extra pass.
"They did a good job of getting in our faces and making us feel uncomfortable with the ball in our hands," Ritschard said. "We started to play our game. We locked down on defense. I just think we wanted it more in the second half after seeing them come out in the first half."
Monroe junior Brooke McBain scored down low with 5 minutes, 51 seconds left in the third quarter to snap a more than 10-minute drought without a basket to cut the Silver Eagles' lead to 26-13. Ritschard drilled a 3-pointer with 4:25 to go in the third quarter to cut the Silver Eagles' lead to 29-16. Nelson answered with a jumper and a 3-pointer to push the Silver Eagles' lead to 32-16.
The Cheesemakers went on a late run spearheaded by Ritschard and Sellnow. Sellnow came through with two steals and scored a layup to help the Cheesemakers slice the lead to 13 points. Sellnow scored 10 points and McBain had seven.
"As our senior leaders that is what you want to see," Mathiason said of Ritschard and Sellnow.
The shooting struggles are something the Cheesemakers are looking to improve on.
"I think shooting is a confidence thing," Mathiason said. "If you make your first one, you are a little more confident and if you miss your first one, you are a little more hesitant. We will keep working on it to get better."
