VERONA - Playing without all-state junior point guard Sydney Hilliard due to an ankle injury, the Monroe girls basketball team dug deep and pulled out a nail-biting 58-55 overtime win over Verona Thursday.
Monroe junior Emily Benzschawel scored a game-high 17 points. Senior teammate Sydney Mathiason added 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds and sophomore Grace Mathiason chipped in 10 points. Monroe (11-1, 6-0 Badger South), ranked No. 2 in the Division 2 WisSports.net Coaches Poll, led by as many as 11 points in the second half. The Wildcats (4-6) stormed back on the back of senior Chandler Bainbridge, who scored a team-high 16 points.
"We made things a lot harder than we needed to at some times," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "We had some uncharacteristic turnovers in the end. We felt like we still had a chance even though we kept digging ourselves some holes. We stuck with it and found a way to win. I'm just proud of the effort."
Hilliard missed her first game due to a nagging ankle injury. Mathiason said Hilliard would not play against Muskego (8-2) today.
"The trainer wanted her to get two weeks of rehab in so it doesn't linger," Mathiason said. "She will not play tomorrow so she's ready for our next conference game."
Bainbridge picked up her fourth foul with about 6 minutes left in the second half. However, Verona coach Angie Murphy rolled the dice and left Bainbridge in the game. The gamble paid off as Bainbridge knocked down a jumper with 1:01 to go that tied the game at 49. She then forced a jump ball that led to a Wildcats' possession. Monroe freshman Megan Benzschawel, who made her first start, defended Bainbridge late in the second half in a tie game. Bainbridge tripped and went to the floor and Grace Mathiason tied her up for a jump ball. With 6.3 seconds to go, Murphy took two full timeouts. Sydney Mathiason's desperation shot was awry before the buzzer and the game went to overtime.
"It feels really good to get this win," Emily Benzschawel said. "This one was really special because we kept fighting for it. It's always hared to not have a starter especially Sydney (Hilliard) because she's a great player. Other people found a way to score and we found a way to win."
The Cheesemakers set the tone in the extra session with Emily Benzschawel scoring on a layup off the opening tip. Grace Mathiason scored on a key layup that gave the Cheesemakers a 53-49 lead with 2:22 to go in the overtime. After Megan Benzschawel hit two free throws, the Cheesemakers led 55-49 with 2:06 left. The Wildcats would not go quietly. Verona sophomore Rayna Briggs scored down low to cut Monroe's lead to two points, 57-55. The Cheesemakers made 3 of 4 free throws in the final 2 minutes to help seal the win. The Wildcats had a chance with 1.2 seconds to go, but couldn't get off a shot in the waning seconds.
Emily Benzschawel said the game was an illustration of the Cheesemakers' great team defense.
"We know we had to not collapse under pressure," Benzschawel said. "We knew they would be coming after us and looking to foul to get the ball. We had to be smart with the ball and make smart passes."
Monroe sophomore Grace Tostrud added 7 points. Megan Benzschawel chipped in 6 points and had seven rebounds in her first start.
Verona switched between a 2-3 and 3-2 zone in the game. The Cheesemakers hit four 3-pointers in the first half, but did most of their damage inside and from the free throw line in the second half. Monroe shot 59.2 from the free throw line (16 of 27). The Cheesemakers made more free throws (16) than the Wildcats attempted (14). Verona shot 57.1 percent from the foul line (8 of 14).
"Defensively, we did enough," Mathiason said. "I'm happy with the number of free throws. We have to take advantage of those."
The Wildcats' various zone defense stifled penetration and made the Cheesemakers more patient.
"Any time you play against a zone it takes a lot more passes," Mathiason said. "They (Verona) really pack it in. A lot of people say they are in a zone and it's easy to see from the bench. It's not always easy to make that pass with a hand in your face on the court. I think in the second half we did a better job of passing the ball and we had to convert."
Monroe junior Emily Benzschawel scored a game-high 17 points. Senior teammate Sydney Mathiason added 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds and sophomore Grace Mathiason chipped in 10 points. Monroe (11-1, 6-0 Badger South), ranked No. 2 in the Division 2 WisSports.net Coaches Poll, led by as many as 11 points in the second half. The Wildcats (4-6) stormed back on the back of senior Chandler Bainbridge, who scored a team-high 16 points.
"We made things a lot harder than we needed to at some times," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "We had some uncharacteristic turnovers in the end. We felt like we still had a chance even though we kept digging ourselves some holes. We stuck with it and found a way to win. I'm just proud of the effort."
Hilliard missed her first game due to a nagging ankle injury. Mathiason said Hilliard would not play against Muskego (8-2) today.
"The trainer wanted her to get two weeks of rehab in so it doesn't linger," Mathiason said. "She will not play tomorrow so she's ready for our next conference game."
Bainbridge picked up her fourth foul with about 6 minutes left in the second half. However, Verona coach Angie Murphy rolled the dice and left Bainbridge in the game. The gamble paid off as Bainbridge knocked down a jumper with 1:01 to go that tied the game at 49. She then forced a jump ball that led to a Wildcats' possession. Monroe freshman Megan Benzschawel, who made her first start, defended Bainbridge late in the second half in a tie game. Bainbridge tripped and went to the floor and Grace Mathiason tied her up for a jump ball. With 6.3 seconds to go, Murphy took two full timeouts. Sydney Mathiason's desperation shot was awry before the buzzer and the game went to overtime.
"It feels really good to get this win," Emily Benzschawel said. "This one was really special because we kept fighting for it. It's always hared to not have a starter especially Sydney (Hilliard) because she's a great player. Other people found a way to score and we found a way to win."
The Cheesemakers set the tone in the extra session with Emily Benzschawel scoring on a layup off the opening tip. Grace Mathiason scored on a key layup that gave the Cheesemakers a 53-49 lead with 2:22 to go in the overtime. After Megan Benzschawel hit two free throws, the Cheesemakers led 55-49 with 2:06 left. The Wildcats would not go quietly. Verona sophomore Rayna Briggs scored down low to cut Monroe's lead to two points, 57-55. The Cheesemakers made 3 of 4 free throws in the final 2 minutes to help seal the win. The Wildcats had a chance with 1.2 seconds to go, but couldn't get off a shot in the waning seconds.
Emily Benzschawel said the game was an illustration of the Cheesemakers' great team defense.
"We know we had to not collapse under pressure," Benzschawel said. "We knew they would be coming after us and looking to foul to get the ball. We had to be smart with the ball and make smart passes."
Monroe sophomore Grace Tostrud added 7 points. Megan Benzschawel chipped in 6 points and had seven rebounds in her first start.
Verona switched between a 2-3 and 3-2 zone in the game. The Cheesemakers hit four 3-pointers in the first half, but did most of their damage inside and from the free throw line in the second half. Monroe shot 59.2 from the free throw line (16 of 27). The Cheesemakers made more free throws (16) than the Wildcats attempted (14). Verona shot 57.1 percent from the foul line (8 of 14).
"Defensively, we did enough," Mathiason said. "I'm happy with the number of free throws. We have to take advantage of those."
The Wildcats' various zone defense stifled penetration and made the Cheesemakers more patient.
"Any time you play against a zone it takes a lot more passes," Mathiason said. "They (Verona) really pack it in. A lot of people say they are in a zone and it's easy to see from the bench. It's not always easy to make that pass with a hand in your face on the court. I think in the second half we did a better job of passing the ball and we had to convert."
