MONROE - After losing its first game of the regular season (and it's No. 1 state ranking) on Jan. 10 to Sauk Prairie, Monroe followed up the loss with a rare second-straight loss Friday. This time the Cheesemakers were dispatched by Madison Edgewood, 49-44.
The loss drops Monroe into a first-place tie with Edgewood atop the Badger South Conference. Both teams are 6-1 in the league.
Monroe (9-2 overall) got off to a rough start, failing to hit its first nine 3-pointers and shooting under 30 percent in the opening quarter. The cold spell of the weather didn't just effect the Cheesemakers shooting, either. Monroe had more turnovers in the first quarter than a baker.
Edgewood (11-3) dashed out to a 7-2 lead through the first four minutes of the game and went into the second quarter leading 13-5.
"We were flat coming out of the gate," Cheesemaker head coach Kevin Keen said. "That's not characteristic of our program."
Jamie Armstrong hit the first basket of the second quarter on a putback. Keen said that Armstrong, who had 16 points for Monroe, was likely the team's lone bright spot.
"I thought Jamie had a good game. She made some big individual plays and carried us in the first half," Keen said. "She was probably our bright spot."
Before too long, Monroe had closed the deficit to four points at 15-11 just two minutes into the period, but Edgewood got a 3-pointer by Kenzie Kolb (13 points), and a dish from Becky Gifford (18 points) to Leisa Zimbrick (four points).
Edgewood pulled its early lead to double digits twice in the second quarter - taking an 11-point lead at 25-12 with two minutes left in the half.
Monroe rallied for four final points before halftime.
"We talked about all turnovers and shooting at halftime," Keen said.
In the third quarter, the Cheesemakers came out rolling. Armstrong and Ashley Hermanson (12 points) pounded the ball inside and scored on multiple putbacks to start the second half.
Other than that stretch, Monroe's game in the paint was shut down.
"Edgewood did a nice job of taking away our post all night," Keen said. "But our perimeter has to be able to step up. If we can't score from the perimeter, teams are obviously going to take away our post."
Monroe tied the game at 25-25 just 2 minutes, 37 seconds into the third quarter and took its first lead of the game 38 seconds later.
The Crusaders came right back, scoring the next six points. Monroe ended up leading after the third quarter, 37-36, capping a 19-11 third-quarter run.
"We came out with intensity. We grabbed rebounds, loose balls, and we played hard," Keen said. "Unfortunately we weren't able to sustain it."
In the fourth, the game continued to go back and forth. Edgewood took an early lead in the quarter at 38-37, but Hermanson scored in the post to regain the advantage. But it was the last lead Monroe held.
Gifford and Molly Meriggioli hit back-to-back shots to give Edgewood a three-point lead. Monroe was forced to foul down the stretch, and Edgewood made 7 of 9 free throws in the final frame. The Cheesemakers, meanwhile, hit just 1 of 4 free throws in the fourth quarter.
"(Edgewood) did what they had to do and got to the line," Keen said.
Monroe hadn't lost back-to-back games in more than six years, Keen said, adding he had no idea when the last time was.
"I would have to look. It has definitely been a while," he said. "But we've lost to two good ball teams. Edgewood's last loss was to us (in Madison) back in early December. So there was some revenge factor."
The Cheesemakers now have to grit their teeth and get back to work. They travel to county rival Brodhead (7-2, 6-1 Rock Valley South) on Tuesday, Jan. 20. That matchup will feature the top four post players in the area - Armstrong, Hermanson, and Kristen Ruchti and Dana Lewis of Brodhead.
The loss drops Monroe into a first-place tie with Edgewood atop the Badger South Conference. Both teams are 6-1 in the league.
Monroe (9-2 overall) got off to a rough start, failing to hit its first nine 3-pointers and shooting under 30 percent in the opening quarter. The cold spell of the weather didn't just effect the Cheesemakers shooting, either. Monroe had more turnovers in the first quarter than a baker.
Edgewood (11-3) dashed out to a 7-2 lead through the first four minutes of the game and went into the second quarter leading 13-5.
"We were flat coming out of the gate," Cheesemaker head coach Kevin Keen said. "That's not characteristic of our program."
Jamie Armstrong hit the first basket of the second quarter on a putback. Keen said that Armstrong, who had 16 points for Monroe, was likely the team's lone bright spot.
"I thought Jamie had a good game. She made some big individual plays and carried us in the first half," Keen said. "She was probably our bright spot."
Before too long, Monroe had closed the deficit to four points at 15-11 just two minutes into the period, but Edgewood got a 3-pointer by Kenzie Kolb (13 points), and a dish from Becky Gifford (18 points) to Leisa Zimbrick (four points).
Edgewood pulled its early lead to double digits twice in the second quarter - taking an 11-point lead at 25-12 with two minutes left in the half.
Monroe rallied for four final points before halftime.
"We talked about all turnovers and shooting at halftime," Keen said.
In the third quarter, the Cheesemakers came out rolling. Armstrong and Ashley Hermanson (12 points) pounded the ball inside and scored on multiple putbacks to start the second half.
Other than that stretch, Monroe's game in the paint was shut down.
"Edgewood did a nice job of taking away our post all night," Keen said. "But our perimeter has to be able to step up. If we can't score from the perimeter, teams are obviously going to take away our post."
Monroe tied the game at 25-25 just 2 minutes, 37 seconds into the third quarter and took its first lead of the game 38 seconds later.
The Crusaders came right back, scoring the next six points. Monroe ended up leading after the third quarter, 37-36, capping a 19-11 third-quarter run.
"We came out with intensity. We grabbed rebounds, loose balls, and we played hard," Keen said. "Unfortunately we weren't able to sustain it."
In the fourth, the game continued to go back and forth. Edgewood took an early lead in the quarter at 38-37, but Hermanson scored in the post to regain the advantage. But it was the last lead Monroe held.
Gifford and Molly Meriggioli hit back-to-back shots to give Edgewood a three-point lead. Monroe was forced to foul down the stretch, and Edgewood made 7 of 9 free throws in the final frame. The Cheesemakers, meanwhile, hit just 1 of 4 free throws in the fourth quarter.
"(Edgewood) did what they had to do and got to the line," Keen said.
Monroe hadn't lost back-to-back games in more than six years, Keen said, adding he had no idea when the last time was.
"I would have to look. It has definitely been a while," he said. "But we've lost to two good ball teams. Edgewood's last loss was to us (in Madison) back in early December. So there was some revenge factor."
The Cheesemakers now have to grit their teeth and get back to work. They travel to county rival Brodhead (7-2, 6-1 Rock Valley South) on Tuesday, Jan. 20. That matchup will feature the top four post players in the area - Armstrong, Hermanson, and Kristen Ruchti and Dana Lewis of Brodhead.
