MONROE - For Monroe High School freshmen Sydney Hilliard and Emily Benzschawel, their friendship began when they each picked up a basketball in first grade at the Green County YMCA.
When Hilliard and Benzschawel first started playing basketball against each other in the Dribbling Dinosaurs program, it didn't take long for a bond to form.
"Every time we played against each other it was a rivalry," Hilliard said. "We both knew about basketball."
Since that time, Hilliard and Benzschawel have played in dozens of basketball games together, feeding off each other's energy. And now they have been able to make an immediate impact for the Cheesemakers this season.
Hilliard is leading the Cheesemakers in scoring at 16.1 points per game and is a starter at point guard. She is the team's leader in assists with 64 (3.4 per game). Benzschawel is the team's third leading scorer (8.3 ppg) and averages 3.7 rebounds per game coming off the bench.
"When you are a new player on a team you always worry about what they will think of you on and off the court," Hilliard said. "It's nice to have a friend like Emily who doesn't judge me if I make a mistake on the court."
In the summer, Hilliard and Benzschawel play together on a Wisconsin Academy national AAU team coached by Kristin Krueger, who is an assistant coach at Monona Grove. Benzschawel has enjoyed having the support of Hilliard during both the challenging and the successful times on the court.
"It's nice being able to talk to her because she understands what we are going through," Benzschawel said. "I love playing with Sydney on the court because it's so soothing because we know what each other is thinking."
The last time Monroe had two or more freshman players assuming critical roles on the varsity team came during the 2006-07 season when three freshmen ended up as starters, current Monroe freshman coach Ashley Hermanson, Jamie Armstrong and Gwen Sutter.
"It doesn't happen very often," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said of freshmen starting or playing a key role off the bench on the varsity team. "Both Sydney and Emily have worked hard to get to this point. They are not just satisfied with where they are. They both have some special ability and have made positive contributions to the team this year. They are both team-first players who just want to get better and help the team get better."
The Cheesemakers freshmen duo is averaging 41 percent of the team's 57.4 points per game.
"Any time you have a player who has the ability to beat the defense they get to the basket for a shot or they can dish to their teammates for an open shot," Mathiason said. "Both Sydney and Emily have the ability to get by that initial defender and distribute to teammates. You try to spread the floor so you can take advantage of that. Both of them have the ability to finish or dish out to teammates."
Benzschawel said she isn't surprised by the success the Cheesemakers are having as they look to build and become one of the top teams in the conference.
"We knew coming in that we were pretty good, and we could help the team out," Benzschawel said. "We didn't know we would be two of the top scorers. We were just playing it by ear."
Hilliard has had her older sister, Lexi, a junior, to rely on.
"It's nice having a sister," Sydney said of Lexi playing on the team. "She feels the same thing on and off the court. She always tells me before games to relax, play hard and that I deserve to be playing at this level. It helps me on and off the court."
Sydney is adept at driving to the basket for layups or pulling up for a floater or midrange jump shot.
"When I was younger, no one shot from the outside," she said. "I really focused on the mid-range jump shot because it helps out our team. It just shows that anyone can do it if they work hard enough."
Hilliard said one of the strengths of the team now is they are playing with a lot of confidence on offense.
"Everyone is willing to shoot the big shot," she said.
Even with a strong first season, Sydney Hilliard understands there are still more improvements she must make.
"I have to focus on not letting missed shots bother me," she said. "Whenever I miss a shot I get down on myself and that affects my defense. I think defense is an area I have to improve."
Benzschawel scored a career-high 20 points in a 77-57 win over Milton earlier this year. She's looking forward to an opportunity to knock off either Monona Grove or Edgewood before the regular season ends.
"It's important to beat Monona Grove or Edgewood because it would give us a higher seed," she said. "If we get a higher seed then we can get a home game."
Monroe is 8-11 overall and 3-7 in the Badger South. Seven of Monroe's 11 losses have come against teams that were ranked in the top 10 in the state at the time the Cheesemakers played them.
Monroe will look to build some momentum before the WIAA Division 2 regional tournament begins Jan. 23. The Cheesemakers play at Sauk Prairie on Tuesday and then at Monona Grove on Friday. The Cheesemakers then wrap up the regular season with a Senior Night game against Madison Edgewood Feb. 18.
Monroe proved it could play with one of the top teams in the conference when the Cheesemakers lost to 10th-ranked Monona Grove 69-64 and had a 61-58 loss to Oregon earlier this year.
"Our strength is competing at a high level," Benzschawel said. "We have been able to play close with some of the top teams. I think we are getting better as the season goes on."
When Hilliard and Benzschawel first started playing basketball against each other in the Dribbling Dinosaurs program, it didn't take long for a bond to form.
"Every time we played against each other it was a rivalry," Hilliard said. "We both knew about basketball."
Since that time, Hilliard and Benzschawel have played in dozens of basketball games together, feeding off each other's energy. And now they have been able to make an immediate impact for the Cheesemakers this season.
Hilliard is leading the Cheesemakers in scoring at 16.1 points per game and is a starter at point guard. She is the team's leader in assists with 64 (3.4 per game). Benzschawel is the team's third leading scorer (8.3 ppg) and averages 3.7 rebounds per game coming off the bench.
"When you are a new player on a team you always worry about what they will think of you on and off the court," Hilliard said. "It's nice to have a friend like Emily who doesn't judge me if I make a mistake on the court."
In the summer, Hilliard and Benzschawel play together on a Wisconsin Academy national AAU team coached by Kristin Krueger, who is an assistant coach at Monona Grove. Benzschawel has enjoyed having the support of Hilliard during both the challenging and the successful times on the court.
"It's nice being able to talk to her because she understands what we are going through," Benzschawel said. "I love playing with Sydney on the court because it's so soothing because we know what each other is thinking."
The last time Monroe had two or more freshman players assuming critical roles on the varsity team came during the 2006-07 season when three freshmen ended up as starters, current Monroe freshman coach Ashley Hermanson, Jamie Armstrong and Gwen Sutter.
"It doesn't happen very often," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said of freshmen starting or playing a key role off the bench on the varsity team. "Both Sydney and Emily have worked hard to get to this point. They are not just satisfied with where they are. They both have some special ability and have made positive contributions to the team this year. They are both team-first players who just want to get better and help the team get better."
The Cheesemakers freshmen duo is averaging 41 percent of the team's 57.4 points per game.
"Any time you have a player who has the ability to beat the defense they get to the basket for a shot or they can dish to their teammates for an open shot," Mathiason said. "Both Sydney and Emily have the ability to get by that initial defender and distribute to teammates. You try to spread the floor so you can take advantage of that. Both of them have the ability to finish or dish out to teammates."
Benzschawel said she isn't surprised by the success the Cheesemakers are having as they look to build and become one of the top teams in the conference.
"We knew coming in that we were pretty good, and we could help the team out," Benzschawel said. "We didn't know we would be two of the top scorers. We were just playing it by ear."
Hilliard has had her older sister, Lexi, a junior, to rely on.
"It's nice having a sister," Sydney said of Lexi playing on the team. "She feels the same thing on and off the court. She always tells me before games to relax, play hard and that I deserve to be playing at this level. It helps me on and off the court."
Sydney is adept at driving to the basket for layups or pulling up for a floater or midrange jump shot.
"When I was younger, no one shot from the outside," she said. "I really focused on the mid-range jump shot because it helps out our team. It just shows that anyone can do it if they work hard enough."
Hilliard said one of the strengths of the team now is they are playing with a lot of confidence on offense.
"Everyone is willing to shoot the big shot," she said.
Even with a strong first season, Sydney Hilliard understands there are still more improvements she must make.
"I have to focus on not letting missed shots bother me," she said. "Whenever I miss a shot I get down on myself and that affects my defense. I think defense is an area I have to improve."
Benzschawel scored a career-high 20 points in a 77-57 win over Milton earlier this year. She's looking forward to an opportunity to knock off either Monona Grove or Edgewood before the regular season ends.
"It's important to beat Monona Grove or Edgewood because it would give us a higher seed," she said. "If we get a higher seed then we can get a home game."
Monroe is 8-11 overall and 3-7 in the Badger South. Seven of Monroe's 11 losses have come against teams that were ranked in the top 10 in the state at the time the Cheesemakers played them.
Monroe will look to build some momentum before the WIAA Division 2 regional tournament begins Jan. 23. The Cheesemakers play at Sauk Prairie on Tuesday and then at Monona Grove on Friday. The Cheesemakers then wrap up the regular season with a Senior Night game against Madison Edgewood Feb. 18.
Monroe proved it could play with one of the top teams in the conference when the Cheesemakers lost to 10th-ranked Monona Grove 69-64 and had a 61-58 loss to Oregon earlier this year.
"Our strength is competing at a high level," Benzschawel said. "We have been able to play close with some of the top teams. I think we are getting better as the season goes on."
