OREGON - The Monroe girls basketball team got off to a fast start, but couldn't slow down Oregon's Maddy Gits and lost to the Panthers 50-38 in the Badger South Conference opener on Saturday.
Monroe (0-2, 0-1 Badger South) jumped out to a 13-8 first quarter lead. The Panthers started the game in a press, but Monroe senior Heather Barta hit a couple of jumpers early to spark the Cheesemakers.
"We did a good job of breaking their press and they pulled out of it," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "I thought we improved from last week. I think we were better in that game than we were last week. Hopefully, we can continue to improve."
Gits scored 16 of her game-high 23 points in the first half to lead the Panthers. Oregon outscored the Cheesemakers 17-7 in the second quarter to take a five-point lead at the half.
"They did a good job of getting her isolated in the post," Mathiason said of the Panthers and Gits. "She's an all-conference player and one of the best players in the conference. They did a good job of executing and getting her in isolation spots and she did a good job. She has a couple of different moves depending on where the defense is at."
Monroe junior Taylor Barrett scored a team-high 12 points. Junior Chandra McGuire scored nine points and Barta added seven.
The Cheesemakers shot just 10 of 26 at the free throw line.
Monroe will look to pick up its first win when they play at Elkhorn on Tuesday and then have their home opener against Fort Atkinson on Friday.
Fort Atkinson graduated several starters from last year, but will still provide a test.
"That would be a good challenge for us," Mathiason said of Fort Atkinson. "It will be nice to play that first home game Friday night."
Monticello 53, Highland 26
HIGHLAND - Monticello set the tone with an aggressive defense in the second half to cruise past Highland in a non-conference game.
Monticello (2-1) led by 12 points to start the fourth quarter, but broke the game open by outscoring the Cardinals 17-2 in the final period. The Ponies outscored the Cardinals 27-8 in the second half.
"I just really stressed that we could let them back in it in the third quarter or we could be up 15 if we kept pushing," Monticello coach Lori Brokopp said. "Boy, our defense really stepped up. I told them after the game a lot of our defense really produced our offense. They were very relentless causing turnovers and we converted on the other end. They really didn't let down.
Monticello junior Marissa Berg scored a game-high 14 points and sophomore Alyssah Kubly had 13 points. Fellow sophomore Courtney Leuzinger added seven points.
The Ponies committed 28 turnovers in a season-opening loss to New Glarus.
"I told them we can't win with that many turnovers," Brokopp said.
The Ponies had just 10 turnovers in a win over Cassville and 14 against Highland.
"That is a smaller amount of turnovers that we can win with," she said.
All 10 players on the Ponies scored.
"Everyone contributed," Brokopp said. "That was great to see."
Monroe (0-2, 0-1 Badger South) jumped out to a 13-8 first quarter lead. The Panthers started the game in a press, but Monroe senior Heather Barta hit a couple of jumpers early to spark the Cheesemakers.
"We did a good job of breaking their press and they pulled out of it," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "I thought we improved from last week. I think we were better in that game than we were last week. Hopefully, we can continue to improve."
Gits scored 16 of her game-high 23 points in the first half to lead the Panthers. Oregon outscored the Cheesemakers 17-7 in the second quarter to take a five-point lead at the half.
"They did a good job of getting her isolated in the post," Mathiason said of the Panthers and Gits. "She's an all-conference player and one of the best players in the conference. They did a good job of executing and getting her in isolation spots and she did a good job. She has a couple of different moves depending on where the defense is at."
Monroe junior Taylor Barrett scored a team-high 12 points. Junior Chandra McGuire scored nine points and Barta added seven.
The Cheesemakers shot just 10 of 26 at the free throw line.
Monroe will look to pick up its first win when they play at Elkhorn on Tuesday and then have their home opener against Fort Atkinson on Friday.
Fort Atkinson graduated several starters from last year, but will still provide a test.
"That would be a good challenge for us," Mathiason said of Fort Atkinson. "It will be nice to play that first home game Friday night."
Monticello 53, Highland 26
HIGHLAND - Monticello set the tone with an aggressive defense in the second half to cruise past Highland in a non-conference game.
Monticello (2-1) led by 12 points to start the fourth quarter, but broke the game open by outscoring the Cardinals 17-2 in the final period. The Ponies outscored the Cardinals 27-8 in the second half.
"I just really stressed that we could let them back in it in the third quarter or we could be up 15 if we kept pushing," Monticello coach Lori Brokopp said. "Boy, our defense really stepped up. I told them after the game a lot of our defense really produced our offense. They were very relentless causing turnovers and we converted on the other end. They really didn't let down.
Monticello junior Marissa Berg scored a game-high 14 points and sophomore Alyssah Kubly had 13 points. Fellow sophomore Courtney Leuzinger added seven points.
The Ponies committed 28 turnovers in a season-opening loss to New Glarus.
"I told them we can't win with that many turnovers," Brokopp said.
The Ponies had just 10 turnovers in a win over Cassville and 14 against Highland.
"That is a smaller amount of turnovers that we can win with," she said.
All 10 players on the Ponies scored.
"Everyone contributed," Brokopp said. "That was great to see."
