MONROE - The Cheesemakers couldn't have envisioned their Tuesday fate against former Badger South-foe Verona. Monroe finished with 21 turnovers in a 40-28 non-conference loss.
"This one kind of had an ebb and flow to it," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "(Verona has) a good team. We've got to get more consistent to get to where we want to be."
The game couldn't have opened up much uglier for the Cheesemakers, who took nearly 10 minutes to score their first field goal. In that time, the Wildcats jumped out to a double-digit lead, culminating in an 18-5 advantage with 3 minutes, 19 seconds left in the half. Monroe had committed 13 turnovers at that point - or an average of one per minute.
"We came out in the first half on our heels," Mathiason said. "We couldn't convert our shots early. If those that go in-and-out fall for us, things might change. The longer you go without scoring, the more it creeps into your head."
By halftime, Verona led 23-8, and Mathiason challenged his entire team to step up its play in the second half.
"We challenged everybody to compete. We had lots of unforced turnovers," Mathiason said.
The Cheesemakers (10-9, 5-5 Badger South) opened the third quarter like a team on a mission, holding Verona (14-5, 11-4 Big Eight) scoreless for the first 4:35 of the third quarter and used a 10-0 run to make it 23-18. Kylee Ritschard knocked down a 3-pointer to open the hot streak, which included baskets by Kyleigh Sellnow, Abby Jacobson and Brooke McBain. But the Wildcats responded, outscoring Monroe 8-1 to close out the third.
"That stretch to start the third was big for us, but they answered and we couldn't recover. They made a run back at us like good teams will do," Mathiason said.
As poorly as the Cheesemakers played, the Wildcats weren't much better. Verona committed over a dozen turnovers itself and shot just 7 of 16 from the free-throw line. Monroe was 10 of 14 from the charity stripe.
McBain led Monroe with 11 points and was the only Cheesemaker in double figures. Monroe had just eight field goals in the game, six of which came in the second half. Verona had 16 field goals and was led in scoring by junior Ashley Bartow (12 points).
Monroe has just two games left in the regular season. Mathiason said these final three games will give his relatively young squad a good idea of what awaits them in the postseason.
"If we win one of our last two (conference) games, we'll take third in our conference. That's kind of a big deal when talented teams like Edgewood and Milton are sitting 1 and 2," Mathiason said. "Now we're looking for our seeding in the tournament and hope we get the match ups that will allow us to make a push."
Notes: Verona has two coaches with Monroe connections. Varsity head coach Angie Murphy is a sister-in-law to Monroe boys basketball coach Pat Murphy, and Verona junior varsity coach Jenn Bahler is a 2003 Monroe graduate. Bahler said it was different being on the other side of cheering at her former stomping grounds. Bahler's JV team won 50-49 in double-overtime.
"This one kind of had an ebb and flow to it," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "(Verona has) a good team. We've got to get more consistent to get to where we want to be."
The game couldn't have opened up much uglier for the Cheesemakers, who took nearly 10 minutes to score their first field goal. In that time, the Wildcats jumped out to a double-digit lead, culminating in an 18-5 advantage with 3 minutes, 19 seconds left in the half. Monroe had committed 13 turnovers at that point - or an average of one per minute.
"We came out in the first half on our heels," Mathiason said. "We couldn't convert our shots early. If those that go in-and-out fall for us, things might change. The longer you go without scoring, the more it creeps into your head."
By halftime, Verona led 23-8, and Mathiason challenged his entire team to step up its play in the second half.
"We challenged everybody to compete. We had lots of unforced turnovers," Mathiason said.
The Cheesemakers (10-9, 5-5 Badger South) opened the third quarter like a team on a mission, holding Verona (14-5, 11-4 Big Eight) scoreless for the first 4:35 of the third quarter and used a 10-0 run to make it 23-18. Kylee Ritschard knocked down a 3-pointer to open the hot streak, which included baskets by Kyleigh Sellnow, Abby Jacobson and Brooke McBain. But the Wildcats responded, outscoring Monroe 8-1 to close out the third.
"That stretch to start the third was big for us, but they answered and we couldn't recover. They made a run back at us like good teams will do," Mathiason said.
As poorly as the Cheesemakers played, the Wildcats weren't much better. Verona committed over a dozen turnovers itself and shot just 7 of 16 from the free-throw line. Monroe was 10 of 14 from the charity stripe.
McBain led Monroe with 11 points and was the only Cheesemaker in double figures. Monroe had just eight field goals in the game, six of which came in the second half. Verona had 16 field goals and was led in scoring by junior Ashley Bartow (12 points).
Monroe has just two games left in the regular season. Mathiason said these final three games will give his relatively young squad a good idea of what awaits them in the postseason.
"If we win one of our last two (conference) games, we'll take third in our conference. That's kind of a big deal when talented teams like Edgewood and Milton are sitting 1 and 2," Mathiason said. "Now we're looking for our seeding in the tournament and hope we get the match ups that will allow us to make a push."
Notes: Verona has two coaches with Monroe connections. Varsity head coach Angie Murphy is a sister-in-law to Monroe boys basketball coach Pat Murphy, and Verona junior varsity coach Jenn Bahler is a 2003 Monroe graduate. Bahler said it was different being on the other side of cheering at her former stomping grounds. Bahler's JV team won 50-49 in double-overtime.
