MONROE - The size of Madison La Follette is hard to replicate in practice.
Madison La Follette's Nicole Newman scored a game-high 24 points and the 6-foot, 2-inch junior was key to the Lancers' fullcourt press that helped lead La Follette to a 56-42 win over Monroe Monday night.
In addition to Newman, the Lancers had one player at 5-11 and two players at 5-9.
"They have good size," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "When you are pressing with that length, it kind of takes away some of the passing lanes. They put Newman at the back of the press. If we beat the press, they had a shot blocker back there."
La Follette (2-2) jumped out to a 15-10 first quarter lead and led 30-22 at the half.
"I thought we played pretty well," Mathiason said of the first half. "We continue to battle. We just didn't get as many conversions as we needed to."
Monroe junior Taylor Barrett scored a team-high 15 points. Barrett scored early in the third quarter and hit a free throw to slice the Lancers' lead to 30-25. That's as close as the Cheesemakers would get. The Lancers scored seven consecutive points to take a 37-25 lead. Monroe junior Chandra McGuire added eight points.
Monroe (0-5, 0-2 Badger South) trailed 50-32 in the fourth quarter before making a comeback. The Cheesemakers went on an 8-0 spurt to cut the Lancers' lead to 10 points. The Lancers then made some free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
"I thought we played with a lot more urgency," Mathiason said of the fourth quarter run. "We are learning how hard you have to play and with more urgency."
Monroe will host Portage at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Cheesemakers will have some home cooking with three of their next four games in Monroe. The next badger South game is at Stoughton Dec. 20.
Madison La Follette's Nicole Newman scored a game-high 24 points and the 6-foot, 2-inch junior was key to the Lancers' fullcourt press that helped lead La Follette to a 56-42 win over Monroe Monday night.
In addition to Newman, the Lancers had one player at 5-11 and two players at 5-9.
"They have good size," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "When you are pressing with that length, it kind of takes away some of the passing lanes. They put Newman at the back of the press. If we beat the press, they had a shot blocker back there."
La Follette (2-2) jumped out to a 15-10 first quarter lead and led 30-22 at the half.
"I thought we played pretty well," Mathiason said of the first half. "We continue to battle. We just didn't get as many conversions as we needed to."
Monroe junior Taylor Barrett scored a team-high 15 points. Barrett scored early in the third quarter and hit a free throw to slice the Lancers' lead to 30-25. That's as close as the Cheesemakers would get. The Lancers scored seven consecutive points to take a 37-25 lead. Monroe junior Chandra McGuire added eight points.
Monroe (0-5, 0-2 Badger South) trailed 50-32 in the fourth quarter before making a comeback. The Cheesemakers went on an 8-0 spurt to cut the Lancers' lead to 10 points. The Lancers then made some free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
"I thought we played with a lot more urgency," Mathiason said of the fourth quarter run. "We are learning how hard you have to play and with more urgency."
Monroe will host Portage at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Cheesemakers will have some home cooking with three of their next four games in Monroe. The next badger South game is at Stoughton Dec. 20.
