MONROE — The Monroe Cheesemakers simply had no answer for Brooklyn Maves of Evansville. The senior guard scored 32 points to lead the Lady Blue Devils to a 68-33 rout of the Monroe Cheesemakers on Friday, Jan. 30.

Maves scored 18 points in the first half to help the Lady Blue Devils take a 35-16 lead. The Cheesemakers were already behind 10-0 before senior Alexis Gertsch got the first points of the game for Monroe.

Gertsch and sophomore Brynlee Scace each hit three-pointers in the second half for Monroe, but Evansville built up a 54-26 lead with 8:05 left in the game. 

Junior Braylee Friedrich led Monroe with 11 points. Scace had nine points and Gertsch scored seven for the Cheesemakers. 

The Cheesemakers wore pink uniforms as part of the Monroe Cares game, recognizing Andy Kubly of Monroe, a founding member of the Monroe Rural Fire Department who currently serves as the Assistant Fire Chief. This past fall, he was seriously injured when a tree being cut down fell and struck him in the back of the head, causing a burst vertebra and fracturing another. Monroe girls basketball raised $1,600 in support of Andy Kubly and his family.

“We want to show that we can support Andy and his family and thank them for all the hard work that they do for our community and it’s very grateful to have a special night like this,” said Monroe Cheesemaker head Coach Patrick Kenny.

As for the game, Kenny said he knew defending against Maves would be a challenge. 

“They (Evansville) found ways to get her the ball in open space and we didn’t bring our best A-game of finding her right away which was a little bit disappointing,” Kenny said.

Monroe (6-13) played another nonconference game in which they took on the Juda Panthers (4-14) at home on Monday, Feb. 2 before returning to Rock Valley Conference, Valley Division action on Thursday, Feb. 5 at home against Delavan-Darien.