MONONA — Ready to make a statement, the Cheesemakers braved through an ice storm and routed the states No. 2 ranked team Feb. 5. Tenth-ranked Monroe blasted second-ranked Monona Grove 72-55. 

“It’s a team game, and I’m really proud of the way the team played tonight. A lot of different parts came together,” said Monroe coach Sam Mathiason. “We’ve got the seeding meeting on Sunday, and I think we’re building at the right time and building that momentum.” 

The game was moved up almost an hour early to accommodate for the inclement weather, but the Cheesemakers had zero hesitation and were ready to go upon stepping off the bus. Monroe led by just two at 27-25 with under three minutes left in the first half before finding its groove.

The Cheesemakers closed out the half on an 8-0 run to set up a 10-point cushion at the break. 

“Anytime you have a lead against a great team it’s a great feeling,” said Monroe senior Emily Benzschawel. “We were hyped and came out with a lot of energy and took it to them.”

Monona Grove is led by McKenna Warnock, one of the nation’s top recruits with over 60 D1 scholarship offers. Warnock, who is committed to play for Iowa next fall, surpassed the 2,000-career point mark earlier this season and averages over 30 points per game for the Silver Eagles. Monroe’s Sydney Hilliard, a Wisconsin commit, was tasked with defending against the 6-1 guard.

“I knew that McKenna was going to come out aggressive against us, and I knew I had to play on here basically the whole game and get her frustrated,” Hilliard said. “I thought we did a good job — especially when she got in the post — of double-teaming her and making her kick it out into the post.” 

Warnock scored just nine points in the first half and finished the game with a quiet 24 on 8 of 15 shooting.

“We knew she’s a great player and we had to shut her down for a chance to win,” Benzschawel said. “We worked hard in practice and came out with a lot of energy.” 

Monroe came out sharp as a tack to open the second half, mostly because Hilliard rose to the occasion and took over. The future Badger scored eight points and had a hand in eight of Monroe first nine baskets of the second half, which helped Monroe build a 14-point lead.

“I kind of knew I had to come in aggressive,” Hilliard said. “I thought we did a good job of — when I would drive and kick out — the shooters being ready to shoot.”  

The Cheesemakers dominated the second half, thanks in large part to a high-pressured half-court defense and wide eyes on offense. Monroe forced Monona Grove into long 3-point attempts and then dominated the glass on missed shots. Offensively, the Cheesemakers distributed the ball with precision and patience.

“I thought that we did a good job spacing the floor. When we spaced the floor, we got that extra pass for a layup,” Mathiason said. “I think it all kind of stems from the defense — I think we kept MG from doing what they wanted to do. Obviously, Warnock’s scoring 30 points a game, but I thought that we made it really tough on her.”

Monroe’s biggest lead reached 20 points with 5:13 left when Benzschawel drove the lane with a nifty crossover that sent the crowd into an array of “Ooos” and “Wows.”

Benzschawel and Hilliard each finished with 22 points for Monroe, while Megan Benzschawel had 12. Grace Tostrud hit a pair of big 3-pointers while grabbing a barnful of rebounds, Grace Mathiason finished with five points and Emma Town had five points on two key shots; one each in the first and second halves.

The game had been hyped earlier in the week as the local game of the week, with a live TV broadcast and several other media outlets covering it. Hilliard and Benzschawel have faced off against Warnock since all three were freshmen. Monona Grove won both games against the Cheesemakers their freshmen season, but Monroe won the next four until a Dec. 14 overtime loss earlier this season.

“(We) just went in with a mindset that we have to take it to them,” Emily Benzschawel said. “Luckily my shot was falling. We all have trust in each other. Whoever was on the floor contributed. It was a great team win.”

The Silver Eagles now hold a one-game lead on Monroe in the Badger South standings with just a week to go in the regular season. 

“MG is at the top of the conference, so we’re going to need some help, but we gave ourselves a chance,” Coach Mathiason said.

Monroe (13-5, 8-3) has to face Madison Edgewood (6-13, 4-7) and Milton (8-9, 3-7) and Fort Atkinson (1-18, 0-10) before the regular season wraps up, while Monona Grove (16-2, 9-2) has Watertown (13-5, 7-3), Milton and Edgewood.

“We’re getting towards the end of conference play,” Hilliard said. “We have to finish it off with Edgewood and then Fort. We’re really excited based on how we’ve been playing the last three games.”