MONROE - Cheesemaker girls basketball coach Sam Mathiason knew the challenge Monroe faced playing against Monona Grove's pressure defense Tuesday night.
Monona Grove junior Taylor Nelson scored 15 points and had eight rebounds to lead the Silver Eagles to a 64-31 win over the Cheesemakers. Monona Grove, (16-2, 7-1 Badger South) ranked sixth in the Division 2 Associated Press state poll, forced the Cheesemakers into 28 turnovers.
"I thought in the first half we battled and fought through it," Mathiason said of the Silver Eagles' press. "When they put the pressure on, we found the next pass and we converted a little bit. They put that pressure on you and you do things you don't always want to do. That is what makes it tough."
The last time Monroe (1-17, 0-9 Badger South) played the Silver Eagles, the Cheesemakers lost by 42 points.
"I think we did better than expected," Monroe senior Briana Katzenberger said of facing Monona Grove's defense. "It's pretty difficult. It took a lot of hard work. They are really quick and work well together."
The Silver Eagles went on a 20-6 run in the first quarter run to build a double-digit lead. Monona Grove junior Alexa Kelsey drilled a 3-pointer and Nelson hit a 3-pointer about midway through the period to give the Silver Eagles a 15-6 lead. Kelsey scored nine points in the first quarter.
The Cheesemakers chipped away at the deficit. Monroe junior Ellie Grossen knocked down a 3-pointer at the start of the second quarter to slice the Silver Eagles' lead to 22-13. Monroe junior Kirsten Vetterli scored six of her team-high eight points in the first half. The Cheesemakers shot 53.3 percent in the first half (8-for-15). Monroe junior Whitney Disch, who scored six points and grabbed six rebounds, converted a three-point play with 4 minutes, 43 seconds left in the second quarter to cut the Silver Eagles' lead to 28-17.
Monona Grove scored seven unanswered points and closed the period with a bang, with Kelsey hitting a 3-pointer before the buzzer to give the Silver Eagles a 38-21 lead at the half.
"You feel like you are playing good defense, and then a kid hits a 22-footer with a hand in her face," Mathiason said. "That was kind of a punch in the gut."
The Silver Eagles had 10 of their 12 offensive rebounds in the first half, which led to several second chance scoring opportunities.
"We have to do a better job of making contact and going after those rebounds," Mathiason said. "They were a little more passionate going after those rebounds."
The Silver Eagles' 17-2 run snowballed into the third quarter when they outscored the Cheesemakers 14-2 in the first 6 minutes of the second half, sparked by Nelson and junior Kaitlyn Long. Nelson scored on a layup with 5:17 left in the third quarter to give the Silver Eagles a 44-21 lead. Monona Grove senior Kelly Calhoun scored on a layup and Long scored twice down low as the Silver Eagles' lead ballooned to 52-23. The Cheesemakers committed nine turnovers in the quarter and were just 1 of 4 shooting.
"I don't think (Monona Grove) did anything differently in the second half," Mathiason said. "I just don't think we executed as well as we did in the first half."
Katzenberger agreed with Mathiason's assessment.
"We just lost our focus a little bit, and they took advantage of it," Katzenberger said.
The Silver Eagles were able to get a lot more points driving and getting into the paint. Mathiason said he never really considered switching to a zone defense.
"We haven't really played much zone," he said. "It never really came into play. They were able to do a better job of slashing and finding those lanes."
Grossen scored five points and Katzenberger scored three points and grabbed seven rebounds. One of the bright spots for the Cheesemakers was the play of Vetterli and Disch down low.
"There are a lot of opportunities for the post when you play a team like this," Mathiason said. "It's just if we can get them the ball. (Monona Grove's) long arms and size makes it tough. They both did a good job of taking advantage of their opportunities. We need more of them."
Monroe will play at Badger South Conference rival Madison Edgewood on Saturday. The Crusaders (13-4, 7-2) have won eight straight games and defeated Monona Grove 55-48 last week.
"Edgewood will play a different style," Mathiason said.
The Crusaders defeated the Cheesemakers 34-20 in a defensive battle earlier this season.
"We will have to have a similar performance on the defensive end and find a way to come up with some more offense," Mathiason said.
Katzenberger is confident the Cheesemakers are ready for their final four games after playing two of the state's top teams in Waunakee and Monona Grove.
"I think playing against the pressure and working hard puts pressure on us to keep our heads up and believe that we can get it done," she said.
Monona Grove junior Taylor Nelson scored 15 points and had eight rebounds to lead the Silver Eagles to a 64-31 win over the Cheesemakers. Monona Grove, (16-2, 7-1 Badger South) ranked sixth in the Division 2 Associated Press state poll, forced the Cheesemakers into 28 turnovers.
"I thought in the first half we battled and fought through it," Mathiason said of the Silver Eagles' press. "When they put the pressure on, we found the next pass and we converted a little bit. They put that pressure on you and you do things you don't always want to do. That is what makes it tough."
The last time Monroe (1-17, 0-9 Badger South) played the Silver Eagles, the Cheesemakers lost by 42 points.
"I think we did better than expected," Monroe senior Briana Katzenberger said of facing Monona Grove's defense. "It's pretty difficult. It took a lot of hard work. They are really quick and work well together."
The Silver Eagles went on a 20-6 run in the first quarter run to build a double-digit lead. Monona Grove junior Alexa Kelsey drilled a 3-pointer and Nelson hit a 3-pointer about midway through the period to give the Silver Eagles a 15-6 lead. Kelsey scored nine points in the first quarter.
The Cheesemakers chipped away at the deficit. Monroe junior Ellie Grossen knocked down a 3-pointer at the start of the second quarter to slice the Silver Eagles' lead to 22-13. Monroe junior Kirsten Vetterli scored six of her team-high eight points in the first half. The Cheesemakers shot 53.3 percent in the first half (8-for-15). Monroe junior Whitney Disch, who scored six points and grabbed six rebounds, converted a three-point play with 4 minutes, 43 seconds left in the second quarter to cut the Silver Eagles' lead to 28-17.
Monona Grove scored seven unanswered points and closed the period with a bang, with Kelsey hitting a 3-pointer before the buzzer to give the Silver Eagles a 38-21 lead at the half.
"You feel like you are playing good defense, and then a kid hits a 22-footer with a hand in her face," Mathiason said. "That was kind of a punch in the gut."
The Silver Eagles had 10 of their 12 offensive rebounds in the first half, which led to several second chance scoring opportunities.
"We have to do a better job of making contact and going after those rebounds," Mathiason said. "They were a little more passionate going after those rebounds."
The Silver Eagles' 17-2 run snowballed into the third quarter when they outscored the Cheesemakers 14-2 in the first 6 minutes of the second half, sparked by Nelson and junior Kaitlyn Long. Nelson scored on a layup with 5:17 left in the third quarter to give the Silver Eagles a 44-21 lead. Monona Grove senior Kelly Calhoun scored on a layup and Long scored twice down low as the Silver Eagles' lead ballooned to 52-23. The Cheesemakers committed nine turnovers in the quarter and were just 1 of 4 shooting.
"I don't think (Monona Grove) did anything differently in the second half," Mathiason said. "I just don't think we executed as well as we did in the first half."
Katzenberger agreed with Mathiason's assessment.
"We just lost our focus a little bit, and they took advantage of it," Katzenberger said.
The Silver Eagles were able to get a lot more points driving and getting into the paint. Mathiason said he never really considered switching to a zone defense.
"We haven't really played much zone," he said. "It never really came into play. They were able to do a better job of slashing and finding those lanes."
Grossen scored five points and Katzenberger scored three points and grabbed seven rebounds. One of the bright spots for the Cheesemakers was the play of Vetterli and Disch down low.
"There are a lot of opportunities for the post when you play a team like this," Mathiason said. "It's just if we can get them the ball. (Monona Grove's) long arms and size makes it tough. They both did a good job of taking advantage of their opportunities. We need more of them."
Monroe will play at Badger South Conference rival Madison Edgewood on Saturday. The Crusaders (13-4, 7-2) have won eight straight games and defeated Monona Grove 55-48 last week.
"Edgewood will play a different style," Mathiason said.
The Crusaders defeated the Cheesemakers 34-20 in a defensive battle earlier this season.
"We will have to have a similar performance on the defensive end and find a way to come up with some more offense," Mathiason said.
Katzenberger is confident the Cheesemakers are ready for their final four games after playing two of the state's top teams in Waunakee and Monona Grove.
"I think playing against the pressure and working hard puts pressure on us to keep our heads up and believe that we can get it done," she said.
