MONROE - Coming off a Badger South Conference loss to Milton, the Monroe High School girls basketball team and senior Brooke Adams couldn't wait to get back on the court.
Adams scored a game-high 17 points and hit three 3-pointers to lead the Cheesemakers to a 70-47 rout over Clinton in a nonconference game on Monday.
"It feels really good, especially knowing how well we played as a team," Adams said. "I think it's a big step. We had a good day of practice yesterday (Sunday). We knew when we came out on the court we knew what we wanted."
It didn't take Monroe (8-10, 3-6 Badger South) long to assert its dominance over the Cougars. Monroe freshman Sydney Hilliard knocked down a jumper and Adams drilled a 3-pointer to give the Cheesemakers a 5-0 lead. Clinton (7-10, 5-7 Rock Valley South) had five turnovers on its first seven possessions, and the Cheesemakers capitalized by going on a 14-4 run. Adams converted a three-point play at 14 minutes, 23 seconds to give the Cheesemakers a 10-4 lead. Hilliard hit a jumper and freshman teammate Emily Benzschawel scored on a layup to give the Cheesemakers a 14-4 lead with 12:06 left.
Adams later hit a 3-pointer to give the Cheesemakers a 19-8 lead with 8:28 to go. The Cheesemakers' lead ballooned to 23 points after senior Maddie Kallgren's jumper, Benzschawel's 3-pointer and a key layup by junior Jordan Hirsbrunner. The Cheesemakers closed the first half strong with Hilliard hitting a 3-pointer from halfcourt to give the Cheesemakers an insurmountable 42-14 lead at the half.
"We played really well as a team," Adams said. "That is what it's all about. When you are making the extra passes you get open looks for your teammates. I was confident. I knew I was open. I knew I could make that shot (3-pointer). There is no way I can if I don't shoot."
Monroe sophomore Sydney Mathiason added 12 points and had three steals. Sydney Hilliard scored 11 points and had two steals.
The Cheesemakers got 23 points off the bench, led by Benzschawel who scored seven points. Hirsbrunner added six points.
The Cheesemakers shot 45.4 percent in the first half (15 of 33) and finished the game at 47.3 percent (27 of 57). They were 10 of 12 at the free-throw line.
"I thought we had a really good practice last night, and I was hoping it would carry over and it did," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "I'm proud of the way we shared the ball and got conversions. It was a nice team game on both ends of the floor. The more balanced you can be the more difficult it will be to defend."
The Cheesemakers bottled up Clinton, forcing the Cougars into 24 turnovers and limiting them to 33.3 percent shooting in the first half (7 of 21) and 34 percent for the game (17 of 49).
"I'm most proud of our defense," Mathiason said. "We knew they had some people who could put the ball in. We held them to 14 points in the first half. That carried over to the second half. That's really good defense against a team like that. We tried to keep No. 10 (Hannah Kalk) out of the lane. I'm proud of the effort."
The second half started out much the same way the first half ended. The Cheesemakers extended their lead with some outside shooting. Monroe senior Sami Curtis buried a 3-pointer to give the Cheesemakers their largest lead at 33 points, 51-18 with 12:53 left.
Clinton junior Kalli Kuhlow scored a team-high 11 points and had eight rebounds.
Monroe has just four games left before the regional tournament begins. Monroe hosts Stoughton on Friday.
The Vikings have a half-game lead in the Badger South Conference on Oregon.
"They (Stoughton) are playing well," Mathiason said. "It will be a big challenge for us. Our goal at the beginning of the year was to get better every month and I think we have done that. We want to play to the best of our ability and continue to get better. Tonight was an example of how far we have come. Hopefully, we can finish the season strong going into the tournament."
Adams scored a game-high 17 points and hit three 3-pointers to lead the Cheesemakers to a 70-47 rout over Clinton in a nonconference game on Monday.
"It feels really good, especially knowing how well we played as a team," Adams said. "I think it's a big step. We had a good day of practice yesterday (Sunday). We knew when we came out on the court we knew what we wanted."
It didn't take Monroe (8-10, 3-6 Badger South) long to assert its dominance over the Cougars. Monroe freshman Sydney Hilliard knocked down a jumper and Adams drilled a 3-pointer to give the Cheesemakers a 5-0 lead. Clinton (7-10, 5-7 Rock Valley South) had five turnovers on its first seven possessions, and the Cheesemakers capitalized by going on a 14-4 run. Adams converted a three-point play at 14 minutes, 23 seconds to give the Cheesemakers a 10-4 lead. Hilliard hit a jumper and freshman teammate Emily Benzschawel scored on a layup to give the Cheesemakers a 14-4 lead with 12:06 left.
Adams later hit a 3-pointer to give the Cheesemakers a 19-8 lead with 8:28 to go. The Cheesemakers' lead ballooned to 23 points after senior Maddie Kallgren's jumper, Benzschawel's 3-pointer and a key layup by junior Jordan Hirsbrunner. The Cheesemakers closed the first half strong with Hilliard hitting a 3-pointer from halfcourt to give the Cheesemakers an insurmountable 42-14 lead at the half.
"We played really well as a team," Adams said. "That is what it's all about. When you are making the extra passes you get open looks for your teammates. I was confident. I knew I was open. I knew I could make that shot (3-pointer). There is no way I can if I don't shoot."
Monroe sophomore Sydney Mathiason added 12 points and had three steals. Sydney Hilliard scored 11 points and had two steals.
The Cheesemakers got 23 points off the bench, led by Benzschawel who scored seven points. Hirsbrunner added six points.
The Cheesemakers shot 45.4 percent in the first half (15 of 33) and finished the game at 47.3 percent (27 of 57). They were 10 of 12 at the free-throw line.
"I thought we had a really good practice last night, and I was hoping it would carry over and it did," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "I'm proud of the way we shared the ball and got conversions. It was a nice team game on both ends of the floor. The more balanced you can be the more difficult it will be to defend."
The Cheesemakers bottled up Clinton, forcing the Cougars into 24 turnovers and limiting them to 33.3 percent shooting in the first half (7 of 21) and 34 percent for the game (17 of 49).
"I'm most proud of our defense," Mathiason said. "We knew they had some people who could put the ball in. We held them to 14 points in the first half. That carried over to the second half. That's really good defense against a team like that. We tried to keep No. 10 (Hannah Kalk) out of the lane. I'm proud of the effort."
The second half started out much the same way the first half ended. The Cheesemakers extended their lead with some outside shooting. Monroe senior Sami Curtis buried a 3-pointer to give the Cheesemakers their largest lead at 33 points, 51-18 with 12:53 left.
Clinton junior Kalli Kuhlow scored a team-high 11 points and had eight rebounds.
Monroe has just four games left before the regional tournament begins. Monroe hosts Stoughton on Friday.
The Vikings have a half-game lead in the Badger South Conference on Oregon.
"They (Stoughton) are playing well," Mathiason said. "It will be a big challenge for us. Our goal at the beginning of the year was to get better every month and I think we have done that. We want to play to the best of our ability and continue to get better. Tonight was an example of how far we have come. Hopefully, we can finish the season strong going into the tournament."
