By Times staff
MONROE - The Monroe girls basketball team was unable to capitalize on some early opportunities Wednesday night in a 65-31 loss to conference rival Stoughton.
After trailing 14-7 at the end of the first quarter, the Cheesemakers (5-13, 2-7 Badger South) battled to cut the Vikings' lead to four points early in the second quarter. But missed free throws by Monroe paved the way for a 12-4 run by Stoughton to end the first half, putting the Cheesemakers behind 29-17.
"We had some opportunities, but those missed free throws could have kept it close," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "They started out with a press and we actually did a fairly good job breaking the press, we just didn't convert."
Mathiason said the Vikings (11-6) presented some difficult matchups for the Cheesemakers. "They're an athletic team. They do some pressing, they have good length, which makes some of the passes pretty tough to convert. ... And that length provided some challenges. They did a good job playing defense, and late in the game they did a good job in transistion. Those transition points was where they were able to build that lead in the second half."
Stoughton outscored Monroe 36-14 in the second half, led by Hannah Hobson's game-high 16 points.
Monroe senior Taylor Barrett led the Cheesemakers with 9 points, while junior Alacia Keegan pitched in 6.
Monroe will play another tough Badger South opponent when it hosts Oregon on Friday, Feb. 14.
"We just have to continue to see where we are," Mathiason said. "They're (Oregon) one of the top teams in the conference. ... The challenge is just going to be being able to come back, having our third game this week, and being mentally and physically ready for this game on Friday."
MONROE - The Monroe girls basketball team was unable to capitalize on some early opportunities Wednesday night in a 65-31 loss to conference rival Stoughton.
After trailing 14-7 at the end of the first quarter, the Cheesemakers (5-13, 2-7 Badger South) battled to cut the Vikings' lead to four points early in the second quarter. But missed free throws by Monroe paved the way for a 12-4 run by Stoughton to end the first half, putting the Cheesemakers behind 29-17.
"We had some opportunities, but those missed free throws could have kept it close," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "They started out with a press and we actually did a fairly good job breaking the press, we just didn't convert."
Mathiason said the Vikings (11-6) presented some difficult matchups for the Cheesemakers. "They're an athletic team. They do some pressing, they have good length, which makes some of the passes pretty tough to convert. ... And that length provided some challenges. They did a good job playing defense, and late in the game they did a good job in transistion. Those transition points was where they were able to build that lead in the second half."
Stoughton outscored Monroe 36-14 in the second half, led by Hannah Hobson's game-high 16 points.
Monroe senior Taylor Barrett led the Cheesemakers with 9 points, while junior Alacia Keegan pitched in 6.
Monroe will play another tough Badger South opponent when it hosts Oregon on Friday, Feb. 14.
"We just have to continue to see where we are," Mathiason said. "They're (Oregon) one of the top teams in the conference. ... The challenge is just going to be being able to come back, having our third game this week, and being mentally and physically ready for this game on Friday."
