MONROE - The Monroe girls basketball team pulled out a nail-biting 43-39 season-opening win over McFarland Tuesday, Nov. 26.
Monroe senior Kirsten Vetterli knocked down a jumper from the free throw line with less than 1 minute to go to give the Cheesemakers a 39-38 lead. The Cheesemakers made 4 of 8 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
"We have had just six days of practice and a scrimmage," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "I didn't know how we would perform in a tight situation and a tight game. It's a great way to start the season. Hopefully, we can build on this and work towards the next game."
Monroe senior Taylor Barrett scored a team-high 14 points and junior MacKenzie Hesgard added 10 points. Senior Whitney Disch scored five points in the fourth quarter. She shot 5 of 8 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter and grabbed some key rebounds. Seven different players scored for the Cheesemakers.
"She (Disch) did an excellent job of rebounding and putting it back up and drawing fouls," Mathiason said. "We had a lot of people contribute and that is what we will need."
The Cheesemakers limited the Spartans to 21.7 percent shooting in the first half (5 of 23). The Cheesemakers shot just 31.5 percent in the first half (6 of 19).
Hesgard scored five points off the bench in the first half to give the Cheesemakers a boost. Hesgard drilled a 3-pointer with 1 minute, 54 seconds to go in the first quarter to give the Cheesemakers an 11-5 lead.
The Cheesemakers had 11 turnovers attacking the Spartans' press, but they were able to overcome the adversity. Barrett scored seven points in the first half to lead the Cheesemakers. Barrett scored on a putback and was fouled with 2:26 left in the second quarter. She converted the conventional three-point play by knocking down the free throw to give the Cheesemakers a 19-11 lead.
It didn't take the Spartans long to erase a five-point halftime deficit. The Spartans hit two 3-pointers in the third quarter to tie the game at 23.
Black Hawk 52, Darlington 32
SOUTH WAYNE - Black Hawk senior Jen Wellnitz scored a game-high 19 points to lead the Warriors to a 52-32 non-conference win over Darlington Tuesday.
"I felt like the kids got out there and competed which is a lot different than practice," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "I thought Jen had a good all-around game. It's always nice to get a victory and to be able to get everyone into the game."
Black Hawk sophomore Aleigha Sigafus scored 10 points and senior Marissa Monson added seven.
"It was nice for Marissa to get out there and contribute scoring," Flanagan said.
Black Hawk played without senior Mikayla Sigafus who missed the game due to a shoulder injury. With that injury, the Warriors are able to use several other players off the bench in bigger roles.
"In the end, hopefully there will be a competition for minutes," Flanagan said. "It's always healthy to have competition for playing time."
Darlington junior Mariah Wiegel hit three 3-pointers to lead the Redbirds with nine points and junior Taylor Cox added six.
Juda 32, Rockford Jefferson 26
JUDA - Senior Cheyenne Ambler scored a team-high 10 points to lift Juda to a 32-26 season-opening win over Rockford Jefferson Tuesday.
"It was good to get the kinks worked out," Juda coach Curt Brown said. "Any time you can learn, improve and win it's always good."
Juda freshman Chelsea Burkhalter scored eight points. The Panthers were just 10 of 34 shooting at the free throw line.
"We are still getting some of the rust off," Brown said. "Free throws should be the easy points, but they aren't always."
Lakeside Lutheran 67, New Glarus 49
LAKE MILLS - The fullcourt press by Lakeside Lutheran was a thorn in the side of the New Glarus girls basketball team Tuesday.
Lakeside Lutheran used a stifling press to jump out to a 17-9 lead on the Glarner Knights and they handed the Knights a season-opening 67-49 loss.
New Glarus sophomore Vanessa Narveson scored a team-high 21 points and senior Courtney Feller added nine points.
"We didn't handle the pressure well," New Glarus coach Megan Scheele said. "We have to work on breaking the press together and not leaving our point guard just out there.
New Glarus will play at Monticello Saturday, Nov. 30.
"It's always a good rivalry," Scheele said. "It will be a good test to see if we can rebound."
Parkview 51, Albany 16
ALBANY - Orfordville Parkview girls rolled past Albany 51-16 in a non-conference game Tuesday.
Albany's Marley Malkow scored a team-high seven points to lead the Comets.
Monroe senior Kirsten Vetterli knocked down a jumper from the free throw line with less than 1 minute to go to give the Cheesemakers a 39-38 lead. The Cheesemakers made 4 of 8 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
"We have had just six days of practice and a scrimmage," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "I didn't know how we would perform in a tight situation and a tight game. It's a great way to start the season. Hopefully, we can build on this and work towards the next game."
Monroe senior Taylor Barrett scored a team-high 14 points and junior MacKenzie Hesgard added 10 points. Senior Whitney Disch scored five points in the fourth quarter. She shot 5 of 8 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter and grabbed some key rebounds. Seven different players scored for the Cheesemakers.
"She (Disch) did an excellent job of rebounding and putting it back up and drawing fouls," Mathiason said. "We had a lot of people contribute and that is what we will need."
The Cheesemakers limited the Spartans to 21.7 percent shooting in the first half (5 of 23). The Cheesemakers shot just 31.5 percent in the first half (6 of 19).
Hesgard scored five points off the bench in the first half to give the Cheesemakers a boost. Hesgard drilled a 3-pointer with 1 minute, 54 seconds to go in the first quarter to give the Cheesemakers an 11-5 lead.
The Cheesemakers had 11 turnovers attacking the Spartans' press, but they were able to overcome the adversity. Barrett scored seven points in the first half to lead the Cheesemakers. Barrett scored on a putback and was fouled with 2:26 left in the second quarter. She converted the conventional three-point play by knocking down the free throw to give the Cheesemakers a 19-11 lead.
It didn't take the Spartans long to erase a five-point halftime deficit. The Spartans hit two 3-pointers in the third quarter to tie the game at 23.
Black Hawk 52, Darlington 32
SOUTH WAYNE - Black Hawk senior Jen Wellnitz scored a game-high 19 points to lead the Warriors to a 52-32 non-conference win over Darlington Tuesday.
"I felt like the kids got out there and competed which is a lot different than practice," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "I thought Jen had a good all-around game. It's always nice to get a victory and to be able to get everyone into the game."
Black Hawk sophomore Aleigha Sigafus scored 10 points and senior Marissa Monson added seven.
"It was nice for Marissa to get out there and contribute scoring," Flanagan said.
Black Hawk played without senior Mikayla Sigafus who missed the game due to a shoulder injury. With that injury, the Warriors are able to use several other players off the bench in bigger roles.
"In the end, hopefully there will be a competition for minutes," Flanagan said. "It's always healthy to have competition for playing time."
Darlington junior Mariah Wiegel hit three 3-pointers to lead the Redbirds with nine points and junior Taylor Cox added six.
Juda 32, Rockford Jefferson 26
JUDA - Senior Cheyenne Ambler scored a team-high 10 points to lift Juda to a 32-26 season-opening win over Rockford Jefferson Tuesday.
"It was good to get the kinks worked out," Juda coach Curt Brown said. "Any time you can learn, improve and win it's always good."
Juda freshman Chelsea Burkhalter scored eight points. The Panthers were just 10 of 34 shooting at the free throw line.
"We are still getting some of the rust off," Brown said. "Free throws should be the easy points, but they aren't always."
Lakeside Lutheran 67, New Glarus 49
LAKE MILLS - The fullcourt press by Lakeside Lutheran was a thorn in the side of the New Glarus girls basketball team Tuesday.
Lakeside Lutheran used a stifling press to jump out to a 17-9 lead on the Glarner Knights and they handed the Knights a season-opening 67-49 loss.
New Glarus sophomore Vanessa Narveson scored a team-high 21 points and senior Courtney Feller added nine points.
"We didn't handle the pressure well," New Glarus coach Megan Scheele said. "We have to work on breaking the press together and not leaving our point guard just out there.
New Glarus will play at Monticello Saturday, Nov. 30.
"It's always a good rivalry," Scheele said. "It will be a good test to see if we can rebound."
Parkview 51, Albany 16
ALBANY - Orfordville Parkview girls rolled past Albany 51-16 in a non-conference game Tuesday.
Albany's Marley Malkow scored a team-high seven points to lead the Comets.
