MONROE - "Pedal to the medal" could be a new team slogan for the Monroe girls basketball team after the Cheesemakers rolled to a 60-38 win over DeForest in a WIAA Division 2 regional championship game Saturday.
"It's been a dream of mine," Monroe sophomore Emily Benzschawel said of winning a regional title. "I never thought I would be cutting down the net. It's a great feeling."
For the second straight game in the tournament, the Cheesemakers (19-3) used a big second-half surge to roll to a win. The Cheesemakers used a 30-7 second half run to open up 26-point lead they would never relinquish. It was fueled by sophomore Sydney Hilliard and Benzschawel getting in passing lanes, getting out and scoring in transition.
"We came out with a lot more energy," said Benzschawel, who scored 23 points, grabbed five rebounds and had four steals. "That led to being more aggressive, which led to turnovers and to points."
With the win, Monroe advances to the sectional semifinal where the Cheesemakers will play Stoughton at 7 p.m. Thursday at Sun Prairie High School.
Monroe coach Sam Mathiason noticed a difference in the second half with the Cheesemakers forcing turnovers and getting on the break to score.
"Emily had that look in her eye tonight," Mathiason said. "That's the reason a lot of teams don't play man (defense) against us. It's because Emily and Sydney are so good with the ball in their hands. She (Benzschawel) knew she could get to the basket and score."
Hilliard scored on a layup and then came up with a steal and scored on another layup to give the Cheesemakers a 31-24 lead 35 seconds into the second half. Benzschawel came up with a steal and layup and then later knocked down a jumper to give the Cheesemakers a 37-26 lead with 14 minutes, 57 seconds left.
Hilliard had a second steal and layup and then hit a step back jumper after a crossover dribble to give the Cheesemakers an insurmountable 52-30 leads with 9:12 left.
"I guess we are just a second-half team," Hilliard said. "It all started on defense. We really pushed the transition plays. Everyone was really confident with the ball. In the second half, we just pressed the pedal down."
Hilliard scored a game-high 24 points, grabbed six rebounds and had four steals and four blocks. Junior teammate Sydney Mathiason added 10 points, grabbed six rebounds and had two blocks.
"It feels really good to do it (win a regional championship) together. Not many teams get to do it. I'm just lucky to be on a team that finally gets to cut down the net."
For the second straight game, the Cheesemakers fell behind 5-0 in the first half. Mathiason drilled a 3-pointer to cut the Norskies' lead to 10-6 with 13:41 left in the first half. DeForest led by as many as seven points in the first half. The Cheesemakers rallied with Benzschawel scoring on a layup and Mathiason knocking down a 3-pointer with 54.5 seconds to go to give the Cheesemakers a 27-24 lead at the half.
The Cheesemakers' second-half surge was set up by forcing turnovers and getting out on the break.
"I think in the first half we did a really good job of playing defense," the coach said. "I think in the second half, we did a better job of getting in transition and getting some baskets. To keep them to 38 points, I think overall our defense was very good."
Monroe will have three days to gear up for a sectional semifinal showdown against Stoughton on Thursday.
Mathiason was proud to see the Cheesemakers rewarded for their hard work and win a regional title for the first time in seven years.
"To have the opportunity to be conference and regional champions is really special," he said. "I'm just really happy for these kids for the hard work they have put in and the sacrifices they have made to be team players. It's really a reward for them."
"It's been a dream of mine," Monroe sophomore Emily Benzschawel said of winning a regional title. "I never thought I would be cutting down the net. It's a great feeling."
For the second straight game in the tournament, the Cheesemakers (19-3) used a big second-half surge to roll to a win. The Cheesemakers used a 30-7 second half run to open up 26-point lead they would never relinquish. It was fueled by sophomore Sydney Hilliard and Benzschawel getting in passing lanes, getting out and scoring in transition.
"We came out with a lot more energy," said Benzschawel, who scored 23 points, grabbed five rebounds and had four steals. "That led to being more aggressive, which led to turnovers and to points."
With the win, Monroe advances to the sectional semifinal where the Cheesemakers will play Stoughton at 7 p.m. Thursday at Sun Prairie High School.
Monroe coach Sam Mathiason noticed a difference in the second half with the Cheesemakers forcing turnovers and getting on the break to score.
"Emily had that look in her eye tonight," Mathiason said. "That's the reason a lot of teams don't play man (defense) against us. It's because Emily and Sydney are so good with the ball in their hands. She (Benzschawel) knew she could get to the basket and score."
Hilliard scored on a layup and then came up with a steal and scored on another layup to give the Cheesemakers a 31-24 lead 35 seconds into the second half. Benzschawel came up with a steal and layup and then later knocked down a jumper to give the Cheesemakers a 37-26 lead with 14 minutes, 57 seconds left.
Hilliard had a second steal and layup and then hit a step back jumper after a crossover dribble to give the Cheesemakers an insurmountable 52-30 leads with 9:12 left.
"I guess we are just a second-half team," Hilliard said. "It all started on defense. We really pushed the transition plays. Everyone was really confident with the ball. In the second half, we just pressed the pedal down."
Hilliard scored a game-high 24 points, grabbed six rebounds and had four steals and four blocks. Junior teammate Sydney Mathiason added 10 points, grabbed six rebounds and had two blocks.
"It feels really good to do it (win a regional championship) together. Not many teams get to do it. I'm just lucky to be on a team that finally gets to cut down the net."
For the second straight game, the Cheesemakers fell behind 5-0 in the first half. Mathiason drilled a 3-pointer to cut the Norskies' lead to 10-6 with 13:41 left in the first half. DeForest led by as many as seven points in the first half. The Cheesemakers rallied with Benzschawel scoring on a layup and Mathiason knocking down a 3-pointer with 54.5 seconds to go to give the Cheesemakers a 27-24 lead at the half.
The Cheesemakers' second-half surge was set up by forcing turnovers and getting out on the break.
"I think in the first half we did a really good job of playing defense," the coach said. "I think in the second half, we did a better job of getting in transition and getting some baskets. To keep them to 38 points, I think overall our defense was very good."
Monroe will have three days to gear up for a sectional semifinal showdown against Stoughton on Thursday.
Mathiason was proud to see the Cheesemakers rewarded for their hard work and win a regional title for the first time in seven years.
"To have the opportunity to be conference and regional champions is really special," he said. "I'm just really happy for these kids for the hard work they have put in and the sacrifices they have made to be team players. It's really a reward for them."
