MOUNT HOREB - By Sydney Hilliard's standards, the Monroe girls basketball team's 62-30 win over Mount Horeb in the season opener Friday wasn't perfect, but it was a solid start.
"It feels great," said Hilliard, a junior point guard who scored a game-high 18 points to go along with 9 steals and 5 rebounds. "I was a little rusty. The first game was a little sloppy, but we got the job done."
The Cheesemakers, a WIAA Division 2 state qualifier last year, blew the game open with a 25-2 first half run. Monroe forced 23 turnovers and turned many of those miscues into easy points on the break. Hilliard had three steals in the first 3 minutes.
Monroe sophomore Grace Tostrud made her first career varsity start, scoring 15 and grabbing 4 rebounds. Senior teammate Sydney Mathiason added 11 points and grabbed 7 boards.
"It was a mix of nervous and excitement," Tostrud said of her first start. "I know I have a good team behind me to support me. It was really exciting. I'm really looking forward to the season and playing with this group of girls."
Tostrud, at 6 feet tall, was 5 of 7 shooting and knocked down a 3-pointer.
"I have been working on expanding my range so I can be a threat all over the court and not just in the post," Tostrud said. "Just seeing the shots fall gives you a lot more confidence."
With 12 minutes, 30 seconds left in the first half, the Cheesemakers took a 14-5 lead after a Mathiason layup. Moments later, Hilliard, a recruit of University of Wisconsin-Madison, Marquette and UW-Green Bay amongst others, bookended the run with a layup of her own to make it 18-5.
The Cheesemakers turned their defense into instant offense in transition later in the half. Mathiason blocked a shot and Hilliard tossed a pass to Mathiason on the break who knocked down a 3-pointer to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to 27-7 with 8:20 left before the break. Monroe junior Emily Benzschawel later scored on a layup between three Viking' defenders.
Tostrud drilled a 3 and scored on a layup to help the Cheesemakers take their biggest lead of the half 38-11. The Vikings had nearly as many turnovers (12) as points (13), and trailed by 25 points at the half.
"We have been working in practice on our defense, getting the rebound and pushing it up the floor," Hilliard said.
Benzschawel hit a 3-pointer early in the second half to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to 49-18. The Cheesemakers led by as many as 34 points after Grace Mathiason scored on a putback late in the second half. One bright spot for the Vikings was junior Sarah Toay, who scored 10 of her team-high 16 points in the second half.
All 11 players that suited up played for the Cheesemakers. Emily Benzschawel scored 7, and her younger sister Megan, a freshman, had 2 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals in her high school debut. Sophomore teammate Grace Mathiason added 2 points and had 4 rebounds in her first career varsity action.
"It's awesome to be able to have the five starters go out, have a new five come in and still contribute," Hilliard said. "It's exciting to see what is next."
Despite playing a scrimmage last week at Janesville Parker, Monroe coach Sam Mathiason understood the timing was right for the season opener before playing a conference game at Oregon Tuesday.
"I think we knew we had to get out there and play," he said. "You have to see in game situations who will do what and how they will do it. You get to see it in practice, but in games you get a measure and feel for it more. I'm really happy with how we played and how it all worked out."
Mathiason liked the way Tostrud was aggressive and took advantage of her opportunities.
"I think she was the beneficiary of having some teammates who gave her some opportunities," Mathiason said. "She was able to take advantage of those opportunities. We have girls who will share the ball and play together. We have to keep progressing as a team. Grace Tostrud did a nice job of converting on those opportunities tonight. It's a good start to her career."
Mathiason stressed the importance of continuing to build a solid defensive foundation.
"I think we know if we are going to take the next step we have to do it on defense," he said.
"It feels great," said Hilliard, a junior point guard who scored a game-high 18 points to go along with 9 steals and 5 rebounds. "I was a little rusty. The first game was a little sloppy, but we got the job done."
The Cheesemakers, a WIAA Division 2 state qualifier last year, blew the game open with a 25-2 first half run. Monroe forced 23 turnovers and turned many of those miscues into easy points on the break. Hilliard had three steals in the first 3 minutes.
Monroe sophomore Grace Tostrud made her first career varsity start, scoring 15 and grabbing 4 rebounds. Senior teammate Sydney Mathiason added 11 points and grabbed 7 boards.
"It was a mix of nervous and excitement," Tostrud said of her first start. "I know I have a good team behind me to support me. It was really exciting. I'm really looking forward to the season and playing with this group of girls."
Tostrud, at 6 feet tall, was 5 of 7 shooting and knocked down a 3-pointer.
"I have been working on expanding my range so I can be a threat all over the court and not just in the post," Tostrud said. "Just seeing the shots fall gives you a lot more confidence."
With 12 minutes, 30 seconds left in the first half, the Cheesemakers took a 14-5 lead after a Mathiason layup. Moments later, Hilliard, a recruit of University of Wisconsin-Madison, Marquette and UW-Green Bay amongst others, bookended the run with a layup of her own to make it 18-5.
The Cheesemakers turned their defense into instant offense in transition later in the half. Mathiason blocked a shot and Hilliard tossed a pass to Mathiason on the break who knocked down a 3-pointer to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to 27-7 with 8:20 left before the break. Monroe junior Emily Benzschawel later scored on a layup between three Viking' defenders.
Tostrud drilled a 3 and scored on a layup to help the Cheesemakers take their biggest lead of the half 38-11. The Vikings had nearly as many turnovers (12) as points (13), and trailed by 25 points at the half.
"We have been working in practice on our defense, getting the rebound and pushing it up the floor," Hilliard said.
Benzschawel hit a 3-pointer early in the second half to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to 49-18. The Cheesemakers led by as many as 34 points after Grace Mathiason scored on a putback late in the second half. One bright spot for the Vikings was junior Sarah Toay, who scored 10 of her team-high 16 points in the second half.
All 11 players that suited up played for the Cheesemakers. Emily Benzschawel scored 7, and her younger sister Megan, a freshman, had 2 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals in her high school debut. Sophomore teammate Grace Mathiason added 2 points and had 4 rebounds in her first career varsity action.
"It's awesome to be able to have the five starters go out, have a new five come in and still contribute," Hilliard said. "It's exciting to see what is next."
Despite playing a scrimmage last week at Janesville Parker, Monroe coach Sam Mathiason understood the timing was right for the season opener before playing a conference game at Oregon Tuesday.
"I think we knew we had to get out there and play," he said. "You have to see in game situations who will do what and how they will do it. You get to see it in practice, but in games you get a measure and feel for it more. I'm really happy with how we played and how it all worked out."
Mathiason liked the way Tostrud was aggressive and took advantage of her opportunities.
"I think she was the beneficiary of having some teammates who gave her some opportunities," Mathiason said. "She was able to take advantage of those opportunities. We have girls who will share the ball and play together. We have to keep progressing as a team. Grace Tostrud did a nice job of converting on those opportunities tonight. It's a good start to her career."
Mathiason stressed the importance of continuing to build a solid defensive foundation.
"I think we know if we are going to take the next step we have to do it on defense," he said.
