FREEPORT - The way Monroe sophomore Sydney Mathiason sees the Cheesemakers girls basketball team, everyone on the court is a scoring threat.
Monroe freshman Sydney Hilliard scored a game-high 15 points and had four steals to lead a balanced scoring attack that helped Monroe roll to a 56-40 win over Freeport in a Snack Bowl game on Saturday. It wasn't as close as the score indicated. Monroe (5-7, 2-3 Badger South) led by as many as 25 points in the second half.
Mathiason added 11 points and had seven rebounds. Senior teammate Hannah Vetterli scored eight points and junior Jordan Hirsbrunner and freshman Emily Benzschwael each chipped in seven points.
"When we are all able to score it definitely makes it harder for the defense to defend," Mathiason said. "I think we are a team where we can all score."
Monroe and Freeport each won three games, but the Cheesemakers captured the Snack Bowl trophy based on free throw percentage in all six games combined where Monroe was 56 percent and Freeport was at 53 percent. Monroe won the girls' freshman, JV and varsity games and the Pretzels swept the boys games.
The Cheesemakers wasted no time in setting the tone early on with a 12-0 run in the first quarter. Mathiason scored two baskets down low and scored six of the Cheesemakers' first eight points.
"We were playing really well together and passing well," Mathiason said. "It was good to get a lead so we knew what we could do against them."
Mathiason said the Cheesemakers were able to use their size to their advantage.
"We were able to take them off the dribble and get to the basket," she said.
Vetterli scored three baskets down low in the second half and Hirsbrunner made two moves for baskets in the post.
"Jordan did a good job and had some nice post moves," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "She has been working with Bill Dehn on her post moves."
The Pretzels were plagued by 20 turnovers and were led by Quavashia Avery, who scored 13 points.
The Cheesemakers shot 73.6 percent from the free throw line (14 of 19). Monroe will host Monona Grove (10-1) on Thursday. Monona Grove, ranked No. 6 in Division 2, has three scholarship players and 6-foot freshman McKenna Warnock, who has scholarship offers from the University of Wisconsin, Marquette, UW-Green Bay, UW-Milwaukee and Drake University. The three senior scholarship players for the Silver Eagles are Autumn Ogden, a North Dakota State recruit; Kelsey Stinson, a Division II Minnesota-Crookston recruit; and Kaylee Hinson, a Division II California-Baptist recruit.
Monroe has won five games an is coming off a season where it won eight games last year. While Sam Mathiason said Monroe has improved a lot from the beginning of the year, he doesn't like to compare teams from previous seasons.
"The Badger South Conference is very strong at the top," he said. "If you look at just wins and losses, you may not be too happy with the number of wins.
"We try to improve and get better and we're trying to hit an elite level."
Monroe freshman Sydney Hilliard scored a game-high 15 points and had four steals to lead a balanced scoring attack that helped Monroe roll to a 56-40 win over Freeport in a Snack Bowl game on Saturday. It wasn't as close as the score indicated. Monroe (5-7, 2-3 Badger South) led by as many as 25 points in the second half.
Mathiason added 11 points and had seven rebounds. Senior teammate Hannah Vetterli scored eight points and junior Jordan Hirsbrunner and freshman Emily Benzschwael each chipped in seven points.
"When we are all able to score it definitely makes it harder for the defense to defend," Mathiason said. "I think we are a team where we can all score."
Monroe and Freeport each won three games, but the Cheesemakers captured the Snack Bowl trophy based on free throw percentage in all six games combined where Monroe was 56 percent and Freeport was at 53 percent. Monroe won the girls' freshman, JV and varsity games and the Pretzels swept the boys games.
The Cheesemakers wasted no time in setting the tone early on with a 12-0 run in the first quarter. Mathiason scored two baskets down low and scored six of the Cheesemakers' first eight points.
"We were playing really well together and passing well," Mathiason said. "It was good to get a lead so we knew what we could do against them."
Mathiason said the Cheesemakers were able to use their size to their advantage.
"We were able to take them off the dribble and get to the basket," she said.
Vetterli scored three baskets down low in the second half and Hirsbrunner made two moves for baskets in the post.
"Jordan did a good job and had some nice post moves," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "She has been working with Bill Dehn on her post moves."
The Pretzels were plagued by 20 turnovers and were led by Quavashia Avery, who scored 13 points.
The Cheesemakers shot 73.6 percent from the free throw line (14 of 19). Monroe will host Monona Grove (10-1) on Thursday. Monona Grove, ranked No. 6 in Division 2, has three scholarship players and 6-foot freshman McKenna Warnock, who has scholarship offers from the University of Wisconsin, Marquette, UW-Green Bay, UW-Milwaukee and Drake University. The three senior scholarship players for the Silver Eagles are Autumn Ogden, a North Dakota State recruit; Kelsey Stinson, a Division II Minnesota-Crookston recruit; and Kaylee Hinson, a Division II California-Baptist recruit.
Monroe has won five games an is coming off a season where it won eight games last year. While Sam Mathiason said Monroe has improved a lot from the beginning of the year, he doesn't like to compare teams from previous seasons.
"The Badger South Conference is very strong at the top," he said. "If you look at just wins and losses, you may not be too happy with the number of wins.
"We try to improve and get better and we're trying to hit an elite level."
