MONONA - Only a few girls basketball fans would have predicted that Monroe would be one of the last Badger South Conference teams standing.
Monroe stunned No. 1 seed Monona Grove knocking off the Silver Eagles 44-41 Friday night in a WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal. The last time the Cheesemakers (7-17) played at Monona Grove this season they lost 48-25.
"I don't think there were many people who thought we would come in here and get a win," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "I told the girls we are a No. 9 seed and weren't supposed to be playing tonight and all that matters is who wins tonight and advances to tomorrow."
With the win, the Cheese-makers advance to play at Baraboo in a regional championship game tonight.
Monroe senior Brooke McBain scored a game-high 18 points and made 3 of 4 free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal it. The Silver Eagles had a halfcourt shot at the end that went awry.
The Cheesemakers battled back from a 21-10 halftime deficit. The Cheesemakers outscored the Silver Eagles 18-1 in the third quarter and held them scoreless for more than 7 minutes.
"At halftime I said we did what we needed to do defensively," Mathiason said. "The biggest thing we had to do is to find a way to score. We did a better job in the second half of seeing where the press and traps were coming from and we were able to get some good finishes. We just kept beleiving that we would find a way."
Monroe junior Heather Barta had seven points and senior Molly Hlubek added six points.
Monroe stunned No. 1 seed Monona Grove knocking off the Silver Eagles 44-41 Friday night in a WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal. The last time the Cheesemakers (7-17) played at Monona Grove this season they lost 48-25.
"I don't think there were many people who thought we would come in here and get a win," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "I told the girls we are a No. 9 seed and weren't supposed to be playing tonight and all that matters is who wins tonight and advances to tomorrow."
With the win, the Cheese-makers advance to play at Baraboo in a regional championship game tonight.
Monroe senior Brooke McBain scored a game-high 18 points and made 3 of 4 free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal it. The Silver Eagles had a halfcourt shot at the end that went awry.
The Cheesemakers battled back from a 21-10 halftime deficit. The Cheesemakers outscored the Silver Eagles 18-1 in the third quarter and held them scoreless for more than 7 minutes.
"At halftime I said we did what we needed to do defensively," Mathiason said. "The biggest thing we had to do is to find a way to score. We did a better job in the second half of seeing where the press and traps were coming from and we were able to get some good finishes. We just kept beleiving that we would find a way."
Monroe junior Heather Barta had seven points and senior Molly Hlubek added six points.
