BROOKFIELD - The Monroe girls basketball team, ranked No. 2 in the preseason Division 2 Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association state poll, aced an early test, with junior Sydney Hilliard scoring 21 points to lead the Cheesemakers to a 65-47 win over third-ranked New Berlin Eisenhower in the Brookfield Central Thanksgiving Shootout Saturday.
Monroe led by 9 points late in the first half before the Lions closed with a 5-0 spurt to cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 29-25 at the half. The Cheesemakers opened the second half with a 12-0 run to take control of the game.
"It's early in the year, but I'm proud of the effort and the outcome," said Monroe coach Sam Mathiason. "We got contributions from a lot of different players. Part of it is getting that experience and being able to play a team at that high of a level. We don't want this to be our best game of the season. We want to keep getting better. There is still room for improvement with what we did."
Monroe junior Emily Benzschawel added 16 points, and sophomore Grace Tostrud hit four of the team's nine 3-pointers for 12 points. Hilliard hit two 3-pointers and was named the player of the game. Mathiason liked the way the Cheesemakers attacked the defense by getting Hilliard driving to the basket and working it inside and then out for open jumpers.
"When you have a game and you make nine 3-pointers, it's great," Mathiason said. "You just want to be careful about what percentage you are shooting. A lot of our 3-pointers came when we got the ball inside or we had someone driving into the lane and kicking it out for a higher percentage shot in rhythm."
Sophomore Grace Mathiason chipped in 8 points and senior Sydney Mathiason had 7 points. Both Mathiason sisters each knocked down a 3-pointer.
"You want to have kids who continue to add to their games," Mathiason said of the Cheesemakers' 3-point shooting prowess Saturday. "You want to be able to have a lot of options. You never know how someone will guard you and who they will try to take away."
New Berlin Eisenhower 6-foot senior post player Hannah Plockelman scored a game-high 26 points. Plockelman's 6-foot-3 teammate Erin Hedeman added 10 points.
Monroe will host Fort Atkinson in the home opener at 7:15 p.m. Thursday.
"I think we still have a lot to work on," Mathiason said. "There were times where we have to do better rebounding."
Monroe led by 9 points late in the first half before the Lions closed with a 5-0 spurt to cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 29-25 at the half. The Cheesemakers opened the second half with a 12-0 run to take control of the game.
"It's early in the year, but I'm proud of the effort and the outcome," said Monroe coach Sam Mathiason. "We got contributions from a lot of different players. Part of it is getting that experience and being able to play a team at that high of a level. We don't want this to be our best game of the season. We want to keep getting better. There is still room for improvement with what we did."
Monroe junior Emily Benzschawel added 16 points, and sophomore Grace Tostrud hit four of the team's nine 3-pointers for 12 points. Hilliard hit two 3-pointers and was named the player of the game. Mathiason liked the way the Cheesemakers attacked the defense by getting Hilliard driving to the basket and working it inside and then out for open jumpers.
"When you have a game and you make nine 3-pointers, it's great," Mathiason said. "You just want to be careful about what percentage you are shooting. A lot of our 3-pointers came when we got the ball inside or we had someone driving into the lane and kicking it out for a higher percentage shot in rhythm."
Sophomore Grace Mathiason chipped in 8 points and senior Sydney Mathiason had 7 points. Both Mathiason sisters each knocked down a 3-pointer.
"You want to have kids who continue to add to their games," Mathiason said of the Cheesemakers' 3-point shooting prowess Saturday. "You want to be able to have a lot of options. You never know how someone will guard you and who they will try to take away."
New Berlin Eisenhower 6-foot senior post player Hannah Plockelman scored a game-high 26 points. Plockelman's 6-foot-3 teammate Erin Hedeman added 10 points.
Monroe will host Fort Atkinson in the home opener at 7:15 p.m. Thursday.
"I think we still have a lot to work on," Mathiason said. "There were times where we have to do better rebounding."
