MONROE - Senior Brooke Adams drilled a clutch 3-pointer, and the Monroe High School girls basketball team made key free throws down the stretch to hold off McFarland for a 62-58 win on Friday.
McFarland (7-7) hit two 3-pointers in the final 1 minute, 40 seconds to give the Cheesemakers a scare. Adams knocked down a 3-pointer with about 1 minute to go to give the Cheesemakers a 60-55 lead. McFarland sophomore Gabi Runde answered by hitting a 3-pointer with less than 1 minute left to slice the Cheesemakers' lead to 60-58. Monroe (6-9, 2-5 Badger South) made two free throws in the waning seconds to survive.
"We really haven't been in many games where we have to learn to play with a lead, score, know the situation and play with a lead to win," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "I'm really proud of the girls for sticking with it. I thought it was a game where we feel like we had a chance. They (McFarland) were not going to just give it to us. I think our kids went out and earned it."
Monroe freshman Sydney Hilliard scored a team-high 15 points. Adams, freshman Emily Benzschawel and junior Jordan Hirsbrunner each added 10 points.
"We had a lot of balance," Mathiason said. "We had contributions from a lot of people."
The Cheesemakers opened the game cold, shooting 1-for-8 from the field in the first 6 minutes, and McFarland 6-foot-2 junior Emma Eckel scored the first six points to stake the Spartans to a 6-0 lead. The Cheesemakers trailed by as many as 10 points, 17-7, before rallying. The Cheesemakers closed the first half with a 23-12 run to take a 30-29 lead.
"We didn't panic in the first half," Mathiason said. "McFarland did a good job with their zone."
Eckel finished with a game-high 19 points.
Monroe will play at Fort Atkinson on Tuesday and at Milton Jan. 29. It's the second time through the conference, and the Cheesemakers are looking to make a move up the conference standings as they look to get better each game.
"It's a process," Mathiason said. "It's continued improvement."
McFarland (7-7) hit two 3-pointers in the final 1 minute, 40 seconds to give the Cheesemakers a scare. Adams knocked down a 3-pointer with about 1 minute to go to give the Cheesemakers a 60-55 lead. McFarland sophomore Gabi Runde answered by hitting a 3-pointer with less than 1 minute left to slice the Cheesemakers' lead to 60-58. Monroe (6-9, 2-5 Badger South) made two free throws in the waning seconds to survive.
"We really haven't been in many games where we have to learn to play with a lead, score, know the situation and play with a lead to win," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "I'm really proud of the girls for sticking with it. I thought it was a game where we feel like we had a chance. They (McFarland) were not going to just give it to us. I think our kids went out and earned it."
Monroe freshman Sydney Hilliard scored a team-high 15 points. Adams, freshman Emily Benzschawel and junior Jordan Hirsbrunner each added 10 points.
"We had a lot of balance," Mathiason said. "We had contributions from a lot of people."
The Cheesemakers opened the game cold, shooting 1-for-8 from the field in the first 6 minutes, and McFarland 6-foot-2 junior Emma Eckel scored the first six points to stake the Spartans to a 6-0 lead. The Cheesemakers trailed by as many as 10 points, 17-7, before rallying. The Cheesemakers closed the first half with a 23-12 run to take a 30-29 lead.
"We didn't panic in the first half," Mathiason said. "McFarland did a good job with their zone."
Eckel finished with a game-high 19 points.
Monroe will play at Fort Atkinson on Tuesday and at Milton Jan. 29. It's the second time through the conference, and the Cheesemakers are looking to make a move up the conference standings as they look to get better each game.
"It's a process," Mathiason said. "It's continued improvement."
