MONROE - With about 2 minutes to go, the Monroe girls basketball team was within striking distance of making an improbable comeback against Clinton.
Monroe sophomore Brooke Adams made 1 of 2 free throws to cut Clinton's lead to five points. The Cougars were able to withstand the comeback and knocked off the Cheesemakers 53-46 in a non-conference game Monday, Feb. 10. Clinton (12-3) has a team featuring two 6-foot-2 starters and nine seniors. Two of the Cougars' three losses have come to No. 2 ranked Brodhead.
"They have been a top 10 team in the Division 3 rankings," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "They have a lot of components with their size and experience."
Clinton senior Megan Lantz, who scored a game-high 17 points, scored on a layup and the Cougars made 4 of 4 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Monroe senior Taylor Barrett scored a team-high 13 points. Adams and senior Whitney Disch each added eight points. Senior Kirsten Vetterli chipped in seven points. With the loss, Monroe drops to 5-12, 2-6 Badger South.
"I think we continue to see improvement and balance," Mathiason said. "There are a lot of things we are continuing to get better at. You just hope to get better as the season goes on and I think we are doing that."
The Cougars jumped out to an 18-11 lead in the first quarter. The Cougars led by as many as 13 points in the first half before the Cheesemakers mounted a rally. Lanz scored 11 points in the first half, but the Cheesemakers closed the second quarter strong cutting the Cougars' lead to 30-24.
"She (Lanz) was able to dictate a little bit," Mathiason said of the first half. "They got a couple conversions in the post. We made an adjustment and took their post away."
Clinton's Mallory Niemann scored 12 points and made two 3-pointers.
Mathiason said Niemann's two 3-pointers came at big times when the Cougars were able to stretch the lead.
"We just needed a few more conversions," he said. "I was just proud of the way the girls played hard. They (Clinton) are a very good team with experience. It's just one of those things where you just try to build on it."
Monroe sophomore Brooke Adams made 1 of 2 free throws to cut Clinton's lead to five points. The Cougars were able to withstand the comeback and knocked off the Cheesemakers 53-46 in a non-conference game Monday, Feb. 10. Clinton (12-3) has a team featuring two 6-foot-2 starters and nine seniors. Two of the Cougars' three losses have come to No. 2 ranked Brodhead.
"They have been a top 10 team in the Division 3 rankings," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "They have a lot of components with their size and experience."
Clinton senior Megan Lantz, who scored a game-high 17 points, scored on a layup and the Cougars made 4 of 4 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Monroe senior Taylor Barrett scored a team-high 13 points. Adams and senior Whitney Disch each added eight points. Senior Kirsten Vetterli chipped in seven points. With the loss, Monroe drops to 5-12, 2-6 Badger South.
"I think we continue to see improvement and balance," Mathiason said. "There are a lot of things we are continuing to get better at. You just hope to get better as the season goes on and I think we are doing that."
The Cougars jumped out to an 18-11 lead in the first quarter. The Cougars led by as many as 13 points in the first half before the Cheesemakers mounted a rally. Lanz scored 11 points in the first half, but the Cheesemakers closed the second quarter strong cutting the Cougars' lead to 30-24.
"She (Lanz) was able to dictate a little bit," Mathiason said of the first half. "They got a couple conversions in the post. We made an adjustment and took their post away."
Clinton's Mallory Niemann scored 12 points and made two 3-pointers.
Mathiason said Niemann's two 3-pointers came at big times when the Cougars were able to stretch the lead.
"We just needed a few more conversions," he said. "I was just proud of the way the girls played hard. They (Clinton) are a very good team with experience. It's just one of those things where you just try to build on it."
