MONROE - The Monroe girls basketball team may have a lot of scoring options, but senior Sydney Mathiason likes the budding reputation the Cheesemakers are earning as a lockdown defensive team.
Mathiason scored a game-high 17 points, grabbed eight rebounds, had three steals and two blocked shots to help the Cheesemakers roll to a 71-23 win over Fort Atkinson Thursday.
"We were able to play great team defense," Mathiason said. "Defense wins games. We were able to bring five in and we got a lot of contributions and we still did a great job."
Monroe (4-0, 2-0 Badger South) opened the second half on a 20-0 run and stymied the Blackhawks, holding them scoreless for about 16 minutes. Fort Atkinson had as many turnovers (23) as points (23).
Monroe junior Emily Benzschawel added 15 points junior teammate Sydney Hilliard scored 12 points to go along with seven rebounds and five steals.
"We take a lot of pride in our defense," Benzschawel said. "We try not to let other teams run up the score on us. We had a lot of steals and that led to points. It was just great team defense."
Monroe senior Kaylynn Conway converted a three-point play and sophomore Grace Tostrud drilled a 3-pointer to help the Cheesemakers take a 54-19 lead with 14 minutes, 42 seconds left in the second half.
Monroe senior Madison Katzenberger knocked down a 3-pointer and Benzschawel had a steal and layup to give the Cheesemakers' their largest lead at 50 points, 71-21 with 3:50 to go.
Fort Atkinson junior Kat Brandl scored on a layup with 2:05 left for the Blackhawks' first field goal of the second half. The Cheesemakers outscored the Blackhawks 26-4 in the second half.
"I think we were in good position," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said of the team's defensive play. "We didn't give them any easy points. If we can get some deflections, we have some kids who can run and convert opportunities on the other end."
Sydney Mathiason is excited to stay unbeaten in the conference even though it's early in the season.
"It feels great," she said. "We just have to play it one game at a time. It was a great team win. I'm just happy we came out on top."
There was little doubt early on the Cheesemakers were in danger of losing their first game of the season. Monroe broke the game open in the first half with a 15-5 run after the Blackhawks got within six points early on.
Mathiason buried a 3-pointer, then had a blocked shot that led to freshman Megan Benzschawel's layup that gave the Cheesemakers a 19-9 lead with 10:38 left in the first half. Mathiason then banked in a jumper and Emily Benzschawel drilled a 3 to extend the lead to 24-10 with 9:41 to go in the first half.
Later on, Mathiason came up with a steal and layup and Emily Benzschawel hit another 3 to give Monroe a 27-point advantage. Conway scored down low late in the first half to give the Cheesemakers their largest lead of the first half at 29-points, 45-16. Benzschawel knocked down three 3-pointers in the first half, and Monroe led 45-19 lead at the break.
"I think part of it is we try to preach to them you have to take advantage of your opportunities," Sam Mathiason said. "We have a lot of different people who can score. It could be someone different every night. When you are able to make the extra pass like that, I think they (Benzschawel and Sydney Mathiason) were the beneficiaries."
Conway chipped in 7 points and freshman Megan Benzschawel and Tostrud each added 6. The entire bench saw the court and nine different players scored for the Cheesemakers.
"It was great to get everyone minutes and an opportunity," Sam Mathiason said. "You never know when you will need someone for one or two minutes and it's nice for them to have some game experience."
Mathiason scored a game-high 17 points, grabbed eight rebounds, had three steals and two blocked shots to help the Cheesemakers roll to a 71-23 win over Fort Atkinson Thursday.
"We were able to play great team defense," Mathiason said. "Defense wins games. We were able to bring five in and we got a lot of contributions and we still did a great job."
Monroe (4-0, 2-0 Badger South) opened the second half on a 20-0 run and stymied the Blackhawks, holding them scoreless for about 16 minutes. Fort Atkinson had as many turnovers (23) as points (23).
Monroe junior Emily Benzschawel added 15 points junior teammate Sydney Hilliard scored 12 points to go along with seven rebounds and five steals.
"We take a lot of pride in our defense," Benzschawel said. "We try not to let other teams run up the score on us. We had a lot of steals and that led to points. It was just great team defense."
Monroe senior Kaylynn Conway converted a three-point play and sophomore Grace Tostrud drilled a 3-pointer to help the Cheesemakers take a 54-19 lead with 14 minutes, 42 seconds left in the second half.
Monroe senior Madison Katzenberger knocked down a 3-pointer and Benzschawel had a steal and layup to give the Cheesemakers' their largest lead at 50 points, 71-21 with 3:50 to go.
Fort Atkinson junior Kat Brandl scored on a layup with 2:05 left for the Blackhawks' first field goal of the second half. The Cheesemakers outscored the Blackhawks 26-4 in the second half.
"I think we were in good position," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said of the team's defensive play. "We didn't give them any easy points. If we can get some deflections, we have some kids who can run and convert opportunities on the other end."
Sydney Mathiason is excited to stay unbeaten in the conference even though it's early in the season.
"It feels great," she said. "We just have to play it one game at a time. It was a great team win. I'm just happy we came out on top."
There was little doubt early on the Cheesemakers were in danger of losing their first game of the season. Monroe broke the game open in the first half with a 15-5 run after the Blackhawks got within six points early on.
Mathiason buried a 3-pointer, then had a blocked shot that led to freshman Megan Benzschawel's layup that gave the Cheesemakers a 19-9 lead with 10:38 left in the first half. Mathiason then banked in a jumper and Emily Benzschawel drilled a 3 to extend the lead to 24-10 with 9:41 to go in the first half.
Later on, Mathiason came up with a steal and layup and Emily Benzschawel hit another 3 to give Monroe a 27-point advantage. Conway scored down low late in the first half to give the Cheesemakers their largest lead of the first half at 29-points, 45-16. Benzschawel knocked down three 3-pointers in the first half, and Monroe led 45-19 lead at the break.
"I think part of it is we try to preach to them you have to take advantage of your opportunities," Sam Mathiason said. "We have a lot of different people who can score. It could be someone different every night. When you are able to make the extra pass like that, I think they (Benzschawel and Sydney Mathiason) were the beneficiaries."
Conway chipped in 7 points and freshman Megan Benzschawel and Tostrud each added 6. The entire bench saw the court and nine different players scored for the Cheesemakers.
"It was great to get everyone minutes and an opportunity," Sam Mathiason said. "You never know when you will need someone for one or two minutes and it's nice for them to have some game experience."
