MONROE - Coach Murphy netted another victory on Monroe's home floor.
Unfortunately for the Cheesemakers, it was Monroe boys coach Pat Murphy's sister-in-law - Verona head coach Angie - leading her Wildcats to a huge 56-34 victory Thursday and breaking the logjam atop the Badger South Conference.
After an even-keel first quarter left the score 8-8, Verona (6-4 overall, 4-0 Badger South) vamped up the pressure to get steals and easy transition buckets. It started on Monroe's opening possession with Wildcat freshman guard Rachel Cropp picking senior Calyn Bidlingmaier's pocket and racing down the right side for an easy layup and giving Verona a lead it wouldn't relinquish at 10-8.
Cropp's bucket spurred a 10-0 run for the Wildcats that featured two solid assists on breaks from senior Sadie Ewing. The first went to Aly Bucierka and the second to Jaclyn Cropp, making the score 18-8 and forcing Monroe head coach Kevin Keen to take a timeout with 5:17 left in the quarter.
Murphy instilled a running mentality into her Wildcats after three straight non-conference losses to Waunakee, Mukwonago and Columbus.
"They paid attention, they learned it in drills and they put it into action," Murphy said. "I'm proud of the way the girls played. They played intense, they played uptempo and they played smart."
Keen saw his Cheesemakers get outscored 22-4 in the second quarter. They trailed 30-12 at the halftime break with the Wildcats adding a solid inside game to complement their guards. Forwards Ali Tackett and Leslie Schaefer led Verona with 10 points apiece.
"The second quarter just killed us," Keen said. "We were backing our heels defensively, backing our heels offensively. We let them be the aggressor."
"We were very tentative, like we were playing scared. Why? I don't know."
Monroe was led by Jamie Armstrong with 14 points. Armstrong scored seven in the third quarter as the Cheesemakers tried to rally. Junior Emily Rufenacht had seven points in the loss and was disappointed Monroe couldn't get its wheels turning in the open court.
"You lose all your momentum. When you're going on transition and pushing the ball up and getting fast breaks, you have so much momentum," Rufenacht said.
Verona hadn't won in Monroe during Murphy's first three seasons at the helm. The junior Schaefer was pleased to kill two birds with one stone with the victory.
"It's a huge confidence booster," Schaefer said. "We came off three loses, but it's so nice to be able to win this game. We're really static."
The game may be the last time Verona visits Monroe for a while. Verona is moving to the Big Eight Conference at the beginning of next season, which is no skin off Murphy's back.
"It's nice to come in here and it's nice not to ever have to come back here unless we play non-conference," Murphy said. "Monroe's got a great program. They have tradition on their side. It's nice to come in here and steal one."
The Cheesemakers will travel to Verona for the rematch on Jan. 25.
Experience may have played a role in Thursday's game. Monroe only has six upperclassmen on its roster opposed to Verona's 12.
"We're really young, but we've got to handle them better than we did tonight," Keen said.
Unfortunately for the Cheesemakers, it was Monroe boys coach Pat Murphy's sister-in-law - Verona head coach Angie - leading her Wildcats to a huge 56-34 victory Thursday and breaking the logjam atop the Badger South Conference.
After an even-keel first quarter left the score 8-8, Verona (6-4 overall, 4-0 Badger South) vamped up the pressure to get steals and easy transition buckets. It started on Monroe's opening possession with Wildcat freshman guard Rachel Cropp picking senior Calyn Bidlingmaier's pocket and racing down the right side for an easy layup and giving Verona a lead it wouldn't relinquish at 10-8.
Cropp's bucket spurred a 10-0 run for the Wildcats that featured two solid assists on breaks from senior Sadie Ewing. The first went to Aly Bucierka and the second to Jaclyn Cropp, making the score 18-8 and forcing Monroe head coach Kevin Keen to take a timeout with 5:17 left in the quarter.
Murphy instilled a running mentality into her Wildcats after three straight non-conference losses to Waunakee, Mukwonago and Columbus.
"They paid attention, they learned it in drills and they put it into action," Murphy said. "I'm proud of the way the girls played. They played intense, they played uptempo and they played smart."
Keen saw his Cheesemakers get outscored 22-4 in the second quarter. They trailed 30-12 at the halftime break with the Wildcats adding a solid inside game to complement their guards. Forwards Ali Tackett and Leslie Schaefer led Verona with 10 points apiece.
"The second quarter just killed us," Keen said. "We were backing our heels defensively, backing our heels offensively. We let them be the aggressor."
"We were very tentative, like we were playing scared. Why? I don't know."
Monroe was led by Jamie Armstrong with 14 points. Armstrong scored seven in the third quarter as the Cheesemakers tried to rally. Junior Emily Rufenacht had seven points in the loss and was disappointed Monroe couldn't get its wheels turning in the open court.
"You lose all your momentum. When you're going on transition and pushing the ball up and getting fast breaks, you have so much momentum," Rufenacht said.
Verona hadn't won in Monroe during Murphy's first three seasons at the helm. The junior Schaefer was pleased to kill two birds with one stone with the victory.
"It's a huge confidence booster," Schaefer said. "We came off three loses, but it's so nice to be able to win this game. We're really static."
The game may be the last time Verona visits Monroe for a while. Verona is moving to the Big Eight Conference at the beginning of next season, which is no skin off Murphy's back.
"It's nice to come in here and it's nice not to ever have to come back here unless we play non-conference," Murphy said. "Monroe's got a great program. They have tradition on their side. It's nice to come in here and steal one."
The Cheesemakers will travel to Verona for the rematch on Jan. 25.
Experience may have played a role in Thursday's game. Monroe only has six upperclassmen on its roster opposed to Verona's 12.
"We're really young, but we've got to handle them better than we did tonight," Keen said.
