MONROE - Playing their sixth game in the past 13 days, Monroe junior Alacia Keegan wasn't happy with how the Cheesemakers performed against Badger South title contender Oregon Friday.
Oregon senior Maddy Gits, a Saint Louis University basketball recruit, scored a game-high 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to power the Panthers to a 55-31 win over the Cheesemakers (5-14, 2-8 Badger South).
"I feel like after a long week with three games we just didn't come out with the intensity we needed," said Keegan, who scored a team-high nine points. "I don't think we came out with the aggression we needed to."
Oregon (14-4, 8-2 Badger South) broke the game open with a 16-4 run in the first quarter. Monroe sophomore Maddie Kallgren hit two shots to slice the Panthers' lead to 16-8 at the end of the first quarter.
Gits scored 14 of her 16 points in the first half. The Panthers outscored the Cheesemakers 16-2 in the second quarter to take a 22-point lead at the half. Oregon junior Riley Rosemeyer, scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half, to propel the Panthers.
"There is a reason why she earned a scholarship to play at Saint Louis," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said of Gits. "She's obviously a very good player. She can shoot it from the outside so you have to guard her on the perimeter. She's good at using her body and sealing it off."
With Oregon, Monona Grove, Stoughton and Mount Horeb in Monroe's regional, the Cheesemakers could face one of the Badger South rivals again in the tournament.
"The fact is we have played six games in two weeks," Mathiason said. "Did it affect us? I don't know. You just try to keep working hard to get better and be consistent for longer stretches of time."
The Panthers had 10 offensive rebounds in the first half and took advantage of the second-chance scoring opportunities.
"We didn't do a good job of boxing out," Keegan said. "It's something we have to work on and keep talking about. When we did box out we didn't get the ball and we weren't aggressive going after it."
The Cheesemakers got some open shots in the first half, but struggled knocking down shots.
"I thought we executed pretty well in the first half, we just missed some good looks," Mathiason said. "It's always hard when you execute well, you get good shots and they don't go in.
"We gave them two or three shots a possession and they are a good team and are bound to make them or get fouled and get free throws."
Monroe senior Taylor Barrett scored five points and senior Whitney Disch added four points and had a team-high seven rebounds.
The Panthers led by 30 points or more most of the second half. Oregon senior Katie Boehnen hit a jumper late in the third quarter to give the Panthers' their largest lead at 50-14.
"I think we are playing pretty good defense in the second half," Mathiason said. "They made some tough runners to the basket. Give Oregon credit for being able to get to the basket and score."
Monroe will play at Fort Atkinson Tuesday, Feb. 18 and will play at Reedsburg Friday, Feb. 22. The Cheesemakers will then have a seeding meeting Sunday, Feb. 23 before the regular season finale Thursday, Feb. 27 when they host Monona Grove.
"We know what it takes to win games," Keegan said. "We just have to put it all together and finish the season strong."
Oregon senior Maddy Gits, a Saint Louis University basketball recruit, scored a game-high 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to power the Panthers to a 55-31 win over the Cheesemakers (5-14, 2-8 Badger South).
"I feel like after a long week with three games we just didn't come out with the intensity we needed," said Keegan, who scored a team-high nine points. "I don't think we came out with the aggression we needed to."
Oregon (14-4, 8-2 Badger South) broke the game open with a 16-4 run in the first quarter. Monroe sophomore Maddie Kallgren hit two shots to slice the Panthers' lead to 16-8 at the end of the first quarter.
Gits scored 14 of her 16 points in the first half. The Panthers outscored the Cheesemakers 16-2 in the second quarter to take a 22-point lead at the half. Oregon junior Riley Rosemeyer, scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half, to propel the Panthers.
"There is a reason why she earned a scholarship to play at Saint Louis," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said of Gits. "She's obviously a very good player. She can shoot it from the outside so you have to guard her on the perimeter. She's good at using her body and sealing it off."
With Oregon, Monona Grove, Stoughton and Mount Horeb in Monroe's regional, the Cheesemakers could face one of the Badger South rivals again in the tournament.
"The fact is we have played six games in two weeks," Mathiason said. "Did it affect us? I don't know. You just try to keep working hard to get better and be consistent for longer stretches of time."
The Panthers had 10 offensive rebounds in the first half and took advantage of the second-chance scoring opportunities.
"We didn't do a good job of boxing out," Keegan said. "It's something we have to work on and keep talking about. When we did box out we didn't get the ball and we weren't aggressive going after it."
The Cheesemakers got some open shots in the first half, but struggled knocking down shots.
"I thought we executed pretty well in the first half, we just missed some good looks," Mathiason said. "It's always hard when you execute well, you get good shots and they don't go in.
"We gave them two or three shots a possession and they are a good team and are bound to make them or get fouled and get free throws."
Monroe senior Taylor Barrett scored five points and senior Whitney Disch added four points and had a team-high seven rebounds.
The Panthers led by 30 points or more most of the second half. Oregon senior Katie Boehnen hit a jumper late in the third quarter to give the Panthers' their largest lead at 50-14.
"I think we are playing pretty good defense in the second half," Mathiason said. "They made some tough runners to the basket. Give Oregon credit for being able to get to the basket and score."
Monroe will play at Fort Atkinson Tuesday, Feb. 18 and will play at Reedsburg Friday, Feb. 22. The Cheesemakers will then have a seeding meeting Sunday, Feb. 23 before the regular season finale Thursday, Feb. 27 when they host Monona Grove.
"We know what it takes to win games," Keegan said. "We just have to put it all together and finish the season strong."
