MONROE - Rolling into the week on a three-game winning streak, the Monroe girls basketball team had the opportunity to see how close they are to contending for a conference championship with a showdown against Badger South Conference co-leader Oregon Friday.
Coming off a 43-point loss to No. 2 ranked DeForest, the Cheesemakers showed they were up to the challenge in the first half against Oregon. Oregon senior Riley Rosemeyer scored a game-high 13 points and the Panthers broke the game open with a 10-4 third quarter run to roll to a 46-30 win over Monroe.
"After Tuesday, (a 59-16 loss to DeForest), I just wanted them to come in and compete," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "I was proud of how we competed. We just need to be able to get some outside shots to go down. We had some 2-on-1 situations when we broke their press in the second half. We executed and had some opportunities we just didn't finish. As we gain experience in those situations we will continue to improve."
For two quarters, it appeared Monroe (5-8, 1-4 Badger South) could put themselves in a position to upset the Panthers (6-5, 5-1 Badger South). Despite 11 turnovers in the first half, the Cheesemakers trailed the Panthers 19-14 at the half. The Cheesemakers finished with 21 turnovers trying to attack the Panthers' press.
With Rosemeyer battling foul trouble, the Panthers' third quarter spurt was led by senior Kelsey Jahn and junior Cassidy Nikolai. Nikolai converted a conventional three-point play and Jahn scored on a layup with 1 minute, 47 seconds to go in the third quarter to give the Panthers a 33-20 lead.
The Cheesemakers shot just 30.4 percent in the second half (7 of 23). Monroe senior Alacia Keegan scored eight of her team-high 10 points in the second half.
"We just had a hard time in the third quarter getting any baskets," Mathiason said. "They were able to get a lot more conversions. Rosemeyer and Jahn were both all-conference players last year and they have a little more experience."
Monroe sophomore Jordan Hirsbrunner added seven points. Freshman teammate Sydney Mathiason had eight rebounds and two blocks.
"I think in the first half we did a better job of playing with enthusiasm," Keegan said. "In the second half, it didn't go our way at the start and we lost our focus and enthusiasm. Oregon is a tough and good team."
Hirsbrunner scored on a layup and then scored down low with about 20 seconds to go in the third quarter to slice the Panthers' lead to 33-24. That's as close as the Cheesemakers would get.
Keegan picked up her fourth foul with 7:31 left in the fourth quarter. Oregon freshman Ellen McCorkle scored 10 points and Jahn added nine points.
"We proved that we can play with one of the top teams in the conference," Keegan said. "It will keep us hungry."
Coming off a 43-point loss to No. 2 ranked DeForest, the Cheesemakers showed they were up to the challenge in the first half against Oregon. Oregon senior Riley Rosemeyer scored a game-high 13 points and the Panthers broke the game open with a 10-4 third quarter run to roll to a 46-30 win over Monroe.
"After Tuesday, (a 59-16 loss to DeForest), I just wanted them to come in and compete," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "I was proud of how we competed. We just need to be able to get some outside shots to go down. We had some 2-on-1 situations when we broke their press in the second half. We executed and had some opportunities we just didn't finish. As we gain experience in those situations we will continue to improve."
For two quarters, it appeared Monroe (5-8, 1-4 Badger South) could put themselves in a position to upset the Panthers (6-5, 5-1 Badger South). Despite 11 turnovers in the first half, the Cheesemakers trailed the Panthers 19-14 at the half. The Cheesemakers finished with 21 turnovers trying to attack the Panthers' press.
With Rosemeyer battling foul trouble, the Panthers' third quarter spurt was led by senior Kelsey Jahn and junior Cassidy Nikolai. Nikolai converted a conventional three-point play and Jahn scored on a layup with 1 minute, 47 seconds to go in the third quarter to give the Panthers a 33-20 lead.
The Cheesemakers shot just 30.4 percent in the second half (7 of 23). Monroe senior Alacia Keegan scored eight of her team-high 10 points in the second half.
"We just had a hard time in the third quarter getting any baskets," Mathiason said. "They were able to get a lot more conversions. Rosemeyer and Jahn were both all-conference players last year and they have a little more experience."
Monroe sophomore Jordan Hirsbrunner added seven points. Freshman teammate Sydney Mathiason had eight rebounds and two blocks.
"I think in the first half we did a better job of playing with enthusiasm," Keegan said. "In the second half, it didn't go our way at the start and we lost our focus and enthusiasm. Oregon is a tough and good team."
Hirsbrunner scored on a layup and then scored down low with about 20 seconds to go in the third quarter to slice the Panthers' lead to 33-24. That's as close as the Cheesemakers would get.
Keegan picked up her fourth foul with 7:31 left in the fourth quarter. Oregon freshman Ellen McCorkle scored 10 points and Jahn added nine points.
"We proved that we can play with one of the top teams in the conference," Keegan said. "It will keep us hungry."
