MONTICELLO - New Glarus senior Tanya Gruter grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed free throw and scored on the putback at the start of the third quarter.
It was just a snapshot of the Glarner Knights' season opening 54-45 win over Monticello Saturday, but the picture told the story of the Glarner Knights' power in the paint.
"We started the season knowing for us to do any good, we had to touch the ball down low," Gruter said, who scored a game-high 18 points. "The defense has to work around more. They get frustrated and that opens everything else up. We have an advantage down low. We have an advantage with our post players being faster and being able to dribble."
The season-opening game was marred by turnovers for both teams. Monticello committed 22 turnovers and New Glarus had 18. The Knights went on a 9-0 run that started at the end of the first quarter and spanned into the second quarter. New Glarus senior Michelle Preston drove in for a layup and was fouled with 1 minute, 31 seconds left in the first quarter. Preston converted the traditional three-point play to give the Knights a 13-8 lead.
New Glarus sophomore Elizabeth Foxen hit a jumper late in the first quarter to give the Knights a 17-8 lead. Alycia Atwell, who scored 10 of her 13 points in the first half, scored down low to start the second quarter to extend the Knights' lead to 19-8. Both teams pressed after each made basket.
New Glarus still has work to do, coach Braden Rindy said.
"I'm glad we got the win," he said. "We still have a lot to work on. Too many turnovers and trying to dribble out of the press."
New Glarus senior Alissa Siegenthaler added eight points for the Knights.
Monticello senior Kelsey Bernet gave her team a lift by scoring six points off the bench in the second quarter. Bernet scored a team-high 14 points to lead the Ponies and senior Mersadi Hilliard had nine.
Monticello came back from a 14-point fourth quarter deficit, and with sophomore Becky Nelson's steal and layup, the Knights' lead was cut to 45-36 with 5:29 left in the fourth quarter.
"We didn't front the post well," Monticello coach Tom Eveland said. "Our help-side was weak. We will go back to the old chalkboard and work on some defense."
Eveland, as a first-year coach for Monticello, has implemented a new offense, defense and press break.
"They are learning everything all new," Eveland said. "Give credit to New Glarus. They (Monticello) fought back to nine. We are not going to hang our heads."
It was just a snapshot of the Glarner Knights' season opening 54-45 win over Monticello Saturday, but the picture told the story of the Glarner Knights' power in the paint.
"We started the season knowing for us to do any good, we had to touch the ball down low," Gruter said, who scored a game-high 18 points. "The defense has to work around more. They get frustrated and that opens everything else up. We have an advantage down low. We have an advantage with our post players being faster and being able to dribble."
The season-opening game was marred by turnovers for both teams. Monticello committed 22 turnovers and New Glarus had 18. The Knights went on a 9-0 run that started at the end of the first quarter and spanned into the second quarter. New Glarus senior Michelle Preston drove in for a layup and was fouled with 1 minute, 31 seconds left in the first quarter. Preston converted the traditional three-point play to give the Knights a 13-8 lead.
New Glarus sophomore Elizabeth Foxen hit a jumper late in the first quarter to give the Knights a 17-8 lead. Alycia Atwell, who scored 10 of her 13 points in the first half, scored down low to start the second quarter to extend the Knights' lead to 19-8. Both teams pressed after each made basket.
New Glarus still has work to do, coach Braden Rindy said.
"I'm glad we got the win," he said. "We still have a lot to work on. Too many turnovers and trying to dribble out of the press."
New Glarus senior Alissa Siegenthaler added eight points for the Knights.
Monticello senior Kelsey Bernet gave her team a lift by scoring six points off the bench in the second quarter. Bernet scored a team-high 14 points to lead the Ponies and senior Mersadi Hilliard had nine.
Monticello came back from a 14-point fourth quarter deficit, and with sophomore Becky Nelson's steal and layup, the Knights' lead was cut to 45-36 with 5:29 left in the fourth quarter.
"We didn't front the post well," Monticello coach Tom Eveland said. "Our help-side was weak. We will go back to the old chalkboard and work on some defense."
Eveland, as a first-year coach for Monticello, has implemented a new offense, defense and press break.
"They are learning everything all new," Eveland said. "Give credit to New Glarus. They (Monticello) fought back to nine. We are not going to hang our heads."
