MONROE - Defending Reedsburg's senior post duo of Tiernee Schrank and Sarah Ratajczyk proved to be a tall order for the Monroe girls basketball team Friday.
The 5-foot-11 Schrank scored a game-high 16 points and grabbed 16 rebounds and the 6-0 Ratajczyk scored 15 points and had 13 rebounds to power the Beavers to a 43-29 win over Monroe.
"We knew they had a strong post," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "We played zone in the first quarter and we didn't really slow them down. They hit a couple of threes on us. I don't think the zone was any better for us."
Ratajczyk and Schrank lived in the paint and the Beavers shot 35.5 percent, but out-rebounded the Cheesemakers 19-9 in the second half.
"We talked about trying to beat them to the spot," Mathiason said. "We felt like we had to help a little bit. She (Ratajczyk) did a good job of sealing and converting. Reedsburg did a really nice job of executing and getting the ball where she wanted it."
Reedsburg (12-8, 4-6 Badger North) went on a 13-2 run in the first quarter. The surge was sparked by Ratajczyk, who scored 11 points and had nine rebounds in the first half. Monroe senior Alacia Keegan picked up two fouls midway through the first quarter and was forced to the bench.
Monroe (8-13, 3-8 Badger South) shot 17.5 percent for the game (7 of 40) including 4 of 22 in the first half. The Cheesemakers trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half. The Cheesemakers trailed by just nine points at the half, 23-14 in part due to an ability to get to the free-throw line. The Cheesemakers shot 6 of 8 from the free throw line in the first half to stay within striking distance.
"We just had to pick up our intensity, play hard and play solid defense the whole game," said sophomore Lexi Hilliard, who scored a team-high 10 points.
Hilliard maintained the team has to stay confident during scoring droughts.
"I think it just comes back to making the extra pass so we are not forcing shots or feel like we have to rush shots," she said.
The Beavers got on a roll to start the second half. Schrank drilled a 3-pointer to start the third quarter. Reedsburg senior MacKenzie Templin then scored on a layup to give the Beavers a 28-14 lead with 7 minutes to go in the third quarter. The Cheesemakers trailed by as many as 17 points in the second half after Schrank scored on a layup with 7:17 left in the fourth quarter to give the Beavers a 39-22 lead.
Keegan scored eight points and had seven rebounds and freshman Sydney Mathiason added four points and five rebounds. Senior teammate MacKenzie Hesgard also chipped in four points.
Sam Mathiason said a coach is always concerned about rebounding. The Beavers out-rebounded the Cheesemakers 38-24.
"Part of that is they have five seniors who have the experience and know where to be and find that space," Mathiason said. "Rebounding is an important part. You have to limit teams to one shot. You have to get offensive rebounds and second-chance opportunities to score. If you don't it makes it harder."
Mathiason will have a WIAA Division 2 regional seeding meeting today. The Cheesemakers could get a matchup against Mount Horeb in the regional quarterfinals for the third straight year. Mount Horeb (9-11) has defeated Milton and split two games with Reedsburg this season.
The 5-foot-11 Schrank scored a game-high 16 points and grabbed 16 rebounds and the 6-0 Ratajczyk scored 15 points and had 13 rebounds to power the Beavers to a 43-29 win over Monroe.
"We knew they had a strong post," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "We played zone in the first quarter and we didn't really slow them down. They hit a couple of threes on us. I don't think the zone was any better for us."
Ratajczyk and Schrank lived in the paint and the Beavers shot 35.5 percent, but out-rebounded the Cheesemakers 19-9 in the second half.
"We talked about trying to beat them to the spot," Mathiason said. "We felt like we had to help a little bit. She (Ratajczyk) did a good job of sealing and converting. Reedsburg did a really nice job of executing and getting the ball where she wanted it."
Reedsburg (12-8, 4-6 Badger North) went on a 13-2 run in the first quarter. The surge was sparked by Ratajczyk, who scored 11 points and had nine rebounds in the first half. Monroe senior Alacia Keegan picked up two fouls midway through the first quarter and was forced to the bench.
Monroe (8-13, 3-8 Badger South) shot 17.5 percent for the game (7 of 40) including 4 of 22 in the first half. The Cheesemakers trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half. The Cheesemakers trailed by just nine points at the half, 23-14 in part due to an ability to get to the free-throw line. The Cheesemakers shot 6 of 8 from the free throw line in the first half to stay within striking distance.
"We just had to pick up our intensity, play hard and play solid defense the whole game," said sophomore Lexi Hilliard, who scored a team-high 10 points.
Hilliard maintained the team has to stay confident during scoring droughts.
"I think it just comes back to making the extra pass so we are not forcing shots or feel like we have to rush shots," she said.
The Beavers got on a roll to start the second half. Schrank drilled a 3-pointer to start the third quarter. Reedsburg senior MacKenzie Templin then scored on a layup to give the Beavers a 28-14 lead with 7 minutes to go in the third quarter. The Cheesemakers trailed by as many as 17 points in the second half after Schrank scored on a layup with 7:17 left in the fourth quarter to give the Beavers a 39-22 lead.
Keegan scored eight points and had seven rebounds and freshman Sydney Mathiason added four points and five rebounds. Senior teammate MacKenzie Hesgard also chipped in four points.
Sam Mathiason said a coach is always concerned about rebounding. The Beavers out-rebounded the Cheesemakers 38-24.
"Part of that is they have five seniors who have the experience and know where to be and find that space," Mathiason said. "Rebounding is an important part. You have to limit teams to one shot. You have to get offensive rebounds and second-chance opportunities to score. If you don't it makes it harder."
Mathiason will have a WIAA Division 2 regional seeding meeting today. The Cheesemakers could get a matchup against Mount Horeb in the regional quarterfinals for the third straight year. Mount Horeb (9-11) has defeated Milton and split two games with Reedsburg this season.
