MONROE - On a team with so many offensive weapons, the Monroe girls basketball team proved that even when its two post players are nullified there's another shooting star ready to step up.
Monroe senior Emily Rufenacht provided a spark for the Cheesemakers by scoring nine of her game-high 15 points in the first half to lift Monroe to a 60-45 non-conference win Tuesday over Mount Horeb.
"It was one of those physical games," Monroe coach Kevin Keen said. "We are glad to survive with a victory."
Monroe (12-2, 7-1 Badger South), ranked fourth in the Associated Press Division 2 state poll, took control of the game with a 10-0 first-quarter run capped by Rufenacht driving into the lane and hitting a jumper. She then drilled a 3-pointer midway through the second quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 20-8 lead.
"It feels good to win a non-conference game," Rufenacht said. "They have kind of been a rival for us through the years."
Rufenacht also was the catalyst to the Cheesemakers' stifling defense. She dogged the Vikings' guards down the court with each possession.
"She's our senior leader," Keen said of Rufenacht. "She does a lot of things that go unnoticed."
Despite 13 of Mount Horeb's 21 turnovers coming in the first half, the Vikings remained within striking distance. Mount Horeb senior Jorden Johnson scored eight of her 15 points in the first half to keep the Vikings in the game. Johnson scored down low and was fouled with 1 minute, 6 seconds to go in the second quarter. She converted the three-point play at the free throw line and sliced what had been a 14-point Cheesemaker lead down to seven at 22-15.
The Vikings limited juniors Ashley Hermanson and Jamie Armstrong to four combined points on 2-for-10 shooting in the first half.
Rufenacht said the Vikings were aggressive in trying to shut down Hermanson and Armstrong.
"I knew the perimeters would have to drive," Rufenacht said. "I tried my best to drive to the basket so everyone would get opportunities."
Keen knows the Cheesemakers' 24-15 halftime lead could have been larger.
"We missed a lot of scoring opportunities in the first half," he said. "We didn't take advantage of some of those opportunities."
Monroe sophomore Kyleigh Sellnow drained a 3-pointer to start the third quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 27-15 lead. Then Rufenacht stole the ball and drove in for a layup. Monroe junior Morgan Kennison hit a jumper to push the lead to 37-20 with three minutes left in the third quarter.
Hermanson finished with 12 points and junior Gwen Sutter added 11. Sellnow had nine points and Armstrong chipped in eight.
The Cheesemakers assured a 13-point third quarter lead would hold up by using a 14-6 fourth-quarter run and some amazing free throw shooting - they were 14-of-17 in the fourth quarter.
Mount Horeb coach Tom Lesar drew a technical foul with 5:01 left and Armstrong made both free throws to give the Cheesemakers a 49-30 lead. Hermanson followed with a basket down low to give the Cheesemakers their largest lead of the game at 21.
"We talked about taking care of the basketball and not forcing things," Keen said. "I'm definitely pleased with that. I knew they were going to foul. You have to make your free throws and we did."
Monroe senior Emily Rufenacht provided a spark for the Cheesemakers by scoring nine of her game-high 15 points in the first half to lift Monroe to a 60-45 non-conference win Tuesday over Mount Horeb.
"It was one of those physical games," Monroe coach Kevin Keen said. "We are glad to survive with a victory."
Monroe (12-2, 7-1 Badger South), ranked fourth in the Associated Press Division 2 state poll, took control of the game with a 10-0 first-quarter run capped by Rufenacht driving into the lane and hitting a jumper. She then drilled a 3-pointer midway through the second quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 20-8 lead.
"It feels good to win a non-conference game," Rufenacht said. "They have kind of been a rival for us through the years."
Rufenacht also was the catalyst to the Cheesemakers' stifling defense. She dogged the Vikings' guards down the court with each possession.
"She's our senior leader," Keen said of Rufenacht. "She does a lot of things that go unnoticed."
Despite 13 of Mount Horeb's 21 turnovers coming in the first half, the Vikings remained within striking distance. Mount Horeb senior Jorden Johnson scored eight of her 15 points in the first half to keep the Vikings in the game. Johnson scored down low and was fouled with 1 minute, 6 seconds to go in the second quarter. She converted the three-point play at the free throw line and sliced what had been a 14-point Cheesemaker lead down to seven at 22-15.
The Vikings limited juniors Ashley Hermanson and Jamie Armstrong to four combined points on 2-for-10 shooting in the first half.
Rufenacht said the Vikings were aggressive in trying to shut down Hermanson and Armstrong.
"I knew the perimeters would have to drive," Rufenacht said. "I tried my best to drive to the basket so everyone would get opportunities."
Keen knows the Cheesemakers' 24-15 halftime lead could have been larger.
"We missed a lot of scoring opportunities in the first half," he said. "We didn't take advantage of some of those opportunities."
Monroe sophomore Kyleigh Sellnow drained a 3-pointer to start the third quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 27-15 lead. Then Rufenacht stole the ball and drove in for a layup. Monroe junior Morgan Kennison hit a jumper to push the lead to 37-20 with three minutes left in the third quarter.
Hermanson finished with 12 points and junior Gwen Sutter added 11. Sellnow had nine points and Armstrong chipped in eight.
The Cheesemakers assured a 13-point third quarter lead would hold up by using a 14-6 fourth-quarter run and some amazing free throw shooting - they were 14-of-17 in the fourth quarter.
Mount Horeb coach Tom Lesar drew a technical foul with 5:01 left and Armstrong made both free throws to give the Cheesemakers a 49-30 lead. Hermanson followed with a basket down low to give the Cheesemakers their largest lead of the game at 21.
"We talked about taking care of the basketball and not forcing things," Keen said. "I'm definitely pleased with that. I knew they were going to foul. You have to make your free throws and we did."
