MONROE - Monroe senior guard Gwen Sutter didn't forget what a home court advantage feels like.
Sutter and the Cheesemakers used a balanced offensive attack to cruise to a 60-32 win over Stoughton Tuesday night. It was Monroe's first home game since Dec. 4, a span, which included six road games.
"Home gyms are always fun to play in," Sutter said. "It feels good to play at home. We didn't have to go on the snowy roads on the bus."
Monroe (9-0, 4-0 Badger South), ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Division 2 state poll, scored seven consecutive points to start the first quarter. Stoughton stormed back and tied the game at 7. The Cheesemakers closed the first quarter on a 9-0 run. Monroe senior Ashley Hermanson, who scored a team-high 10 points and had eight rebounds, scored down low at the end of the first quarter and was fouled. She converted the conventional three-point play to give the Cheesemakers a 16-7 lead.
The Cheesemakers went on a 19-6 second-quarter run. Hermanson scored down low and was fouled. She made the free throw to convert the three-point play with 5 minutes, 49 seconds to go in the second quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 20-9 lead.
Monroe coach Kevin Keen said this is the longest stretch between home games in his coaching tenure.
"We did a great job defensively," Keen said. "We took control from there. We had some nice passes and assists and cruised from there."
The Vikings used a 1-2-2 zone to take away Hermanson and Jamie Armstrong inside. Monroe junior Kylee Ritschard drilled a 3-pointer with 2:29 left in the second quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 29-11 lead. Fellow junior Kristin McArdle hit two jumpers and Jaclyn Ditter scored down low to spark the Cheesemakers to a 37-15 halftime lead.
"Once people stop our post, our guards can take it and shoot," Hermanson said. "It works both ways. Coach told us we had to play with intensity. We just had to pound it in."
Sutter and Armstrong each scored nine points. Ditter added eight points off the bench. Monroe had 24 points from its bench and nine players scored.
"We had a lot of contributions from a lot of different people," Keen said. "That will make us a difficult ball club. Kylee was starting earlier in the year. Now that Kyleigh Sellnow is back, she is coming off the bench. She (Ritschard) has been doing a terrific job. Jaclyn Ditter has been solid in the post coming in for Jamie (Armstrong) and Ashley (Hermanson.) Kristin McArdle is getting some minutes."
The Cheesemakers didn't let up in the second half. Sutter opened the third quarter by draining a 3-pointer to give the Cheesemakers an insurmountable 40-15 lead. Monroe junior Abby Jacobson came in off the bench and hit a 3-pointer; she finished with five points.
The Cheesemakers made 13 of 19 free throws.
In close games, the Cheesemakers take pride in being able to hit clutch free throws.
"I think we could have been better from there," Sutter said. "I think we can improve on that in future games."
Monroe did turn the ball over 15 times in the second half. Keen doesn't expect the high turnover rate to become a trend.
"I'm always concerned with turnovers," Keen said. "It will give us something to work on this week."
Monroe will host Elkhorn in a rescheduled game Friday night.
Sutter and the Cheesemakers used a balanced offensive attack to cruise to a 60-32 win over Stoughton Tuesday night. It was Monroe's first home game since Dec. 4, a span, which included six road games.
"Home gyms are always fun to play in," Sutter said. "It feels good to play at home. We didn't have to go on the snowy roads on the bus."
Monroe (9-0, 4-0 Badger South), ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Division 2 state poll, scored seven consecutive points to start the first quarter. Stoughton stormed back and tied the game at 7. The Cheesemakers closed the first quarter on a 9-0 run. Monroe senior Ashley Hermanson, who scored a team-high 10 points and had eight rebounds, scored down low at the end of the first quarter and was fouled. She converted the conventional three-point play to give the Cheesemakers a 16-7 lead.
The Cheesemakers went on a 19-6 second-quarter run. Hermanson scored down low and was fouled. She made the free throw to convert the three-point play with 5 minutes, 49 seconds to go in the second quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 20-9 lead.
Monroe coach Kevin Keen said this is the longest stretch between home games in his coaching tenure.
"We did a great job defensively," Keen said. "We took control from there. We had some nice passes and assists and cruised from there."
The Vikings used a 1-2-2 zone to take away Hermanson and Jamie Armstrong inside. Monroe junior Kylee Ritschard drilled a 3-pointer with 2:29 left in the second quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 29-11 lead. Fellow junior Kristin McArdle hit two jumpers and Jaclyn Ditter scored down low to spark the Cheesemakers to a 37-15 halftime lead.
"Once people stop our post, our guards can take it and shoot," Hermanson said. "It works both ways. Coach told us we had to play with intensity. We just had to pound it in."
Sutter and Armstrong each scored nine points. Ditter added eight points off the bench. Monroe had 24 points from its bench and nine players scored.
"We had a lot of contributions from a lot of different people," Keen said. "That will make us a difficult ball club. Kylee was starting earlier in the year. Now that Kyleigh Sellnow is back, she is coming off the bench. She (Ritschard) has been doing a terrific job. Jaclyn Ditter has been solid in the post coming in for Jamie (Armstrong) and Ashley (Hermanson.) Kristin McArdle is getting some minutes."
The Cheesemakers didn't let up in the second half. Sutter opened the third quarter by draining a 3-pointer to give the Cheesemakers an insurmountable 40-15 lead. Monroe junior Abby Jacobson came in off the bench and hit a 3-pointer; she finished with five points.
The Cheesemakers made 13 of 19 free throws.
In close games, the Cheesemakers take pride in being able to hit clutch free throws.
"I think we could have been better from there," Sutter said. "I think we can improve on that in future games."
Monroe did turn the ball over 15 times in the second half. Keen doesn't expect the high turnover rate to become a trend.
"I'm always concerned with turnovers," Keen said. "It will give us something to work on this week."
Monroe will host Elkhorn in a rescheduled game Friday night.
