STOUGHTON - The Monroe High School girls basketball team played toe-to-toe with fourth-ranked Stoughton for stretches during a WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal Friday night, but the Vikings withstood a Cheesemakers' rally to hang on for a 59-48 win.
Monroe (10-14) entered the game with two losses to the Vikings earlier this year by an average of 22 points.
The Cheesemakers battled back from a 17-point deficit in the second half and got within nine points of the Vikings after Monroe sophomore Sydney Mathiason hit two free throws with 1 minute, 42 seconds to go.
Mathiason scored a game-high 18 points and knocked down three 3-pointers.
"I was just really proud of our effort," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "Our kids never gave up and kept battling."
Sydney Mathiason scored 12 points in the first half. The Vikings used a 1-3-1 zone to force some turnovers late in the first half and built a 32-22 lead at the half. Stoughton (21-2) had seven offensive rebounds in the first half and finished the game with nine.
"In the second half we had some good shots that went in and out," Sam Mathiason said. "We had some good looks. They just didn't go in. That is the game of basketball. For most of the game, I thought we executed well."
Monroe senior Brooke Adams drilled a 3-pointer to cut the Vikings' lead to 49-39 with 6 minutes, 39 seconds left. Stoughton's Kendra Halverson scored six straight points to help the Vikings answer and push their lead to 55-39. Adams knocked down a 3-pointer with 4:45 left to trim the Vikings' advantage to 55-42. The Cheesemakers twice cut the Vikings' lead to nine points late in the second half.
Monroe freshman Sydney Hilliard added 15 points, and Adams chipped in nine points on three 3-pointers.
"You just hope it motivates them and makes them want to get better," Sam Mathiason said. "We all have to find ways to improve to try to take the next step and compete at the next level."
Stoughton junior Marissa Robson scored a team-high 17 points, and senior Hannah Hobson added 15 points. Stoughton's Payton Kahl chipped in 12 points.
Mathiason credited his senior players for continuing to work to improve.
"We have six seniors who have been unselfish, been good teammates and molded this team," he said. "You just hope your team learns from that."
Monroe (10-14) entered the game with two losses to the Vikings earlier this year by an average of 22 points.
The Cheesemakers battled back from a 17-point deficit in the second half and got within nine points of the Vikings after Monroe sophomore Sydney Mathiason hit two free throws with 1 minute, 42 seconds to go.
Mathiason scored a game-high 18 points and knocked down three 3-pointers.
"I was just really proud of our effort," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "Our kids never gave up and kept battling."
Sydney Mathiason scored 12 points in the first half. The Vikings used a 1-3-1 zone to force some turnovers late in the first half and built a 32-22 lead at the half. Stoughton (21-2) had seven offensive rebounds in the first half and finished the game with nine.
"In the second half we had some good shots that went in and out," Sam Mathiason said. "We had some good looks. They just didn't go in. That is the game of basketball. For most of the game, I thought we executed well."
Monroe senior Brooke Adams drilled a 3-pointer to cut the Vikings' lead to 49-39 with 6 minutes, 39 seconds left. Stoughton's Kendra Halverson scored six straight points to help the Vikings answer and push their lead to 55-39. Adams knocked down a 3-pointer with 4:45 left to trim the Vikings' advantage to 55-42. The Cheesemakers twice cut the Vikings' lead to nine points late in the second half.
Monroe freshman Sydney Hilliard added 15 points, and Adams chipped in nine points on three 3-pointers.
"You just hope it motivates them and makes them want to get better," Sam Mathiason said. "We all have to find ways to improve to try to take the next step and compete at the next level."
Stoughton junior Marissa Robson scored a team-high 17 points, and senior Hannah Hobson added 15 points. Stoughton's Payton Kahl chipped in 12 points.
Mathiason credited his senior players for continuing to work to improve.
"We have six seniors who have been unselfish, been good teammates and molded this team," he said. "You just hope your team learns from that."
