MONROE - Even with illness lurking throughout the roster, the Cheesemakers are flawless. Monroe played its entire available lineup and knocked off Elkhorn 62-28 Friday night, despite getting a scoreless game from Nebraska-Kearney recruit Ashley Hermanson.
"We had a couple kids under the weather, but I still think we came out and shot well," Cheesemakers coach Kevin Keen said. "We haven't seen a lot of zone and I thought we did a pretty good job. We need to do a little better job moving the ball, but I thought it was a pretty good game."
Monroe got into its offense early against the Lady Elks, a non-conference opponent, going up by as much as 10 points in the first quarter.
"We hit a couple perimeter shots in the first half that I thought got us going," Keen said. "Sometimes that kind of thing is contagious. Somebody starts making some shots and everybody does the same thing. It's good to see them step up and take those shots. We need to see more of that."
In the second, the Cheesemakers continued to pour in the baskets. Chelsea Brice scored nine of her 11 points in the frame and Monroe outscored Elkhorn 20-9, giving the Cheesemakers a 36-17 lead at the break.
"Making those early shots changes the game for me," Brice said. "My confidence goes up and I think it shows. I won't get so down on myself if other shots later in the game don't go down."
Brice has seen her playing time increase game-by-game. As a senior, she says the playing time alone is rewarding enough.
"Playing time is great. I love getting out there and playing," Brice said. "It means everything to play. I know that if I keep working, even better things will happen down the road."
Even in the second half, the Cheesemakers continued to roll. Monroe outscored Elkhorn 14-5 in the third quarter and 12-6 in the final eight minutes to seal the win.
"It was a good ball game for us. We got a chance to play everybody again," Keen said. "Jaclyn Ditter did a good job (filling in for Hermanson). She's done what we asked he to do. She did a good job defensively and is a solid rebounder and will take advantage of scoring opportunities when she gets them. She does a nice job coming off the bench."
Jamie Armstrong led Monroe with 12 points. Gwen Sutter had nine points, all in the first half, Kylee Ritschard finished with eight, and both Kristin McArdle and Kyleigh Sellnow had seven. All 11 players played the in the game, nine of which scored.
Monroe (10-0, 5-0 Badger South), ranked No. 1 in the state in Division 2 according to both the Associated Press and WisSports.net Coaches Polls, has the weekend to rest before traveling to Monona Grove Jan. 16.
"It will be a tough one out there next time against Monona Grove," Keen said.
"We had a couple kids under the weather, but I still think we came out and shot well," Cheesemakers coach Kevin Keen said. "We haven't seen a lot of zone and I thought we did a pretty good job. We need to do a little better job moving the ball, but I thought it was a pretty good game."
Monroe got into its offense early against the Lady Elks, a non-conference opponent, going up by as much as 10 points in the first quarter.
"We hit a couple perimeter shots in the first half that I thought got us going," Keen said. "Sometimes that kind of thing is contagious. Somebody starts making some shots and everybody does the same thing. It's good to see them step up and take those shots. We need to see more of that."
In the second, the Cheesemakers continued to pour in the baskets. Chelsea Brice scored nine of her 11 points in the frame and Monroe outscored Elkhorn 20-9, giving the Cheesemakers a 36-17 lead at the break.
"Making those early shots changes the game for me," Brice said. "My confidence goes up and I think it shows. I won't get so down on myself if other shots later in the game don't go down."
Brice has seen her playing time increase game-by-game. As a senior, she says the playing time alone is rewarding enough.
"Playing time is great. I love getting out there and playing," Brice said. "It means everything to play. I know that if I keep working, even better things will happen down the road."
Even in the second half, the Cheesemakers continued to roll. Monroe outscored Elkhorn 14-5 in the third quarter and 12-6 in the final eight minutes to seal the win.
"It was a good ball game for us. We got a chance to play everybody again," Keen said. "Jaclyn Ditter did a good job (filling in for Hermanson). She's done what we asked he to do. She did a good job defensively and is a solid rebounder and will take advantage of scoring opportunities when she gets them. She does a nice job coming off the bench."
Jamie Armstrong led Monroe with 12 points. Gwen Sutter had nine points, all in the first half, Kylee Ritschard finished with eight, and both Kristin McArdle and Kyleigh Sellnow had seven. All 11 players played the in the game, nine of which scored.
Monroe (10-0, 5-0 Badger South), ranked No. 1 in the state in Division 2 according to both the Associated Press and WisSports.net Coaches Polls, has the weekend to rest before traveling to Monona Grove Jan. 16.
"It will be a tough one out there next time against Monona Grove," Keen said.
