STOUGHTON - Junior Emily Benzschawel scored a game-high 20 points to help the Monroe girls basketball team knock off Stoughton 81-61 to clinch at least a share of their second straight Badger South Conference championship Friday.
"It's been a while since we have won in Stoughton's gym," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "To go out there and beat the second-place team knowing they needed a win, I'm just really proud of our kids for keep playing and pushing. I'm proud of the effort and all the time the kids have put into it. Hopefully, we can keep going along and get better."
Monroe junior Sydney Hilliard had 18 points, sophomore Grace Tostrud and senior Sydney Mathiason each pitched in 15, while freshman Megan Benzschawel added 8.
Monroe (17-2, 11-0 Badger South), ranked No. 4 in the Division 2 Associated Press state poll, trailed by as many as eight points in the first half and faced a one-point deficit at the half.
The Cheesemakers went on a 19-8 run to start the second half. Emily Benzschawel made two free throws to cap the surge to give the Cheesemakers a 51-41 lead.
"I just think defensively we were a little bit better," Mathiason said. "We made some shots and got on a roll. To have four in double figures and one with 8 (points), having that balance makes us a lot more difficult to guard."
Early on, Stoughton was up to the challenge. Viking senior Paige Halverson scored on a layup to give the Stoughton a 23-15 lead. Halverson scored 10 of the Vikings' first 23 points. Stoughton's Emma Kissling and Halverson hurt the Cheesemakers with penetration into the lane several times in the first half.
Halverson scored 12 of her team-high 15 points in the first half to give the Vikings a 33-32 lead. Stoughton hit five 3-pointers in the first half.
"We talked at halftime about doing a better job of closing out on them and staying in front of them," Mathiason said of Kissling and Halverson. "They hit four 3-pointers in the first half and that spread us out a little bit. They are just quick. When they got by us we were chasing a little bit."
The Cheesemakers can win the conference outright by beating Monona Grove in Monroe on Tuesday.
Edgerton 54,
Brodhead 52
BRODHEAD - Edgerton's Bethany Oren scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Crimson Tide to a comeback win over Brodhead Friday.
Brodhead (8-10, 5-9 Rock Valley) led by five points at the half. The Tide outscored the Cardinals 35-28 in the second half.
Edgerton's Jessica Danks added 15.
Brodhead senior Brooke Bescup scored a team-high 15 points. Junior Alexis Oliver pitched in 13 and senior Erin Nyhus chipped in 12.
"It's been a while since we have won in Stoughton's gym," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "To go out there and beat the second-place team knowing they needed a win, I'm just really proud of our kids for keep playing and pushing. I'm proud of the effort and all the time the kids have put into it. Hopefully, we can keep going along and get better."
Monroe junior Sydney Hilliard had 18 points, sophomore Grace Tostrud and senior Sydney Mathiason each pitched in 15, while freshman Megan Benzschawel added 8.
Monroe (17-2, 11-0 Badger South), ranked No. 4 in the Division 2 Associated Press state poll, trailed by as many as eight points in the first half and faced a one-point deficit at the half.
The Cheesemakers went on a 19-8 run to start the second half. Emily Benzschawel made two free throws to cap the surge to give the Cheesemakers a 51-41 lead.
"I just think defensively we were a little bit better," Mathiason said. "We made some shots and got on a roll. To have four in double figures and one with 8 (points), having that balance makes us a lot more difficult to guard."
Early on, Stoughton was up to the challenge. Viking senior Paige Halverson scored on a layup to give the Stoughton a 23-15 lead. Halverson scored 10 of the Vikings' first 23 points. Stoughton's Emma Kissling and Halverson hurt the Cheesemakers with penetration into the lane several times in the first half.
Halverson scored 12 of her team-high 15 points in the first half to give the Vikings a 33-32 lead. Stoughton hit five 3-pointers in the first half.
"We talked at halftime about doing a better job of closing out on them and staying in front of them," Mathiason said of Kissling and Halverson. "They hit four 3-pointers in the first half and that spread us out a little bit. They are just quick. When they got by us we were chasing a little bit."
The Cheesemakers can win the conference outright by beating Monona Grove in Monroe on Tuesday.
Edgerton 54,
Brodhead 52
BRODHEAD - Edgerton's Bethany Oren scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Crimson Tide to a comeback win over Brodhead Friday.
Brodhead (8-10, 5-9 Rock Valley) led by five points at the half. The Tide outscored the Cardinals 35-28 in the second half.
Edgerton's Jessica Danks added 15.
Brodhead senior Brooke Bescup scored a team-high 15 points. Junior Alexis Oliver pitched in 13 and senior Erin Nyhus chipped in 12.
