MONROE - Junior Taylor Barrett expects the Monroe girls basketball team to get a lot more work against pressure defenses after Fort Atkinson used a stifling halfcourt defense to knock off the Cheesemakers 40-27 Friday night.
"They were right up in our grill on defense," said Barrett, who scored a game-high 15 points. "I think we will have to work in practice on the pressure defense. I don't think we are used to it. I think there were some times we saw it (making a lob pass) and it was just a little too slow."
Monroe (0-4, 0-2 Badger South) was plagued by 22 turnovers. The Cheesemakers also struggled to score, shooting 30 percent (10-for-33).
"I knew coming in that it would kind of be one of those defensive struggles, and scoring would be tough to come by," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "Our struggle is finding that consistent offense and where we might get it. We have to find a way to be more consistent on the offensive end."
Early on, Barrett had the hot hand for the Cheesemakers. She scored seven of her 15 points in the first quarter to spark the Cheesemakers. Barrett scored down low and was fouled at the end of the first. She converted the three-point play by knocking down the free throw to tie the game at 9.
Fort Atkinson (2-1, 1-1) also struggled at the offensive end, committing 19 turnovers and shooting just 7 of 19 in the first half. Fort Atkinson senior Lauren Pfeifer scored eight points in the first half and the Blackhawks grabbed six offensive rebounds that led to several second chance scoring opportunities. The Blackhawks went on a 6-0 run to end the second quarter to take a 17-11 lead at the half.
"We just let them get too many easy baskets," Barrett said of the Blackhawks.
Monroe junior Ellie Grossen hit a jumper and Barrett made two free throws early in the third quarter to cut the Blackhawks' lead to 17-15. That's as close as the Cheesemakers would get. Fort Atkinson answered with a 10-2 run sparked by sophomore Emma Reed who drilled a 3-pointer and hit a jumper late in the third quarter to give the Blackhawks a 27-17 lead.
"Fort Atkinson did a nice job of playing pressure defense right at us," Mathiason said. "There were times where we made passes and times where we were a half step slow. We were seeing it. We just need to make good passes and cuts."
The Cheesemakers clawed their way back into the game at the start of the fourth quarter. Grossen hit a jumper with 6:23 to go in the fourth to slice the Blackhawks' lead to 27-21. Fort Atkinson junior Emma Bare later scored on a putback and senior Kaitlyn Hollman scored down low about midway through the fourth quarter to give the Blackhawks a 33-21 lead.
The Cheesemakers switched to a press and they got instant offense, as Barrett came up with a steal and scored on a layup with 3:31 left to cut the Blackhawks' lead to 33-25. Hollman scored eight of her team-high 10 points in the fourth quarter.
Monroe junior Chandra McGuire scored five points and Grossen had four. The Cheesemakers are still finding ways to score.
"If we are open we have to take the shot," Mathiason said. "They are used to having more time. At the varsity level, you have to be ready to shoot it and make those shots. We were being more aggressive taking it to the basket. Fort Atkinson did a good job of sealing off those lanes. Fort Atkinson is big and physical. There weren't a lot of openings. As we gain experience we will find where those openings will be."
Barrett is confident the Cheesemakers are just as good as Fort Atkinson.
"We match up pretty well with Fort Atkinson," she said. "They have some size, and we are athletic. They are a good team, and we are a good team. I think we will get them the next time around."
"They were right up in our grill on defense," said Barrett, who scored a game-high 15 points. "I think we will have to work in practice on the pressure defense. I don't think we are used to it. I think there were some times we saw it (making a lob pass) and it was just a little too slow."
Monroe (0-4, 0-2 Badger South) was plagued by 22 turnovers. The Cheesemakers also struggled to score, shooting 30 percent (10-for-33).
"I knew coming in that it would kind of be one of those defensive struggles, and scoring would be tough to come by," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "Our struggle is finding that consistent offense and where we might get it. We have to find a way to be more consistent on the offensive end."
Early on, Barrett had the hot hand for the Cheesemakers. She scored seven of her 15 points in the first quarter to spark the Cheesemakers. Barrett scored down low and was fouled at the end of the first. She converted the three-point play by knocking down the free throw to tie the game at 9.
Fort Atkinson (2-1, 1-1) also struggled at the offensive end, committing 19 turnovers and shooting just 7 of 19 in the first half. Fort Atkinson senior Lauren Pfeifer scored eight points in the first half and the Blackhawks grabbed six offensive rebounds that led to several second chance scoring opportunities. The Blackhawks went on a 6-0 run to end the second quarter to take a 17-11 lead at the half.
"We just let them get too many easy baskets," Barrett said of the Blackhawks.
Monroe junior Ellie Grossen hit a jumper and Barrett made two free throws early in the third quarter to cut the Blackhawks' lead to 17-15. That's as close as the Cheesemakers would get. Fort Atkinson answered with a 10-2 run sparked by sophomore Emma Reed who drilled a 3-pointer and hit a jumper late in the third quarter to give the Blackhawks a 27-17 lead.
"Fort Atkinson did a nice job of playing pressure defense right at us," Mathiason said. "There were times where we made passes and times where we were a half step slow. We were seeing it. We just need to make good passes and cuts."
The Cheesemakers clawed their way back into the game at the start of the fourth quarter. Grossen hit a jumper with 6:23 to go in the fourth to slice the Blackhawks' lead to 27-21. Fort Atkinson junior Emma Bare later scored on a putback and senior Kaitlyn Hollman scored down low about midway through the fourth quarter to give the Blackhawks a 33-21 lead.
The Cheesemakers switched to a press and they got instant offense, as Barrett came up with a steal and scored on a layup with 3:31 left to cut the Blackhawks' lead to 33-25. Hollman scored eight of her team-high 10 points in the fourth quarter.
Monroe junior Chandra McGuire scored five points and Grossen had four. The Cheesemakers are still finding ways to score.
"If we are open we have to take the shot," Mathiason said. "They are used to having more time. At the varsity level, you have to be ready to shoot it and make those shots. We were being more aggressive taking it to the basket. Fort Atkinson did a good job of sealing off those lanes. Fort Atkinson is big and physical. There weren't a lot of openings. As we gain experience we will find where those openings will be."
Barrett is confident the Cheesemakers are just as good as Fort Atkinson.
"We match up pretty well with Fort Atkinson," she said. "They have some size, and we are athletic. They are a good team, and we are a good team. I think we will get them the next time around."
