MILTON - Sydney Hilliard returned from a bothersome ankle injury and alongside Emily Benzschawel the two Cheesemakers had a night to remember. Hilliard scored a game-high 31 points and Benzschawel added 23 as Monroe used a strong second half to rout the previously second-place Red Hawks 70-48.
"They had some good looks," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said after the game. "Syd was able to get some shots off in the lane and some putbacks. Part of all of that is their teammates know to create space."
The duo scored 35 of Monroe's 39 points in the first half and outscored Milton in the game, 54-48.
"We had a nice start," Mathiason said.
Leading 39-28 at halftime, Monroe opened the second half blazing. After their first 10 possessions of the second, the Cheesemakers had outscored Milton 18-7 to break the game wide open at 57-35.
"Our defense was good and tight in the second half," said Mathiason after his team allowed just 20 points in the frame.
Kailey Harbort scored 18 points to lead Milton (7-4, 4-3 Badger South), and teammate Chloe Buescher added 16. Sydney Mathiason had 6 for Monroe (13-1, 7-0).
The Cheesemakers, ranked second in the WisSports.net Division 2 Coaches Poll, will play Beaver Dam in the Badger Conference crossover next weekend. Beaver Dam (9-2) is the No. 1-ranked team in Division 2. The Beavers also were the team that ended Monroe's season a year ago in the state semifinal.
"They had some good looks," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said after the game. "Syd was able to get some shots off in the lane and some putbacks. Part of all of that is their teammates know to create space."
The duo scored 35 of Monroe's 39 points in the first half and outscored Milton in the game, 54-48.
"We had a nice start," Mathiason said.
Leading 39-28 at halftime, Monroe opened the second half blazing. After their first 10 possessions of the second, the Cheesemakers had outscored Milton 18-7 to break the game wide open at 57-35.
"Our defense was good and tight in the second half," said Mathiason after his team allowed just 20 points in the frame.
Kailey Harbort scored 18 points to lead Milton (7-4, 4-3 Badger South), and teammate Chloe Buescher added 16. Sydney Mathiason had 6 for Monroe (13-1, 7-0).
The Cheesemakers, ranked second in the WisSports.net Division 2 Coaches Poll, will play Beaver Dam in the Badger Conference crossover next weekend. Beaver Dam (9-2) is the No. 1-ranked team in Division 2. The Beavers also were the team that ended Monroe's season a year ago in the state semifinal.
