STOUGHTON - Stoughton used a press in the first quarter to spark a big run en route to rolling to a 51-31 win over Monroe Saturday.
The Vikings (10-5, 5-2 Badger South) forced turnovers with a press and that led to some layups in transition as Stoughton used a 21-5 run in the first quarter to build a double-digit lead.
"We knew they would press," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "It took us longer to execute and know what we needed to do to break the press. We got into too big of a hole."
The Vikings outscored the Cheesemakers (6-9, 1-5 Badger South) just 30-26 the final three quarters.
"We could have just folded it in after the first quarter," Mathiason said. "I thought our kids in the second half continued to work hard and compete."
Stoughton's Marrisa Robson scored a game-high 19 points. Monroe sophomore Lexi Hilliard scored a team-high 10 points. Junior teammate Brooke Adams and freshman Sydney Mathiason each added four points.
The Cheesemakers shot 64 percent from the free throw line (9 of 14).
"Our goal is to try to get to 65 percent," Mathiason said. "We were just under that. When you have those opportunities you try to make the most of them. When you are in a game situation, it's different than practice."
Monroe will host Madison Edgewood (9-5, 5-1 Badger South) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Edgewood has the same amount of losses in the conference as leader Oregon (6-1), but the Panthers have a half-game lead.
The game Tuesday starts a stretch of three straight home games. Monroe will host Milton at 2:45 p.m. Saturday and then host Monona Grove in a make-up game Feb. 3. The Cheesemakers plan to continue working on breaking a press.
"It's one of the things we will continue to work on," Mathiason said. "We just have to be a little more focused. You try to replicate (the press) in practice. Sometimes it doesn't always transfer as quickly. It's something we have to work on."
Edgewood along with Oregon, Stoughton and Mount Horeb are the other teams that will be in Monroe's regional grouping when the tournament starts Feb. 24.
"Edgewood will be a tough game," Mathiason said. "We will see where we are at with the other teams. We are just trying to get better each game."
The Vikings (10-5, 5-2 Badger South) forced turnovers with a press and that led to some layups in transition as Stoughton used a 21-5 run in the first quarter to build a double-digit lead.
"We knew they would press," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "It took us longer to execute and know what we needed to do to break the press. We got into too big of a hole."
The Vikings outscored the Cheesemakers (6-9, 1-5 Badger South) just 30-26 the final three quarters.
"We could have just folded it in after the first quarter," Mathiason said. "I thought our kids in the second half continued to work hard and compete."
Stoughton's Marrisa Robson scored a game-high 19 points. Monroe sophomore Lexi Hilliard scored a team-high 10 points. Junior teammate Brooke Adams and freshman Sydney Mathiason each added four points.
The Cheesemakers shot 64 percent from the free throw line (9 of 14).
"Our goal is to try to get to 65 percent," Mathiason said. "We were just under that. When you have those opportunities you try to make the most of them. When you are in a game situation, it's different than practice."
Monroe will host Madison Edgewood (9-5, 5-1 Badger South) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Edgewood has the same amount of losses in the conference as leader Oregon (6-1), but the Panthers have a half-game lead.
The game Tuesday starts a stretch of three straight home games. Monroe will host Milton at 2:45 p.m. Saturday and then host Monona Grove in a make-up game Feb. 3. The Cheesemakers plan to continue working on breaking a press.
"It's one of the things we will continue to work on," Mathiason said. "We just have to be a little more focused. You try to replicate (the press) in practice. Sometimes it doesn't always transfer as quickly. It's something we have to work on."
Edgewood along with Oregon, Stoughton and Mount Horeb are the other teams that will be in Monroe's regional grouping when the tournament starts Feb. 24.
"Edgewood will be a tough game," Mathiason said. "We will see where we are at with the other teams. We are just trying to get better each game."
