MONROE - The 57-26 win of the undefeated and top-ranked Cheesemakers on Senior Night over Monona Grove was just a sidebar to Saturday's jumpstart "Hoops for Haiti" fund-raising event.
Several Monroe High School organizations, including the boys and girls basketball teams, raised money Saturday night for the Red Cross and the victims of Haiti. More than $4,000 was raised.
"I'm in complete shock that we raised that much. It's amazing. So many people came together and really helped to pull it off," said Jamie Armstrong, Monroe's senior forward and organizer of the event. "It means a lot to me that people not only cared about basketball, but for other people in need. For a small town, the people in this community are amazing."
The entire entryway to the high school, as well as the M-Room, was lined with tables for silent auctions, donations and T-shirts.
"I thought it was cool that everyone got involved - the school, the community. I appreciate what everyone did."
Cheesemakers head coach Kevin Keen was proud of the way his senior and her teammates put forth the effort involved into developing such an event.
"It's good. It's a nice tribute for these seniors to get all of these people here on Senior Night," he said.
Armstrong starred on the court as well. She had 19 points, including 10 in the first half, as the Cheesemakers clinched their seventh-straight Badger South title.
Monroe (19-0, 10-0) jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first, with the Silver Eagles (6-13, 3-7) finally getting on the board with 46 seconds left in the period. A Kristin McArdle pass to Ashley Hermanson in the paint with 17 seconds left made it 16-2 headed into the second. The Cheesemakers finished the game with 14 assists.
A slow second kept the difference at 14 points at halftime, 22-8.
Monona Grove opened the third with a short-lived offensive outburst. Madeline Ruid scored in the paint twice to bring Monroe's lead back to 10 points, but the Eagles would never get any closer.
Hermanson, a senior, hit a free throw and took a pass on the block from Armstrong to make it a 13-point game. Senior Gwen Sutter then found Armstrong moments later for another hoop, a visual that has been a staple at Monroe in each of the last four season.
With only one more home game, a playoff game in the regional semifinal, Sutter said she hasn't quite realized her high school career is nearly over.
"I don't know as if it has really hit me yet that this was our last home conference game," she said. Sutter's only points came on a 3-pointer to open the game's scoring.
Sutter, Armstrong and Hermanson have been starters on the varsity since they were freshmen. In that time, they have won a state title in two appearances and won the Badger South each year.
"We're very pleased - seven in a row and four with these seniors," Keen said. "All of these seniors have had outstanding careers and I'm really happy for them."
Each of Monroe's players saw playing time and eight scored in the game. Hermanson was second in scoring with 12 points, junior forward Jaclyn Ditter had eight and junior guard Kyleigh Sellnow hit two 3s for six points.
Monroe travels to Verona (16-2, 14-2 Big Eight) Tuesday to rekindle an old conference rivalry. The Wildcats are ranked 13th in Division 1, according to the WisSports.net Coaches Poll.
Several Monroe High School organizations, including the boys and girls basketball teams, raised money Saturday night for the Red Cross and the victims of Haiti. More than $4,000 was raised.
"I'm in complete shock that we raised that much. It's amazing. So many people came together and really helped to pull it off," said Jamie Armstrong, Monroe's senior forward and organizer of the event. "It means a lot to me that people not only cared about basketball, but for other people in need. For a small town, the people in this community are amazing."
The entire entryway to the high school, as well as the M-Room, was lined with tables for silent auctions, donations and T-shirts.
"I thought it was cool that everyone got involved - the school, the community. I appreciate what everyone did."
Cheesemakers head coach Kevin Keen was proud of the way his senior and her teammates put forth the effort involved into developing such an event.
"It's good. It's a nice tribute for these seniors to get all of these people here on Senior Night," he said.
Armstrong starred on the court as well. She had 19 points, including 10 in the first half, as the Cheesemakers clinched their seventh-straight Badger South title.
Monroe (19-0, 10-0) jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first, with the Silver Eagles (6-13, 3-7) finally getting on the board with 46 seconds left in the period. A Kristin McArdle pass to Ashley Hermanson in the paint with 17 seconds left made it 16-2 headed into the second. The Cheesemakers finished the game with 14 assists.
A slow second kept the difference at 14 points at halftime, 22-8.
Monona Grove opened the third with a short-lived offensive outburst. Madeline Ruid scored in the paint twice to bring Monroe's lead back to 10 points, but the Eagles would never get any closer.
Hermanson, a senior, hit a free throw and took a pass on the block from Armstrong to make it a 13-point game. Senior Gwen Sutter then found Armstrong moments later for another hoop, a visual that has been a staple at Monroe in each of the last four season.
With only one more home game, a playoff game in the regional semifinal, Sutter said she hasn't quite realized her high school career is nearly over.
"I don't know as if it has really hit me yet that this was our last home conference game," she said. Sutter's only points came on a 3-pointer to open the game's scoring.
Sutter, Armstrong and Hermanson have been starters on the varsity since they were freshmen. In that time, they have won a state title in two appearances and won the Badger South each year.
"We're very pleased - seven in a row and four with these seniors," Keen said. "All of these seniors have had outstanding careers and I'm really happy for them."
Each of Monroe's players saw playing time and eight scored in the game. Hermanson was second in scoring with 12 points, junior forward Jaclyn Ditter had eight and junior guard Kyleigh Sellnow hit two 3s for six points.
Monroe travels to Verona (16-2, 14-2 Big Eight) Tuesday to rekindle an old conference rivalry. The Wildcats are ranked 13th in Division 1, according to the WisSports.net Coaches Poll.
