Pain now.
Gains later.
That’s what Middleton girls basketball coach Jeff Kind hopes will transpire from the Cardinals’ trip to Monroe last Tuesday.
The Cheesemakers, who have reached the WIAA Division 2 state tournament the last two years, toppled Middleton, 59-50. But facing an elite team on the road should pay dividends down the road.
“I think we're improving,” said Middleton coach Jeff Kind. “Fewer turnovers, better defensive awareness, etc. But we have to get more consistency on offense.”
Middleton also rolled past Madison West, 68-25, last Friday and improved to 2-2 on the season and 2-1 in the Big Eight Conference. But the Cardinals’ biggest test was in Monroe.
Evie Coleman had a pair of three-pointers and led the Cardinals with 17 points. Sitori Tanin added 15.
Monroe’s Sydney Hilliard, a University of Wisconsin recruit, led all scorers with 20 points.