MILWAUKEE - The Monroe boys basketball team edged Wisconsin Rapids in dramatic fashion, 38-35 to win the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Shootout championship Sunday at Hartland Arrowhead.
With the game tied 35-35, Monroe's Kevin Frint drove in and hit a game-winning shot, which he was fouled on with about two seconds left. Frint converted the three-point play by sinking the free throw to secure the title.
"We just wanted to make it to Sunday," Monroe summer coach Joe Monroe said. "Our goal was to make it to the second day. We said, 'If we are going to drive two hours to come play, let's play more than one and go out and win it.' "
Mitch Tordoff, who led Monroe with 14 points, drilled three of his four 3-pointers at the start of the game to spark a 9-2 run.
"He's a prolific scorer," Monroe said of Tordoff. "When he is able to do that for us, it makes our job easier."
Monroe said this is the first time in five years Monroe advanced to the second day of the WBCA Shootout.
Monroe went 3-0 in pool play on Saturday defeating Wausau West, 46-29; Burlington Catholic Central, 59-57; and Mequon Homestead, 29-24.
In bracket play, Monroe posted wins over Milwaukee South and Greendale to get to the championship game. Three of the four teams in Monroe's pool play went on to win titles in bracket play.
"There weren't any softies," Monroe said. "There were a lot of talented kids and some pretty good Division 1 programs. Our defense carried us through games."
The linchpin defensively was Cullen Sampson, who often guarded the other team's best scorer.
"He (Sampson) has really stepped up over the summer and become our lockdown defender for the team," Monroe said.
Improving as basketball players and as a team is the focus in the summer tournaments.
"We like to win," Monroe said. "Ultimately, we want the kids to get better over time. Despite the success of this team, they are still very coachable. We don't have any premodonias. We have a group of kids who want to get better every single day."
Monroe is 5-1 in the Madison Edgewood league and will play Verona in the playoffs Wednesday night at the Edge Dome. If Monroe wins, it would play the winner of Madison La Follette and Edgewood.
"We are hoping to defend the championship," Monroe said.
With the game tied 35-35, Monroe's Kevin Frint drove in and hit a game-winning shot, which he was fouled on with about two seconds left. Frint converted the three-point play by sinking the free throw to secure the title.
"We just wanted to make it to Sunday," Monroe summer coach Joe Monroe said. "Our goal was to make it to the second day. We said, 'If we are going to drive two hours to come play, let's play more than one and go out and win it.' "
Mitch Tordoff, who led Monroe with 14 points, drilled three of his four 3-pointers at the start of the game to spark a 9-2 run.
"He's a prolific scorer," Monroe said of Tordoff. "When he is able to do that for us, it makes our job easier."
Monroe said this is the first time in five years Monroe advanced to the second day of the WBCA Shootout.
Monroe went 3-0 in pool play on Saturday defeating Wausau West, 46-29; Burlington Catholic Central, 59-57; and Mequon Homestead, 29-24.
In bracket play, Monroe posted wins over Milwaukee South and Greendale to get to the championship game. Three of the four teams in Monroe's pool play went on to win titles in bracket play.
"There weren't any softies," Monroe said. "There were a lot of talented kids and some pretty good Division 1 programs. Our defense carried us through games."
The linchpin defensively was Cullen Sampson, who often guarded the other team's best scorer.
"He (Sampson) has really stepped up over the summer and become our lockdown defender for the team," Monroe said.
Improving as basketball players and as a team is the focus in the summer tournaments.
"We like to win," Monroe said. "Ultimately, we want the kids to get better over time. Despite the success of this team, they are still very coachable. We don't have any premodonias. We have a group of kids who want to get better every single day."
Monroe is 5-1 in the Madison Edgewood league and will play Verona in the playoffs Wednesday night at the Edge Dome. If Monroe wins, it would play the winner of Madison La Follette and Edgewood.
"We are hoping to defend the championship," Monroe said.
