MONROE - The Cheesemakers boys basketball team has owned Madison Edgewood in the win column in recent years. After sweeping the Crusaders last season, Monroe kept the trend going in Tuesday's game en route to a 60-50 win.
"Any time you play (Edgewood) you know it's going to be a battle. Edgewood won't quit," Monroe head coach Pat Murphy said. "We were fortunate we kept them at bay. I was proud of the way our guys played."
The Cheesemakers led by as much as 17 points and held a double-digit lead for the final 22 minutes, 16 seconds of the 32-minute affair. Also, Monroe never trailed.
The Crusaders (4-3, 3-1), arguably Monroe's biggest rival in the Badger South and top contender for a conference championship, won the first eight games of the rivalry since joining the WIAA after the WISAA folded in 2000. Monroe has won 13 of the past 14 meetings, dating back to 2003, including a current 10-game winning streak.
"(Our) guys came in confident. I'm sure they (Edgewood) wish they could take a couple of their early possessions back because they didn't hit a whole lot of outside jumpers," Murphy said.
The Cheesemakers opened up the game rolling. Junior Bryan Tordoff drained a 3-pointer for the first game's first score and then drove through the defense moments later to make it 5-0.
Just seven seconds after entering the game with 5:26 left in the first quarter, junior guard Michael Barrett, who had missed the past two games with a concussion, made his presence known. Barrett nailed the first of five baskets in the first half.
"It was just nice to go out there and play someone different other than our team in practice," said Barrett, who finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and two assists.
Barrett also knows that his aggressiveness could end his season early, but he says he's just going to keep playing the way he always has.
"Once they tell you that if you get another one (concussion) you're done for the year it's a little scary, but you can't really think about it," he said.
By the end of the first quarter, Monroe led 14-7. By halftime, the difference moved to 32-18.
"For us it starts on defense. From there we just come down the court, read how guys are defending you, being confident and shooting the ball," Murphy said.
Monroe distributed the ball around the court all game. Nine Cheesemakers scored and three were in double figures - Tordoff (13 points), Kevin Frint (11) and Barrett. Frint also had nine rebounds and Tordoff finished with seven boards.
"This team is very unselfish. Bryan did a good job of passing to get some of those guys some lay ups. We got a lot of guys battling for playing time. As long as they keep trying to get better we have a chance," Murphy said. "It's going to get really interesting now. At least we are tied for first going into Christmas."
Junior Michael Turek, an undersized post player, make his second start of the season and scored nine points. Tordoff assisted Turek to the hoop three times in the second half before Turek fouled out.
"We've got a lot of weapons, so they were closing in on the other guys and were leaving me behind," Turek said. "But I can't say that's any different than if we were playing against a team with Tordoff and Barrett."
Monroe (5-1, 3-1) will spend the next week enjoying the holiday break before a Dec. 29 matchup at home against Milwaukee Custer (1-5).
"I told these guys that they definitely earned (the break). It gives them a chance to enjoy their families," Murphy said. "But now we don't play a conference game for two more weeks."
"Any time you play (Edgewood) you know it's going to be a battle. Edgewood won't quit," Monroe head coach Pat Murphy said. "We were fortunate we kept them at bay. I was proud of the way our guys played."
The Cheesemakers led by as much as 17 points and held a double-digit lead for the final 22 minutes, 16 seconds of the 32-minute affair. Also, Monroe never trailed.
The Crusaders (4-3, 3-1), arguably Monroe's biggest rival in the Badger South and top contender for a conference championship, won the first eight games of the rivalry since joining the WIAA after the WISAA folded in 2000. Monroe has won 13 of the past 14 meetings, dating back to 2003, including a current 10-game winning streak.
"(Our) guys came in confident. I'm sure they (Edgewood) wish they could take a couple of their early possessions back because they didn't hit a whole lot of outside jumpers," Murphy said.
The Cheesemakers opened up the game rolling. Junior Bryan Tordoff drained a 3-pointer for the first game's first score and then drove through the defense moments later to make it 5-0.
Just seven seconds after entering the game with 5:26 left in the first quarter, junior guard Michael Barrett, who had missed the past two games with a concussion, made his presence known. Barrett nailed the first of five baskets in the first half.
"It was just nice to go out there and play someone different other than our team in practice," said Barrett, who finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and two assists.
Barrett also knows that his aggressiveness could end his season early, but he says he's just going to keep playing the way he always has.
"Once they tell you that if you get another one (concussion) you're done for the year it's a little scary, but you can't really think about it," he said.
By the end of the first quarter, Monroe led 14-7. By halftime, the difference moved to 32-18.
"For us it starts on defense. From there we just come down the court, read how guys are defending you, being confident and shooting the ball," Murphy said.
Monroe distributed the ball around the court all game. Nine Cheesemakers scored and three were in double figures - Tordoff (13 points), Kevin Frint (11) and Barrett. Frint also had nine rebounds and Tordoff finished with seven boards.
"This team is very unselfish. Bryan did a good job of passing to get some of those guys some lay ups. We got a lot of guys battling for playing time. As long as they keep trying to get better we have a chance," Murphy said. "It's going to get really interesting now. At least we are tied for first going into Christmas."
Junior Michael Turek, an undersized post player, make his second start of the season and scored nine points. Tordoff assisted Turek to the hoop three times in the second half before Turek fouled out.
"We've got a lot of weapons, so they were closing in on the other guys and were leaving me behind," Turek said. "But I can't say that's any different than if we were playing against a team with Tordoff and Barrett."
Monroe (5-1, 3-1) will spend the next week enjoying the holiday break before a Dec. 29 matchup at home against Milwaukee Custer (1-5).
"I told these guys that they definitely earned (the break). It gives them a chance to enjoy their families," Murphy said. "But now we don't play a conference game for two more weeks."
