MONROE - After losing two games to Madison Edgewood last year that snapped an 11-game winning streak against the Crusaders, Monroe senior Alex Barenklau couldn't wait for a chance to start a new streak.
Barenklau scored a game-high 18 points and senior Joe Latimer added 14 to power Monroe to a 44-38 win over Edgewood, to remain in the driver's seat for a Badger South Conference championship.
"We haven't been (atop the conference) for a couple of years now," Barenklau said. "Hopefully, we can start another streak."
It was the tale of two halves for eighth-ranked Monroe (13-2, 5-1 Badger South). The Cheesemakers shot just 3-for-20 in the first half and trailed 18-10 going into the locker room. Edgewood's Paul Mutch scored a team-high 12 points off the bench for the Crusaders.
"We have scored a ton of points in second halves this year," Barenklau said. "In the second half, we did a better job of driving."
Barenklau and Latimer combined to score 28 of the Cheesemakers' 34 second half points. Barenklau scored 16 in the second half and Latimer had 12. Latimer kick-started an 11-2 third quarter run by drilling two 3-pointers. He scored on a three-point play with 3 minutes, 21 seconds to go in the third quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 21-20 lead.
"We came out with a lot more energy and urgency in the second half," Latimer said. "I knew I had to make that free throw and we had to get a stop and a score."
Monroe coach Pat Murphy wasn't happy with how the Cheesemakers started, but he liked how they found a way to score in the second half.
"Edgewood got every loose ball and out-quicked us," Murphy said of the first half. "They wanted it more than we did. We can't accept that.
"Once Joe hit a couple of jumpers in the third quarter that obviously opened some things up inside. I think Barenklau has some skills, and he took advantage of it. I'm proud of how we responded to adversity. But credit Edgewood. They came here on a mission. It's who can get a rebound or get a better shots. They did a better job in the first half and we did a better job in the second half. It was a typical Edgewood-Monroe game. We go after each other, play hard and afterwards we shook hands."
Barenklau hit a double-clutch jumper at the end of the third quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 25-23 lead. He continued to make plays in the fourth quarter. Barenklau drove to the basket for a layup to give the Cheesemakers a 29-25 lead with 6:42 left in the fourth quarter. Monroe senior Ben Murray knocked down a 3-pointer with 4:07 to go to give the Cheesemakers a 32-28 lead.
Barenklau slashed to the basket and banked in a layup with 2:53 to go to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to six points. Latimer then scored down low to give the Cheesemakers a 38-30 lead.
"It feels great," Latimer said. "When you go 3-9 in conference like we did last year the only way is up. We owe it to everyone on the team to work hard for the championship. Everyone has the same goal."
Murray scored five points and junior Kylan Helmeid scored all four of his points in the first half to keep the Cheesemakers within striking distance.
"We have a cushion, but we want to keep pushing," Helmeid said of the conference lead. "You can never have a big enough lead."
Monroe will play the top team from the Badger North, Waunakee, in a crossover game on Friday, Jan. 25.
"Going into the second half, we are just trying to get better against the teams we are playing," Barenklau said.
Barenklau scored a game-high 18 points and senior Joe Latimer added 14 to power Monroe to a 44-38 win over Edgewood, to remain in the driver's seat for a Badger South Conference championship.
"We haven't been (atop the conference) for a couple of years now," Barenklau said. "Hopefully, we can start another streak."
It was the tale of two halves for eighth-ranked Monroe (13-2, 5-1 Badger South). The Cheesemakers shot just 3-for-20 in the first half and trailed 18-10 going into the locker room. Edgewood's Paul Mutch scored a team-high 12 points off the bench for the Crusaders.
"We have scored a ton of points in second halves this year," Barenklau said. "In the second half, we did a better job of driving."
Barenklau and Latimer combined to score 28 of the Cheesemakers' 34 second half points. Barenklau scored 16 in the second half and Latimer had 12. Latimer kick-started an 11-2 third quarter run by drilling two 3-pointers. He scored on a three-point play with 3 minutes, 21 seconds to go in the third quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 21-20 lead.
"We came out with a lot more energy and urgency in the second half," Latimer said. "I knew I had to make that free throw and we had to get a stop and a score."
Monroe coach Pat Murphy wasn't happy with how the Cheesemakers started, but he liked how they found a way to score in the second half.
"Edgewood got every loose ball and out-quicked us," Murphy said of the first half. "They wanted it more than we did. We can't accept that.
"Once Joe hit a couple of jumpers in the third quarter that obviously opened some things up inside. I think Barenklau has some skills, and he took advantage of it. I'm proud of how we responded to adversity. But credit Edgewood. They came here on a mission. It's who can get a rebound or get a better shots. They did a better job in the first half and we did a better job in the second half. It was a typical Edgewood-Monroe game. We go after each other, play hard and afterwards we shook hands."
Barenklau hit a double-clutch jumper at the end of the third quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 25-23 lead. He continued to make plays in the fourth quarter. Barenklau drove to the basket for a layup to give the Cheesemakers a 29-25 lead with 6:42 left in the fourth quarter. Monroe senior Ben Murray knocked down a 3-pointer with 4:07 to go to give the Cheesemakers a 32-28 lead.
Barenklau slashed to the basket and banked in a layup with 2:53 to go to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to six points. Latimer then scored down low to give the Cheesemakers a 38-30 lead.
"It feels great," Latimer said. "When you go 3-9 in conference like we did last year the only way is up. We owe it to everyone on the team to work hard for the championship. Everyone has the same goal."
Murray scored five points and junior Kylan Helmeid scored all four of his points in the first half to keep the Cheesemakers within striking distance.
"We have a cushion, but we want to keep pushing," Helmeid said of the conference lead. "You can never have a big enough lead."
Monroe will play the top team from the Badger North, Waunakee, in a crossover game on Friday, Jan. 25.
"Going into the second half, we are just trying to get better against the teams we are playing," Barenklau said.
