MONROE - Basketball has deep meaning for Monroe High School senior Alex Tordoff.
"Basketball has been a big part of my life," Tordoff said. "I cherish basketball a lot. It's very special to me. I hope to continue on in the game as a referee and have a son or a daughter to coach some day."
Both Alex's older brothers, Mitch and Bryan, were star players for the MHS boys basketball program. Mitch Tordoff was on the 2007 WIAA Division 2 state champion team and still owns the Division 2 state record for the most 3-pointers made (eight) in a state tournament game in 2009. Mitch and Bryan both were on the Cheesemakers teams that lost in the state semifinals in 2008 and finished as the Division 2 state runner-up in 2009.
Bryan, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee alumnus, joined the Air Force and is training to become a helicopter pilot.
Mitch went on to play basketball his freshman year at UW-Platteville. As a sophomore he played at Carroll College before transferring to UW-Milwaukee. Mitch now lives in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and is a certified public accountant
"The Monroe basketball program has been a family tradition," Mitch said. "Now living out of state I realize how much the community means to sports programs. I didn't take it for granted when I was in high school, and Alex doesn't either. I'm proud of my little brother."
The Cheesemakers have a 6-6 record and have won two straight games and three of its past four games. Alex has played a critical role in the team's success. He is in his fourth year as a starter and is averaging a team-best 15.3 points per game.
"Coming into my fourth year and senior season, I thought I should step up as a leader," he said. "I think I have done that. As a group, I think we are really coming together and hitting our stride."
Like his older brothers, Alex started playing basketball at an early age. His father, Jerry, started him with the Dribbling Dinosaurs program through the Green County YMCA when he was in first grade. That is where he first learned the fundamentals of dribbling, shooting and passing.
"My father got all three of us started in basketball," he said. "I have really tried to model my game after my two brothers."
Mitch recalls how much his father wanted to instill a sense of life lessons like hard work and persevering through adversity by playing basketball.
"My dad instilled that in us when we were young," Mitch said. "The fun part of being in a team is riding out the tough times and pulling together through the good times. It's the same when you go to a job interview. You want to go and do your best."
Jerry is a volunteer assistant coach for the Monroe boys basketball team. For five years, Jerry coached Alex and a traveling Monroe basketball team through tournaments from fourth through eighth grade. During the traveling basketball tournaments is where Alex learned to become a student of the game.
"It's a special connection we have on the court," Alex said he has with his father.
Jerry understands how to walk the fine line between being a volunteer assistant coach and a father on the bench.
"I have to keep my role as an assistant coach and the team's success in mind," Jerry said. "I really just want to let him compete and not hover over him. He's an experienced player. He just needs space to compete and be his own player."
Alex was just in second grade when his older brother, Mitch, and the Cheesemakers won the 2007 state championship. The Cheesemakers defeated Port Washington 52-46 in the state championship game. The Port Washington team featured a freshman named Josh Gasser, who went on to play for the University of Wisconsin. Alex recalls how much hoopla the Monroe team stirred up around town.
"I remember how they were a tough and talented team and were the underdog," he said. "It was fun for my family and the whole town."
Alex plans to attend UW-Whitewater in the fall and intends to major in accounting. Basketball will not be a part of his life at the next level.
"I want to focus on my academics and maybe earn a little money through college," he said.
Alex would like to write a similar script to his older brothers as he closes out his final season playing basketball.
"I want to finish my last year of basketball strong and really give it my all," he said. "This is my final shot."
"Basketball has been a big part of my life," Tordoff said. "I cherish basketball a lot. It's very special to me. I hope to continue on in the game as a referee and have a son or a daughter to coach some day."
Both Alex's older brothers, Mitch and Bryan, were star players for the MHS boys basketball program. Mitch Tordoff was on the 2007 WIAA Division 2 state champion team and still owns the Division 2 state record for the most 3-pointers made (eight) in a state tournament game in 2009. Mitch and Bryan both were on the Cheesemakers teams that lost in the state semifinals in 2008 and finished as the Division 2 state runner-up in 2009.
Bryan, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee alumnus, joined the Air Force and is training to become a helicopter pilot.
Mitch went on to play basketball his freshman year at UW-Platteville. As a sophomore he played at Carroll College before transferring to UW-Milwaukee. Mitch now lives in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and is a certified public accountant
"The Monroe basketball program has been a family tradition," Mitch said. "Now living out of state I realize how much the community means to sports programs. I didn't take it for granted when I was in high school, and Alex doesn't either. I'm proud of my little brother."
The Cheesemakers have a 6-6 record and have won two straight games and three of its past four games. Alex has played a critical role in the team's success. He is in his fourth year as a starter and is averaging a team-best 15.3 points per game.
"Coming into my fourth year and senior season, I thought I should step up as a leader," he said. "I think I have done that. As a group, I think we are really coming together and hitting our stride."
Like his older brothers, Alex started playing basketball at an early age. His father, Jerry, started him with the Dribbling Dinosaurs program through the Green County YMCA when he was in first grade. That is where he first learned the fundamentals of dribbling, shooting and passing.
"My father got all three of us started in basketball," he said. "I have really tried to model my game after my two brothers."
Mitch recalls how much his father wanted to instill a sense of life lessons like hard work and persevering through adversity by playing basketball.
"My dad instilled that in us when we were young," Mitch said. "The fun part of being in a team is riding out the tough times and pulling together through the good times. It's the same when you go to a job interview. You want to go and do your best."
Jerry is a volunteer assistant coach for the Monroe boys basketball team. For five years, Jerry coached Alex and a traveling Monroe basketball team through tournaments from fourth through eighth grade. During the traveling basketball tournaments is where Alex learned to become a student of the game.
"It's a special connection we have on the court," Alex said he has with his father.
Jerry understands how to walk the fine line between being a volunteer assistant coach and a father on the bench.
"I have to keep my role as an assistant coach and the team's success in mind," Jerry said. "I really just want to let him compete and not hover over him. He's an experienced player. He just needs space to compete and be his own player."
Alex was just in second grade when his older brother, Mitch, and the Cheesemakers won the 2007 state championship. The Cheesemakers defeated Port Washington 52-46 in the state championship game. The Port Washington team featured a freshman named Josh Gasser, who went on to play for the University of Wisconsin. Alex recalls how much hoopla the Monroe team stirred up around town.
"I remember how they were a tough and talented team and were the underdog," he said. "It was fun for my family and the whole town."
Alex plans to attend UW-Whitewater in the fall and intends to major in accounting. Basketball will not be a part of his life at the next level.
"I want to focus on my academics and maybe earn a little money through college," he said.
Alex would like to write a similar script to his older brothers as he closes out his final season playing basketball.
"I want to finish my last year of basketball strong and really give it my all," he said. "This is my final shot."
