MONROE - As hot as the Cheesemakers shooting was at the start of Saturday's game against Milwaukee School of Languages (MSL), it didn't last. Monroe was 3 of 12 from the free throw line in the third quarter and 7-for-14 in the fourth. Thankfully, the Cheesemakers had built up a substantial lead and won big, 57-39.
"I'm just a little upset we couldn't get some other guys more playing time. We let them (MSL) hang around," Monroe head coach Pat Murphy said. "It was pretty obvious this is not the kind of game we wanted to display. We weren't ready from the get-go and it seemed to show in many facets of the game."
After leading 31-14 at halftime, the Cheesemakers continued to find ways to put the ball in the hoop from the floor, but struggled when it came to the free throw line.
"Free throws aren't much of a big deal. It just seems like the more you talk about them the harder it is to make them. It was almost contagious there for a while missing shots," Murphy said.
The Cheesemakers hit 19 field goals in the game - four of which were 3-pointers. However, finishing 15 of 32 from the charity stripe is something Murphy was not pleased about.
"There is only a certain amount of things a coach can do. You can sub somebody else in there but in the same respect, you don't want to sit one of your guys. So what do you do? They just have to figure it out," he said. "You can't just bail them out by putting them on the bench. In life you have to fight through adversity."
To open the game, it was junior sharpshooter Bryan Tordoff who got the ball moving. Tordoff hit three 3s in the first quarter, helping the Cheesemakers jump out to a 19-7 lead.
Then, it was the Kyle Klinzing and Kevin Frint show. Monroe's top post players dominated the boards and accounted for 18 combined points.
"Tordoff was hitting the 3s and Frint and Klinzing were dominating the inside and Turek was dishing the ball. We had good flow right away early," said Michael Barrett, who scored a game-high 16 points. "This is exactly how it has to be in the playoffs."
Klinzing, who finished with 10 points, grabbed a handful of offensive boards and found his way to the foul line often. However, the senior center struggled, shooting just 3-for-12 from the line.
"It's really tough. You just have to try to keep your confidence up," Klinzing said. "I will definitely be practicing them (free throws) this week. I never want this to happen again."
The Cheesemakers committed just three fouls in the first half and eight in the game and allowed MSL to shoot just two free throws in the entire contest.
One of Monroe's top defenders, post player Michael Turek, usually finds himself in foul trouble. That was not the case Saturday.
"It was a strange feeling to still be in the game and not on the bench late. It felt great," Turek said.
He finished the game with five points, but also found teammates wide open on offense throughout the game. He said that the physicality of MSL was much greater than the team may have expected.
"We play Fort (Atkinson) last night and we thought that was physical. Then tonight we play these guys and it's 10 times as physical," Turek said.
It was Monroe's second straight night with a game, something Murphy likes to see this time of year.
"It was a sectional simulation, if you want to call it that. We played last night and now tonight (Saturday). But if this was the sectional final, we'd lose by a lot. That's the disheartening thing," Murphy said.
With the win, Monroe, ranked No. 13 in the WisSports.net Coaches Poll, moves to 9-1 overall.
"I'm just a little upset we couldn't get some other guys more playing time. We let them (MSL) hang around," Monroe head coach Pat Murphy said. "It was pretty obvious this is not the kind of game we wanted to display. We weren't ready from the get-go and it seemed to show in many facets of the game."
After leading 31-14 at halftime, the Cheesemakers continued to find ways to put the ball in the hoop from the floor, but struggled when it came to the free throw line.
"Free throws aren't much of a big deal. It just seems like the more you talk about them the harder it is to make them. It was almost contagious there for a while missing shots," Murphy said.
The Cheesemakers hit 19 field goals in the game - four of which were 3-pointers. However, finishing 15 of 32 from the charity stripe is something Murphy was not pleased about.
"There is only a certain amount of things a coach can do. You can sub somebody else in there but in the same respect, you don't want to sit one of your guys. So what do you do? They just have to figure it out," he said. "You can't just bail them out by putting them on the bench. In life you have to fight through adversity."
To open the game, it was junior sharpshooter Bryan Tordoff who got the ball moving. Tordoff hit three 3s in the first quarter, helping the Cheesemakers jump out to a 19-7 lead.
Then, it was the Kyle Klinzing and Kevin Frint show. Monroe's top post players dominated the boards and accounted for 18 combined points.
"Tordoff was hitting the 3s and Frint and Klinzing were dominating the inside and Turek was dishing the ball. We had good flow right away early," said Michael Barrett, who scored a game-high 16 points. "This is exactly how it has to be in the playoffs."
Klinzing, who finished with 10 points, grabbed a handful of offensive boards and found his way to the foul line often. However, the senior center struggled, shooting just 3-for-12 from the line.
"It's really tough. You just have to try to keep your confidence up," Klinzing said. "I will definitely be practicing them (free throws) this week. I never want this to happen again."
The Cheesemakers committed just three fouls in the first half and eight in the game and allowed MSL to shoot just two free throws in the entire contest.
One of Monroe's top defenders, post player Michael Turek, usually finds himself in foul trouble. That was not the case Saturday.
"It was a strange feeling to still be in the game and not on the bench late. It felt great," Turek said.
He finished the game with five points, but also found teammates wide open on offense throughout the game. He said that the physicality of MSL was much greater than the team may have expected.
"We play Fort (Atkinson) last night and we thought that was physical. Then tonight we play these guys and it's 10 times as physical," Turek said.
It was Monroe's second straight night with a game, something Murphy likes to see this time of year.
"It was a sectional simulation, if you want to call it that. We played last night and now tonight (Saturday). But if this was the sectional final, we'd lose by a lot. That's the disheartening thing," Murphy said.
With the win, Monroe, ranked No. 13 in the WisSports.net Coaches Poll, moves to 9-1 overall.
