MONROE - Nothing pumps up a team like defeating its top rival. Coming off a rocky stretch the last three weeks, Monroe's boys basketball team picked up its second straight win, defeating Madison Edgewood soundly, 62-52.
"These are high character kids that are very unselfish," Cheesemakers coach Pat Murphy said. "We're really happy that we've got to stay in the race and take care of business on our home court."
Monroe (14-3) had lost three of four over the past two weeks before a weekend non-conference win over Freeport (Ill.). But Thursday's victory over Edgewood (13-5) kept the Cheesemakers in a first-place tie with Monona Grove (12-4) for the conference lead.
"We came in prepared and focused, just like the Freeport game," senior Michael Barrett said. "I think that really carried over into this one. Especially Edgewood, if you can't get ready for this you might as well not play."
Monroe, ranked 10th in the state in Division 2 in the WisSports.net Coaches Poll and 11th in the Associated Press Poll, got its usual 22 points from Barrett. But what the Cheesemakers got unexpectedly was 21 combined points from Michael Turek (9 points) and Andrew Armstrong (12), as well as 11 from Bryan Tordoff.
"We've been telling those two all year that they could make plays and take some shots," Barrett said. "Me and Bryan want them to take those open shots, we don't want it to be all on us. They do all the dirty work, to see them finally start scoring that's just great. We need that."
The Cheesemakers were playing without starting guard Damian Penniston, which moved sixth-man Alex Barenklau into the starting role. Murphy brought up sophomore Trent Wyssbrod, who made his varsity debut in the second quarter.
"Our whole team stepped up," Murphy said. "If I started naming guys that did good I'd be naming everybody. That's what it takes to beat really good teams.
"We kind of handcuffed our JVs a little bit (using Wyssbrod), but he got a taste of it (varsity) a little bit."
Edgewood scored the first five points of the game, but once Monroe got on the board - with back-to-back 3-pointers from Barrett - the momentum swung in the way of the home team. The Cheesemakers kept the Crusaders (No. 8 AP/No. 9 WisSports.net) off the board for nearly four minutes in the first quarter and led 13-12 headed into the second. By halftime, the advantage grew to 25-21.
"We had a little shaky start, but we fought our way through it," Murphy said.
Monroe opened the third on a rampage, outscoring Edgewood 15-4 in the first 5 1/2 minutes to take a 40-25 lead, forcing a timeout. Keying the run was the outburst in the post by Turek, who also hit a rare jump shot.
"The coaches told us to calm down, and we calmed down and I think that helped me calm down," Turek said. "If you're too excited on offense, you're not going to be able to get the good looks and I felt like I calmed down and could get those shots that I should make."
Barrett, who added 10 rebounds to give himself a double-double, said having the "bigs" play the way they did is huge for the Cheesemakers.
"Our big guys chested up well. They didn't try and swat any shots," Barrett said. "Our defense was great, and I think (Tyler) Barta did a great job on (Austin) Arians. That's what we need to do - contain their guards and have our bigs play as well as they did."
Edgewood didn't stop pressuring Monroe, but the Cheesemakers didn't get very flustered. Monroe's advantage grew to as much as 16 points.
"I feel like we're pretty confident, but at the same time we have to treat every team as a championship team," Turek said. "We can't be overconfident and have to treat every team equally."
The Cheesemakers hit the hardwood again on Saturday afternoon in a non-conference game at home against Manitowoc Lincoln (4-13) and then Milton (7-10, 2-7) on Monday. The Badger South title game could come down to Feb. 24 season finale when Monroe hosts Monona Grove (No. 13 AP/No. 11 WisSports.net).
"We should feel good about where we're at. That's how big the league is - you have to bring it every night," Murphy said. "You have to defend from the get-go just to have a chance and that's what we preach. As long as you have guys that buy into that and try to keep getting better, that's all you can ask for."
"These are high character kids that are very unselfish," Cheesemakers coach Pat Murphy said. "We're really happy that we've got to stay in the race and take care of business on our home court."
Monroe (14-3) had lost three of four over the past two weeks before a weekend non-conference win over Freeport (Ill.). But Thursday's victory over Edgewood (13-5) kept the Cheesemakers in a first-place tie with Monona Grove (12-4) for the conference lead.
"We came in prepared and focused, just like the Freeport game," senior Michael Barrett said. "I think that really carried over into this one. Especially Edgewood, if you can't get ready for this you might as well not play."
Monroe, ranked 10th in the state in Division 2 in the WisSports.net Coaches Poll and 11th in the Associated Press Poll, got its usual 22 points from Barrett. But what the Cheesemakers got unexpectedly was 21 combined points from Michael Turek (9 points) and Andrew Armstrong (12), as well as 11 from Bryan Tordoff.
"We've been telling those two all year that they could make plays and take some shots," Barrett said. "Me and Bryan want them to take those open shots, we don't want it to be all on us. They do all the dirty work, to see them finally start scoring that's just great. We need that."
The Cheesemakers were playing without starting guard Damian Penniston, which moved sixth-man Alex Barenklau into the starting role. Murphy brought up sophomore Trent Wyssbrod, who made his varsity debut in the second quarter.
"Our whole team stepped up," Murphy said. "If I started naming guys that did good I'd be naming everybody. That's what it takes to beat really good teams.
"We kind of handcuffed our JVs a little bit (using Wyssbrod), but he got a taste of it (varsity) a little bit."
Edgewood scored the first five points of the game, but once Monroe got on the board - with back-to-back 3-pointers from Barrett - the momentum swung in the way of the home team. The Cheesemakers kept the Crusaders (No. 8 AP/No. 9 WisSports.net) off the board for nearly four minutes in the first quarter and led 13-12 headed into the second. By halftime, the advantage grew to 25-21.
"We had a little shaky start, but we fought our way through it," Murphy said.
Monroe opened the third on a rampage, outscoring Edgewood 15-4 in the first 5 1/2 minutes to take a 40-25 lead, forcing a timeout. Keying the run was the outburst in the post by Turek, who also hit a rare jump shot.
"The coaches told us to calm down, and we calmed down and I think that helped me calm down," Turek said. "If you're too excited on offense, you're not going to be able to get the good looks and I felt like I calmed down and could get those shots that I should make."
Barrett, who added 10 rebounds to give himself a double-double, said having the "bigs" play the way they did is huge for the Cheesemakers.
"Our big guys chested up well. They didn't try and swat any shots," Barrett said. "Our defense was great, and I think (Tyler) Barta did a great job on (Austin) Arians. That's what we need to do - contain their guards and have our bigs play as well as they did."
Edgewood didn't stop pressuring Monroe, but the Cheesemakers didn't get very flustered. Monroe's advantage grew to as much as 16 points.
"I feel like we're pretty confident, but at the same time we have to treat every team as a championship team," Turek said. "We can't be overconfident and have to treat every team equally."
The Cheesemakers hit the hardwood again on Saturday afternoon in a non-conference game at home against Manitowoc Lincoln (4-13) and then Milton (7-10, 2-7) on Monday. The Badger South title game could come down to Feb. 24 season finale when Monroe hosts Monona Grove (No. 13 AP/No. 11 WisSports.net).
"We should feel good about where we're at. That's how big the league is - you have to bring it every night," Murphy said. "You have to defend from the get-go just to have a chance and that's what we preach. As long as you have guys that buy into that and try to keep getting better, that's all you can ask for."
