MONROE - "Now that is more like it," Cheesemakers head coach Pat Murphy said after Monroe's 61-37 beat down of DeForest Friday night. "When you're a half a step quicker, it's amazing how much easier the game comes to you."
Despite struggling with its shot over the past few weeks, Monroe had been getting by all right. That is, until a stunning upset loss to Oregon on Tuesday night.
"The last two days we know what we did wrong. My point to them was that it is easy to say that, but it's hard to back it up with action," Murphy said.
Murphy likes his team to be known for their defense as much as their offense, and against the Norskies, the Cheesemakers used both aspects to near perfection.
Monroe started the game hot. Cullen Sampson drove the baseline and put in a reverse layup for the game's first score. Bryan Tordoff added a baseline jumper moments later to give the Cheese a 4-0 lead.
By the end of the first quarter, Monroe led 18-14 and had five different players score in the period.
In the second quarter, the Cheese continued to roll. Michael Barrett scored 10 of his game-high 18 points in the frame, adding a pair of big-time 3-pointers.
"What you hope for everyday in practice is to battle and make the other guys better. Freeport's going to come in here and dog the heck out of (Mitch) Tordoff and think that's all we have. But other guys stepped up, and we needed that," Murphy said.
Monroe led by as much as nine points in the period and went into halftime leading 32-25.
In each of their last two conference games against Stoughton and Oregon, Monroe failed to score more than 34 points after four periods of play in each game.
A 3 by senior standout Mitch Tordoff (13 points) gave the Cheesemakers 35 points just a minute into the third quarter.
"It's a lot easier for our guys to score when people are looking back door and picking up some cuts," Murphy said.
Jake Grinnell took a pass in the paint from Bryan Tordoff moments later to put Monroe up 37-25, forcing DeForest to call a timeout. That didn't stop the Cheesemakers.
"When the season started, I envisioned this as being one of our better passing teams," Murphy added.
Monroe outscored the Norskies 17-9 in the frame to take a 49-34 lead after the third.
In position for the win, Murphy just tried to make sure his guys stayed focused on defense and took care of the rock.
In the game, Monroe as a team finished with 28 rebounds (seven on offense). DeForest could only rack up 12 boards in the game, and only seven on defense, meaning that Monroe grabbed a rebound on half of its missed shots.
"We played some really good fundamental defense and got after the ball," Murphy said.
With the flu going around school, Mitch McArdle was forced to miss the game in Oregon. The guard was back and hit a dagger 3 with 3:37 left to play in the third, giving Monroe a 17 point lead. He also had three assists, a steal and two rebounds.
Bryan Tordoff finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. Grinnell had seven points and five rebounds. Mitch Tordoff led the Cheese with four assists and Zach Rast scored six points and added three boards.
"Zach picked up some good offensive boards and was rewarded tonight. Our guys found him and he got a bunch of lay ups," Murphy said.
"I love this team, you can quote me on that."
Monroe looks to keep up the momentum tonight, as they host Freeport in the first game of a boys/girls doubleheader at 6 p.m.
The student section is encouraging fans to dress up for the game. The theme: Rapper's Delight.
Despite struggling with its shot over the past few weeks, Monroe had been getting by all right. That is, until a stunning upset loss to Oregon on Tuesday night.
"The last two days we know what we did wrong. My point to them was that it is easy to say that, but it's hard to back it up with action," Murphy said.
Murphy likes his team to be known for their defense as much as their offense, and against the Norskies, the Cheesemakers used both aspects to near perfection.
Monroe started the game hot. Cullen Sampson drove the baseline and put in a reverse layup for the game's first score. Bryan Tordoff added a baseline jumper moments later to give the Cheese a 4-0 lead.
By the end of the first quarter, Monroe led 18-14 and had five different players score in the period.
In the second quarter, the Cheese continued to roll. Michael Barrett scored 10 of his game-high 18 points in the frame, adding a pair of big-time 3-pointers.
"What you hope for everyday in practice is to battle and make the other guys better. Freeport's going to come in here and dog the heck out of (Mitch) Tordoff and think that's all we have. But other guys stepped up, and we needed that," Murphy said.
Monroe led by as much as nine points in the period and went into halftime leading 32-25.
In each of their last two conference games against Stoughton and Oregon, Monroe failed to score more than 34 points after four periods of play in each game.
A 3 by senior standout Mitch Tordoff (13 points) gave the Cheesemakers 35 points just a minute into the third quarter.
"It's a lot easier for our guys to score when people are looking back door and picking up some cuts," Murphy said.
Jake Grinnell took a pass in the paint from Bryan Tordoff moments later to put Monroe up 37-25, forcing DeForest to call a timeout. That didn't stop the Cheesemakers.
"When the season started, I envisioned this as being one of our better passing teams," Murphy added.
Monroe outscored the Norskies 17-9 in the frame to take a 49-34 lead after the third.
In position for the win, Murphy just tried to make sure his guys stayed focused on defense and took care of the rock.
In the game, Monroe as a team finished with 28 rebounds (seven on offense). DeForest could only rack up 12 boards in the game, and only seven on defense, meaning that Monroe grabbed a rebound on half of its missed shots.
"We played some really good fundamental defense and got after the ball," Murphy said.
With the flu going around school, Mitch McArdle was forced to miss the game in Oregon. The guard was back and hit a dagger 3 with 3:37 left to play in the third, giving Monroe a 17 point lead. He also had three assists, a steal and two rebounds.
Bryan Tordoff finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. Grinnell had seven points and five rebounds. Mitch Tordoff led the Cheese with four assists and Zach Rast scored six points and added three boards.
"Zach picked up some good offensive boards and was rewarded tonight. Our guys found him and he got a bunch of lay ups," Murphy said.
"I love this team, you can quote me on that."
Monroe looks to keep up the momentum tonight, as they host Freeport in the first game of a boys/girls doubleheader at 6 p.m.
The student section is encouraging fans to dress up for the game. The theme: Rapper's Delight.
