BELOIT - After two early fouls in the first half caused him to ride the bench, Monroe senior Brayden Zettle took his coach's message to heart and scored a team-high 14 points to lead the Cheesemakers to a comeback 61-57 win over Beloit Memorial Saturday.
Monroe coach Brian Bassett has challenged his team to get to the free-throw line more after the Cheesemakers shot just five more free throws than 3-pointers as a team last year.
Beloit Memorial built a 10-point lead at the half, 29-19. The big comeback for the Cheesemakers came because of their ability to get to the basket and live at the free-throw line. Monroe made 25 of 40 free throws.
"In the first half when Zettle went out, we were playing selfish basketball like it was my turn (to shoot)," Bassett said. "I think the biggest difference in the second half was Brayden. He was unbelievable. He was attacking the basket. In the second half, we made the extra pass and the right pass."
It helped that the Cheesemakers lived at the free-throw line, making 17 more free throws than the Purple Knights shot (8).
"It's something I harped on all summer," Bassett said. "Our goal had to be to get to the free throw line more."
It's early, but the Cheesemakers got off to a great start outscoring Beloit Memorial 42-38 in the second half. It was a balanced attack for the Cheesemakers. Monroe junior Nick Schumacher added 14 points and junior Max Lange added 13 points. Senior Jonah Tostrud had 11 points and senior David Keegan chipped in 9 points. Schumacher made 10 of 17 free throws.
Both Tostrud and Keegan had key offensive rebounds in the final 3 minutes.
"The players made plays to find a way to win the game," Bassett said. "I have felt the burden the last four years of trying to win the close games. We have been struggling to find ways to win close games. I just think if we get to the basket more, we can get our good shooters to the free-throw line."
Monroe will host DeForest in a nonconference game Tuesday.
"It feels really good," Bassett said of the season-opening win. "I wasn't sure how we were going to react. Our guys played very well. They were really resilient."
Monroe coach Brian Bassett has challenged his team to get to the free-throw line more after the Cheesemakers shot just five more free throws than 3-pointers as a team last year.
Beloit Memorial built a 10-point lead at the half, 29-19. The big comeback for the Cheesemakers came because of their ability to get to the basket and live at the free-throw line. Monroe made 25 of 40 free throws.
"In the first half when Zettle went out, we were playing selfish basketball like it was my turn (to shoot)," Bassett said. "I think the biggest difference in the second half was Brayden. He was unbelievable. He was attacking the basket. In the second half, we made the extra pass and the right pass."
It helped that the Cheesemakers lived at the free-throw line, making 17 more free throws than the Purple Knights shot (8).
"It's something I harped on all summer," Bassett said. "Our goal had to be to get to the free throw line more."
It's early, but the Cheesemakers got off to a great start outscoring Beloit Memorial 42-38 in the second half. It was a balanced attack for the Cheesemakers. Monroe junior Nick Schumacher added 14 points and junior Max Lange added 13 points. Senior Jonah Tostrud had 11 points and senior David Keegan chipped in 9 points. Schumacher made 10 of 17 free throws.
Both Tostrud and Keegan had key offensive rebounds in the final 3 minutes.
"The players made plays to find a way to win the game," Bassett said. "I have felt the burden the last four years of trying to win the close games. We have been struggling to find ways to win close games. I just think if we get to the basket more, we can get our good shooters to the free-throw line."
Monroe will host DeForest in a nonconference game Tuesday.
"It feels really good," Bassett said of the season-opening win. "I wasn't sure how we were going to react. Our guys played very well. They were really resilient."
