MONROE - The magic number for the Monroe boys basketball team when it comes to offensive rebounds is four.
Monroe senior Trent Wyssbrod said the goal is to have each player grab four offensive rebounds per game. The Cheesemakers did their part grabbing 10 of their 11 offensive rebounds in the first half to roll to a 52-28 win over Baraboo in a non-conference game Tuesday night.
"I think we had a few people get four," Wyssbrod said. "It's a good step in the right direction. It's always big to get offensive rebounds. It gives us another chance to put it in the hoop. We will eventually put it in."
Monroe (3-0) got off to a rocky start offensively, hitting just 9 of 25 in the first half, and there were plenty of offensive rebounds up for grabs. The Cheesemakers, which have been solid from the free throw line in the first two games, finished just 11 of 27 (40.7 percent) against the Thunderbirds.
"How do you pinpoint that?," Monroe coach Pat Murphy questioned. "I don't want to say it's a lack of concentration. I'm a free throw guy. We will put the pressure on them in practice."
The Cheesemakers went on an 11-0 run at the start of the third quarter to seize control of the game. Monroe senior Joe Latimer, who scored a team-high 15 points, scored down low on back-to-back possessions in the third quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 26-15 lead. Junior Charlie Kind cut to the basket and scored down low to beat the Thunderbirds' zone defense. Wyssbrod then drilled a 3-pointer with 4 minutes, 56 seconds left in the third to give the Cheesemakers an insurmountable 30-15 lead. Wyssbrod finished with nine points, and Kind added eight points. The Cheesemakers shot a blistering 76.9 percent (10 of 13) in the second half.
"Our defense started our offense," Latimer said. "It's never the other way around. We are just an unselfish team. We like to feed the fire. We don't care about statistics."
The most meaningful stats for Murphy were on the defensive end - points given up, charges and defensive stops that lead to easy scoring opportunities on the break.
"If you hold teams under 30 points, you always have a chance to win," Murphy said.
Early on, the game had the makings of one the Cheesemakers could turn into a blowout. The Thunderbirds had almost as many turnovers (8) as points in the first half (15). The Thunderbirds were plagued by 17 turnovers and struggled defending Latimer in the paint. Latimer scored nine of his 15 points in the first half.
Kind had three offensive rebounds in the first half and scored on two putbacks midway through the second quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 22-13 lead.
"Our goal is to rebound half of our misses," Murphy said of the Cheesemakers' offensive rebounding goal. "It's not always pretty, but we will battle. Charlie is a big kid. He's a ton. He has to realize how good he can be. You get to this level and want to make a play and the plays are quick."
Monroe has won three straight games, all at home, and the first road test awaits at Portage on Dec. 4. The Cheesemakers will then host Oregon on Dec. 8 in their first conference game.
"We will play a lot of teams bigger and stronger than them," Murphy said of Baraboo. "We have to make passes and take shots with conviction. As long as they give us what they can on the defensive end, you always have a chance."
Monroe senior Trent Wyssbrod said the goal is to have each player grab four offensive rebounds per game. The Cheesemakers did their part grabbing 10 of their 11 offensive rebounds in the first half to roll to a 52-28 win over Baraboo in a non-conference game Tuesday night.
"I think we had a few people get four," Wyssbrod said. "It's a good step in the right direction. It's always big to get offensive rebounds. It gives us another chance to put it in the hoop. We will eventually put it in."
Monroe (3-0) got off to a rocky start offensively, hitting just 9 of 25 in the first half, and there were plenty of offensive rebounds up for grabs. The Cheesemakers, which have been solid from the free throw line in the first two games, finished just 11 of 27 (40.7 percent) against the Thunderbirds.
"How do you pinpoint that?," Monroe coach Pat Murphy questioned. "I don't want to say it's a lack of concentration. I'm a free throw guy. We will put the pressure on them in practice."
The Cheesemakers went on an 11-0 run at the start of the third quarter to seize control of the game. Monroe senior Joe Latimer, who scored a team-high 15 points, scored down low on back-to-back possessions in the third quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 26-15 lead. Junior Charlie Kind cut to the basket and scored down low to beat the Thunderbirds' zone defense. Wyssbrod then drilled a 3-pointer with 4 minutes, 56 seconds left in the third to give the Cheesemakers an insurmountable 30-15 lead. Wyssbrod finished with nine points, and Kind added eight points. The Cheesemakers shot a blistering 76.9 percent (10 of 13) in the second half.
"Our defense started our offense," Latimer said. "It's never the other way around. We are just an unselfish team. We like to feed the fire. We don't care about statistics."
The most meaningful stats for Murphy were on the defensive end - points given up, charges and defensive stops that lead to easy scoring opportunities on the break.
"If you hold teams under 30 points, you always have a chance to win," Murphy said.
Early on, the game had the makings of one the Cheesemakers could turn into a blowout. The Thunderbirds had almost as many turnovers (8) as points in the first half (15). The Thunderbirds were plagued by 17 turnovers and struggled defending Latimer in the paint. Latimer scored nine of his 15 points in the first half.
Kind had three offensive rebounds in the first half and scored on two putbacks midway through the second quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 22-13 lead.
"Our goal is to rebound half of our misses," Murphy said of the Cheesemakers' offensive rebounding goal. "It's not always pretty, but we will battle. Charlie is a big kid. He's a ton. He has to realize how good he can be. You get to this level and want to make a play and the plays are quick."
Monroe has won three straight games, all at home, and the first road test awaits at Portage on Dec. 4. The Cheesemakers will then host Oregon on Dec. 8 in their first conference game.
"We will play a lot of teams bigger and stronger than them," Murphy said of Baraboo. "We have to make passes and take shots with conviction. As long as they give us what they can on the defensive end, you always have a chance."
