MONONA GROVE - With the game on the line Tuesday, the Monroe boys basketball team was money from the free-throw line and hung on for a 51-41 win over Monona Grove.
The Cheesemakers (2-0, 1-0 Badger South) entered the fourth quarter with a 32-26 lead, but lived at the free throw line by scoring 16 of their 19 fourth-quarter points from the charity stripe. Monroe went 20-for-31 in the game from the line, making more free throws than the Silver Eagles attempted (14).
"We kind of grinded one out," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "That's the best statistic of all. If you can shoot more free throws than the other team attempts, than you have a great chance of winning."
Monroe senior Michael Barrett scored a game-high 24 points and he was 6 of 8 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. Fellow senior Bryan Tordoff scored 17 points and was 7 of 10 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter.
Early on, the Cheesemakers were in a battle with the Silver Eagles and led just 19-17 at halftime after a late basket by sophomore Alex Barenklau.
"For whatever reason, I don't think we were ready to make plays," Murphy said. "We missed a lot of short shots."
The Silver Eagles' quickness did give the Cheesemakers some problems. Monona Grove's Zach Zweifel scored 20 points to lead the Silver Eagles.
"Defensively, we still have to work better at keeping guys in front of us," Murphy said. "That's something we have to get better at for sure."
The Monroe junior varsity team beat Monona Grove 48-39.
The Cheesemakers (2-0, 1-0 Badger South) entered the fourth quarter with a 32-26 lead, but lived at the free throw line by scoring 16 of their 19 fourth-quarter points from the charity stripe. Monroe went 20-for-31 in the game from the line, making more free throws than the Silver Eagles attempted (14).
"We kind of grinded one out," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "That's the best statistic of all. If you can shoot more free throws than the other team attempts, than you have a great chance of winning."
Monroe senior Michael Barrett scored a game-high 24 points and he was 6 of 8 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. Fellow senior Bryan Tordoff scored 17 points and was 7 of 10 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter.
Early on, the Cheesemakers were in a battle with the Silver Eagles and led just 19-17 at halftime after a late basket by sophomore Alex Barenklau.
"For whatever reason, I don't think we were ready to make plays," Murphy said. "We missed a lot of short shots."
The Silver Eagles' quickness did give the Cheesemakers some problems. Monona Grove's Zach Zweifel scored 20 points to lead the Silver Eagles.
"Defensively, we still have to work better at keeping guys in front of us," Murphy said. "That's something we have to get better at for sure."
The Monroe junior varsity team beat Monona Grove 48-39.
