FORT ATKINSON - Stay the course was Monroe boys basketball coach Brian Bassett's message to his team with the Cheesemakers trailing by 12 points against Fort Atkinson with 9 minutes left.
"I talked with their coach, Mike Hintz, before the game and he told me how they always hit a wall with about 8 or 9 minutes left," Bassett said. "He took a timeout with about 9 minutes left and I just kept telling our guys they were hitting a wall and they believed it."
The Cheesemakers closed the game with an 11-0 run to spark them to a comeback 69-63 win over Fort Atkinson Tuesday. It marks the fourth straight win for Monroe, which improves to 9-6 overall and 5-3 in the Badger South Conference. With the win, the Cheesemakers move into sole possession of third place in the conference after Watertown lost. Monroe used a full-court press the entire game.
"We kept talking about believing in what we are doing," Bassett said. "We kept bringing five in and five out because we wanted to wear them down. I give Fort Atkinson credit. They kept making plays tonight. They keep getting better."
Monroe senior Brayden Zettle scored a team-high 17 points. Junior teammate Kade King added 13 and senior Jonah Tostrud pitched in 12.
The Blackhawks raced out to a 36-28 lead at the half. Fort Atkinson senior Jesse Kutz scored a game-high 18 points. Senior teammate Alex Hall added 12 points and hit three 3-pointers in the first half.
Monroe will host Oregon in another conference game at 7:15 p.m. Saturday.
"I talked with their coach, Mike Hintz, before the game and he told me how they always hit a wall with about 8 or 9 minutes left," Bassett said. "He took a timeout with about 9 minutes left and I just kept telling our guys they were hitting a wall and they believed it."
The Cheesemakers closed the game with an 11-0 run to spark them to a comeback 69-63 win over Fort Atkinson Tuesday. It marks the fourth straight win for Monroe, which improves to 9-6 overall and 5-3 in the Badger South Conference. With the win, the Cheesemakers move into sole possession of third place in the conference after Watertown lost. Monroe used a full-court press the entire game.
"We kept talking about believing in what we are doing," Bassett said. "We kept bringing five in and five out because we wanted to wear them down. I give Fort Atkinson credit. They kept making plays tonight. They keep getting better."
Monroe senior Brayden Zettle scored a team-high 17 points. Junior teammate Kade King added 13 and senior Jonah Tostrud pitched in 12.
The Blackhawks raced out to a 36-28 lead at the half. Fort Atkinson senior Jesse Kutz scored a game-high 18 points. Senior teammate Alex Hall added 12 points and hit three 3-pointers in the first half.
Monroe will host Oregon in another conference game at 7:15 p.m. Saturday.
