By Howard Thomas
sportseditor@themonroetimes
MONONA - Tyler Barta took an elbow to the head in the early going Friday and finished with a large white bandage above his left eye.
It was the perfect symbolism for a Monroe High School boys basketball team taking its lumps offensively.
For the second straight day in the Monona Grove Holiday Tournament, shots were mighty tough to come by for the Cheesemakers. But this time, their stingy defense and stellar free throw shooting weren't enough in a 47-38 loss to Westosha Central.
Monroe coach Pat Murphy loves the effort he's getting from his crew, but is clearly frustrated with the Cheesemakers' inability to generate more offense.
MHS hit just three field goals in the first half and finished the game 10 of 37 (27 percent) from the floor.
"I feel bad for the guys - this is one we wanted to get," Murphy said. "They're not trying to miss shots. We're trying to get them to think positively and use visualization and they're trying hard.
"You always try to get your guys to play the game a little more instinctively, and right now we've got guys who freeze. Hopefully they get by that mental barrier. Really, that's where we're at."
The Cheesemakers (5-4) mustered just six more points in defeating Elkhorn in Thursday's opener. For the season, Monroe is averaging 45.3 points per game - putting a ton of pressure on its free throw shooting and defense to win games.
Both of those facets of the game were solid Friday, the Cheesemakers making Westosha Central (3-6) work hard for its points and dictating tempo.
"It's the pace - that really bothers us," Westosha Central coach Dave Sjong said. "And the physicality. They're a lot more physical than what we see every day.
"I thought we held our composure and fought through (the frustration) a little bit."
Monroe made it a game by hitting 16 of 18 foul shots - including six straight in the second quarter to take a 15-12 lead.
Westosha Central took a 17-15 lead into halftime, but Barta opened the third quarter with a three-point play and Alex Barenklau hit a pair of baskets to give Monroe another three-point lead at 22-19.
The Falcons closed the third quarter with an 11-4 spurt and Monroe never got closer than four points in the fourth quarter.
Barenklau scored 11 points to lead the Cheesemakers and Barta was next with five.
"The shots just weren't falling," Barta said. "Bad decisions here and there."
The 6-foot-1 senior forward, who drew praise from Murphy for making a big basket late in the victory against Elkhorn, said he and his teammates are frustrated with the offensive struggles.
"It is (frustrating) at times," Barta said. "But I believe everybody on our team can shoot. I think if people who are open take shots, we'll be fine. They have to recognize that if they have an open look, they should take it."
Murphy left little mystery what the Cheesemakers' focus will be as they prepare for two home games next week - on Friday vs. Milton and Saturday vs. Freeport.
Monroe saw a steady diet of zone defenses in the MG tournament, and the coach said that won't change until his players find a way to have some success against a zone.
"That's the battle we're having - figuring out who to put out there," Murphy said. "We're constantly trying to find that mix of when to shoot, when not to shoot. What's a good shot, what's not a good shot. We just need a few more perimeter shots to go down for us.
"I liked our approach to the game, I just wish we could have executed better in the offensive game - that's for sure."
sportseditor@themonroetimes
MONONA - Tyler Barta took an elbow to the head in the early going Friday and finished with a large white bandage above his left eye.
It was the perfect symbolism for a Monroe High School boys basketball team taking its lumps offensively.
For the second straight day in the Monona Grove Holiday Tournament, shots were mighty tough to come by for the Cheesemakers. But this time, their stingy defense and stellar free throw shooting weren't enough in a 47-38 loss to Westosha Central.
Monroe coach Pat Murphy loves the effort he's getting from his crew, but is clearly frustrated with the Cheesemakers' inability to generate more offense.
MHS hit just three field goals in the first half and finished the game 10 of 37 (27 percent) from the floor.
"I feel bad for the guys - this is one we wanted to get," Murphy said. "They're not trying to miss shots. We're trying to get them to think positively and use visualization and they're trying hard.
"You always try to get your guys to play the game a little more instinctively, and right now we've got guys who freeze. Hopefully they get by that mental barrier. Really, that's where we're at."
The Cheesemakers (5-4) mustered just six more points in defeating Elkhorn in Thursday's opener. For the season, Monroe is averaging 45.3 points per game - putting a ton of pressure on its free throw shooting and defense to win games.
Both of those facets of the game were solid Friday, the Cheesemakers making Westosha Central (3-6) work hard for its points and dictating tempo.
"It's the pace - that really bothers us," Westosha Central coach Dave Sjong said. "And the physicality. They're a lot more physical than what we see every day.
"I thought we held our composure and fought through (the frustration) a little bit."
Monroe made it a game by hitting 16 of 18 foul shots - including six straight in the second quarter to take a 15-12 lead.
Westosha Central took a 17-15 lead into halftime, but Barta opened the third quarter with a three-point play and Alex Barenklau hit a pair of baskets to give Monroe another three-point lead at 22-19.
The Falcons closed the third quarter with an 11-4 spurt and Monroe never got closer than four points in the fourth quarter.
Barenklau scored 11 points to lead the Cheesemakers and Barta was next with five.
"The shots just weren't falling," Barta said. "Bad decisions here and there."
The 6-foot-1 senior forward, who drew praise from Murphy for making a big basket late in the victory against Elkhorn, said he and his teammates are frustrated with the offensive struggles.
"It is (frustrating) at times," Barta said. "But I believe everybody on our team can shoot. I think if people who are open take shots, we'll be fine. They have to recognize that if they have an open look, they should take it."
Murphy left little mystery what the Cheesemakers' focus will be as they prepare for two home games next week - on Friday vs. Milton and Saturday vs. Freeport.
Monroe saw a steady diet of zone defenses in the MG tournament, and the coach said that won't change until his players find a way to have some success against a zone.
"That's the battle we're having - figuring out who to put out there," Murphy said. "We're constantly trying to find that mix of when to shoot, when not to shoot. What's a good shot, what's not a good shot. We just need a few more perimeter shots to go down for us.
"I liked our approach to the game, I just wish we could have executed better in the offensive game - that's for sure."
