FORT ATKINSON - The Monroe boys basketball team desperately wanted to even its Badger South Conference record Tuesday night.
The Cheesemakers rallied from a nine-point first-half deficit and took a three-point lead into the fourth quarter before falling short 50-46 to Fort Atkinson.
The fourth quarter turned into a back-and-forth battle between junior Alex Barenklau of the Cheesemakers, who scored eight points in the quarter, and Fort Atkinson's Tanner Boos, who scored 13 of his 17 points in the final frame.
Boos made two free throws to give the Blackhawks a 47-44 lead with 44 seconds remaining. Barenklau countered seconds later with two free throws to get the Cheesemakers within 47-46.
Another Fort Atkinson free throw made it 48-46 with 26 seconds left. The Cheesemakers called a timeout to set up a play to tie it or win it.
The Blackhawks came out in a zone defense which left senior Tyler Barta with an open look in the lane, but his shot missed and Boos collected the rebound and was fouled with six seconds left. Boos made two free throws to make the final 50-46.
Barenklau led Monroe with 24 points and junior Joe Latimer added 13.
"We really wanted to get back to .500 (in the conference)" Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "We were definitely the more aggressive team in the second half. Our perimeter defense was much better."
The loss snapped Monroe's two-game winning streak, dropping them to 8-8 overall and 3-5 in the Badger South. Monroe will travel to Stoughton on Saturday hoping to avenge an earlier 49-48 loss to the Vikings.
The Cheesemakers rallied from a nine-point first-half deficit and took a three-point lead into the fourth quarter before falling short 50-46 to Fort Atkinson.
The fourth quarter turned into a back-and-forth battle between junior Alex Barenklau of the Cheesemakers, who scored eight points in the quarter, and Fort Atkinson's Tanner Boos, who scored 13 of his 17 points in the final frame.
Boos made two free throws to give the Blackhawks a 47-44 lead with 44 seconds remaining. Barenklau countered seconds later with two free throws to get the Cheesemakers within 47-46.
Another Fort Atkinson free throw made it 48-46 with 26 seconds left. The Cheesemakers called a timeout to set up a play to tie it or win it.
The Blackhawks came out in a zone defense which left senior Tyler Barta with an open look in the lane, but his shot missed and Boos collected the rebound and was fouled with six seconds left. Boos made two free throws to make the final 50-46.
Barenklau led Monroe with 24 points and junior Joe Latimer added 13.
"We really wanted to get back to .500 (in the conference)" Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "We were definitely the more aggressive team in the second half. Our perimeter defense was much better."
The loss snapped Monroe's two-game winning streak, dropping them to 8-8 overall and 3-5 in the Badger South. Monroe will travel to Stoughton on Saturday hoping to avenge an earlier 49-48 loss to the Vikings.
