MONROE - It wasn't pretty, but the Cheesemakers found a way to notch win No. 3 without their second best scorer.
"We found a way to win a game," Monroe boys basketball head coach Pat Murphy said after his team's 50-46 win over Milton. "It was a learning experience for a lot of these guys."
Monroe lost two days of practice due to the weather and played without junior guard Michael Barrett, who is recovering from a concussion suffered Dec. 5 against Stoughton.
"It's very refreshing to have days off like we did and come out and play a physical team like Milton and come away with the win," Murphy said.
Milton opened the game with toughness in the paint and big shooting from the outside and held a 12-9 lead after the first quarter.
The deficit had been 9-3, but senior Alex Capesius, making his first varsity start, drilled a 3-pointer while an off-ball foul was being called. Moments later, junior Bryan Tordoff, who led all scorers with 25 points, drilled his second 3 of the game to even the score.
"I think that kind of got the confidence going for everyone," Capesius said of his 3. "We got the foul and got to keep the ball, so it helped us get back."
In the second, Monroe continued scoring and tightened its defense and went into the half ahead 21-18.
In the third, Monroe continued pushing the ball to the hoop, which started with a rebound and a put-back by Kevin Frint in the opening minute of the third.
With the score tied at 23, Tordoff drained the third of his five 3s and added a pair of free throws to put the Cheesemakers up by five. By the end of the frame, Monroe held a 36-32 advantage.
Capesius, who scored eight points, hit his second big 3 with 6 minutes, 19 seconds left in the game to put Monroe up by five. Tordoff then drove to the hole and added another 3 to put the Cheesemakers up by 10 with 4:46 left.
That's when Milton made its run, scoring nine straight to pull within one.
Cheesemaker freshman Alex Barenklau, also making his first varsity start, drained a 3 with 1:58 left to get Monroe off its heals.
"That shot was big. I was standing there wide open and the defender was in the lane," Barenklau said.
Milton brought the score back to within just a point after a bucket and free throw, but Tordoff and Kevin Frint (eight points) knocked down bonus shots to close out the win.
"This is a huge win. All week we were thinking about this game. And there was a ton of distractions with the snow days and delays, so we're just happy to get this win," Tordoff said.
Monroe (3-1, 2-1) next plays at Oregon on Dec. 17. Whether Barrett will be able to play is uncertain.
"He's took a test (on Friday) and has another one scheduled for Monday, so we will see what happens. With these things, you never take anything for granted. You don't mess around with it," Murphy said. "I was really proud of Alex and Alex. I was proud of everybody that got in there. We're still learning. We still have to go out and make plays."
"We found a way to win a game," Monroe boys basketball head coach Pat Murphy said after his team's 50-46 win over Milton. "It was a learning experience for a lot of these guys."
Monroe lost two days of practice due to the weather and played without junior guard Michael Barrett, who is recovering from a concussion suffered Dec. 5 against Stoughton.
"It's very refreshing to have days off like we did and come out and play a physical team like Milton and come away with the win," Murphy said.
Milton opened the game with toughness in the paint and big shooting from the outside and held a 12-9 lead after the first quarter.
The deficit had been 9-3, but senior Alex Capesius, making his first varsity start, drilled a 3-pointer while an off-ball foul was being called. Moments later, junior Bryan Tordoff, who led all scorers with 25 points, drilled his second 3 of the game to even the score.
"I think that kind of got the confidence going for everyone," Capesius said of his 3. "We got the foul and got to keep the ball, so it helped us get back."
In the second, Monroe continued scoring and tightened its defense and went into the half ahead 21-18.
In the third, Monroe continued pushing the ball to the hoop, which started with a rebound and a put-back by Kevin Frint in the opening minute of the third.
With the score tied at 23, Tordoff drained the third of his five 3s and added a pair of free throws to put the Cheesemakers up by five. By the end of the frame, Monroe held a 36-32 advantage.
Capesius, who scored eight points, hit his second big 3 with 6 minutes, 19 seconds left in the game to put Monroe up by five. Tordoff then drove to the hole and added another 3 to put the Cheesemakers up by 10 with 4:46 left.
That's when Milton made its run, scoring nine straight to pull within one.
Cheesemaker freshman Alex Barenklau, also making his first varsity start, drained a 3 with 1:58 left to get Monroe off its heals.
"That shot was big. I was standing there wide open and the defender was in the lane," Barenklau said.
Milton brought the score back to within just a point after a bucket and free throw, but Tordoff and Kevin Frint (eight points) knocked down bonus shots to close out the win.
"This is a huge win. All week we were thinking about this game. And there was a ton of distractions with the snow days and delays, so we're just happy to get this win," Tordoff said.
Monroe (3-1, 2-1) next plays at Oregon on Dec. 17. Whether Barrett will be able to play is uncertain.
"He's took a test (on Friday) and has another one scheduled for Monday, so we will see what happens. With these things, you never take anything for granted. You don't mess around with it," Murphy said. "I was really proud of Alex and Alex. I was proud of everybody that got in there. We're still learning. We still have to go out and make plays."
