MIDDLETON - The third straight year playing DeForest in the postseason wasn't the charm for the Monroe boys basketball team.
DeForest (16-9) made 8 of 9 free throws in the final minute and 28 seconds to ice a 59-56 win over Monroe Thursday night in a WIAA Division 2 sectional semifinal in Middleton.
"When we have had the upper hand this year, we have shot 20 free throws," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "They flipped it on us tonight. A big thing was the free throw differential. They shot 20 free throws and we shot nine. It never ends when you want it to. I just feel bad for the seniors."
Monroe (17-8) rallied from a 14-point first half deficit and took its first lead about midway through the fourth quarter. Monroe senior Joe Latimer drilled a 3-pointer to give the Cheesemakers a 43-42 with 4:31 left in the fourth. Monroe senior Trent Wyssbrod banked in a shot down low to give the Cheesemakers a 45-42 lead. The Norskies answered with a 12-1 run to seal the win.
Latimer played despite an ACL injury. It marked his first game in 16 days. He entered to a standing ovation by Monroe's student section. Latimer was just happy he had the chance to play in his final prep game.
"It felt great being back on the court," Latimer said. "I thank (the fans) for that. I'm just glad we had this run. It means the world to me. I'm just sad it had to end."
The Cheesemakers caught a tough break when DeForest senior Preston Butler grabbed an offensive rebound after he missed a free throw and scored on a putback to give the Norskies a 47-45 lead with 2:12 to go. DeForest senior Allen Castillo then converted a three-point play to extend the Norskies' lead to 50-46 with 1:28 left.
"We had five guys boxing out three," Murphy said, of Butler's putback on the missed free throw. "You work on drills like that. I thought he stepped over the line and I checked with the ref. We just had to make one more play."
Latimer also noticed a key to the game despite the Norskies' solid free throw shooting.
"It's all about being physical," he said. "That hurt. DeForest is one hell of a team. We just had to be more physical."
Wyssbrod, who scored a game-high 13 points, fouled out after he was called for a charge with 1:03 to go. Monroe senior Alex Barenklau knocked down a 3-pointer with 19.3 seconds to go to slice DeForest's lead to 56-53, but the Norskies were clutch at the free throw line. Barenklau scored 12 points and junior Jake Hirsbrunner added 11 points. Latimer chipped in nine.
So why has DeForest had Monroe's number the last three years?
"They play good 'D and make free throws," Wyssbrod said. "That's the key to every basketball game they play."
DeForest was hot early on, hitting six of its first seven shots. DeForest junior Brendon Lapp scored down low at the end of the first quarter to give the Norskies a 17-7 lead.
The Cheesemakers trailed by as many as 14 points in the second quarter, but Monroe responded with a 12-0 run. Hirsbrunner kick-started the surge with two 3-pointers. Junior Charlie Kind scored on a putback and Latimer scored on a putback to slice the Norskies' lead to 21-17. Kind knocked down a jumper with 1:53 to go in the second quarter to tie the game at 21. The Cheesemakers trailed 24-21 at the half, but were able to battle back in the second half.
After Latimer's 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter gave the Cheesemakers a one-point lead, Barenklau was feeling confident.
"At that point in the game you just want to hold in there, keep the lead and win the fourth quarter," he said.
Though the win got away, Barenklau will always remember the team and how they overcame adversity after losing three games at the buzzer and three in overtime but still made it to within two wins of the state tournament.
"You never want to lose," he said. "If you are going to lose you don't want to get blown out."
DeForest (16-9) made 8 of 9 free throws in the final minute and 28 seconds to ice a 59-56 win over Monroe Thursday night in a WIAA Division 2 sectional semifinal in Middleton.
"When we have had the upper hand this year, we have shot 20 free throws," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "They flipped it on us tonight. A big thing was the free throw differential. They shot 20 free throws and we shot nine. It never ends when you want it to. I just feel bad for the seniors."
Monroe (17-8) rallied from a 14-point first half deficit and took its first lead about midway through the fourth quarter. Monroe senior Joe Latimer drilled a 3-pointer to give the Cheesemakers a 43-42 with 4:31 left in the fourth. Monroe senior Trent Wyssbrod banked in a shot down low to give the Cheesemakers a 45-42 lead. The Norskies answered with a 12-1 run to seal the win.
Latimer played despite an ACL injury. It marked his first game in 16 days. He entered to a standing ovation by Monroe's student section. Latimer was just happy he had the chance to play in his final prep game.
"It felt great being back on the court," Latimer said. "I thank (the fans) for that. I'm just glad we had this run. It means the world to me. I'm just sad it had to end."
The Cheesemakers caught a tough break when DeForest senior Preston Butler grabbed an offensive rebound after he missed a free throw and scored on a putback to give the Norskies a 47-45 lead with 2:12 to go. DeForest senior Allen Castillo then converted a three-point play to extend the Norskies' lead to 50-46 with 1:28 left.
"We had five guys boxing out three," Murphy said, of Butler's putback on the missed free throw. "You work on drills like that. I thought he stepped over the line and I checked with the ref. We just had to make one more play."
Latimer also noticed a key to the game despite the Norskies' solid free throw shooting.
"It's all about being physical," he said. "That hurt. DeForest is one hell of a team. We just had to be more physical."
Wyssbrod, who scored a game-high 13 points, fouled out after he was called for a charge with 1:03 to go. Monroe senior Alex Barenklau knocked down a 3-pointer with 19.3 seconds to go to slice DeForest's lead to 56-53, but the Norskies were clutch at the free throw line. Barenklau scored 12 points and junior Jake Hirsbrunner added 11 points. Latimer chipped in nine.
So why has DeForest had Monroe's number the last three years?
"They play good 'D and make free throws," Wyssbrod said. "That's the key to every basketball game they play."
DeForest was hot early on, hitting six of its first seven shots. DeForest junior Brendon Lapp scored down low at the end of the first quarter to give the Norskies a 17-7 lead.
The Cheesemakers trailed by as many as 14 points in the second quarter, but Monroe responded with a 12-0 run. Hirsbrunner kick-started the surge with two 3-pointers. Junior Charlie Kind scored on a putback and Latimer scored on a putback to slice the Norskies' lead to 21-17. Kind knocked down a jumper with 1:53 to go in the second quarter to tie the game at 21. The Cheesemakers trailed 24-21 at the half, but were able to battle back in the second half.
After Latimer's 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter gave the Cheesemakers a one-point lead, Barenklau was feeling confident.
"At that point in the game you just want to hold in there, keep the lead and win the fourth quarter," he said.
Though the win got away, Barenklau will always remember the team and how they overcame adversity after losing three games at the buzzer and three in overtime but still made it to within two wins of the state tournament.
"You never want to lose," he said. "If you are going to lose you don't want to get blown out."
