MONROE - After back-to-back seasons on a crash course to the Kohl Center, the Monroe boys basketball team finds itself in the middle of a detour this time around.
The Cheesemakers return just a handful of pieces from last year's state-bound team, and the inexperience showed at times Saturday in Monroe's season-opening 68-66 overtime loss to Elkhorn.
"We had a lot of guys playing in their first varsity game," Monroe head coach Pat Murphy said. "You can never fault their effort, though."
Despite the lack of varsity playing time, the Cheesemakers did the best they could against a hot shooting (and tall) Elkhorn team. The Elks nailed eight 3-pointers and forced Monroe to shoot from the outside early because of the presence of 6-foot, 10-inch junior Skyler O'Laughlin, who had 12 points and numerous rebounds in the game.
Monroe's first basket came in the first minute of the game when senior guard Cullen Sampson drilled a 3-pointer from the left wing. From there, Elkhorn's size and defense slowed Monroe's offense. With about two minutes left in the first quarter, Elkhorn held a solid 18-8 lead.
"I think we're a better team when we go inside and then outside. But I think tonight we settled for a lot of 3-pointers," Murphy said of his offense.
A late surge to close out the quarter left the Cheesemakers down just five points at 20-15.
From there, the momentum seemed to swing into Monroe's favor.
The Cheesemakers used a technical foul against Elkhorn senior guard Eric Bryson to go on an 11-0 run over six minutes of the second quarter, to take a 29-27 lead at the half.
Bryson, who finished with 19 points, held Monroe's top shooter, senior Mitch Tordoff, scoreless in the first quarter and allowed him only one field goal in the second quarter. Tordoff made only three shots from the field (all 3-pointers), yet finished with 19 points thanks to a 10-for-10 night at the free throw line.
"Bryson made some shots and played some damn good defense on Mitch (Tordoff)," Murphy said.
Mitch's younger brother, sophomore Bryan Tordoff, led all scorers with 22 points. He had seven first-half points before taking over the third quarter.
The younger Tordoff hit running jumpers from the baseline repeatedly throughout the third, helping Monroe extend its lead to 37-30. Elkhorn jumped back to take a 39-37 lead with 3:49 left in the frame and led 41-39 headed into the fourth.
From there, the physical game seemed to be up for grabs.
Elkhorn struck first in the fourth quarter, and led by as many as six points with just 4:10 to play in regulation. But back to back 3-pointers by Jake Grinnell and Mitch Tordoff tied the score with 3:10 left to play.
Monroe took the lead with 2:01 left when Bryan Tordoff dropped a backdoor pass to Grinnell under the basket. O'Laughlin tied up the game with a minute and a half left.
Elkhorn got a pair of free throws with 19.1 seconds left in the game. However, Mitch Tordoff countered with two gigantic free throws of his own with just 9.5 ticks left. From there, the game was headed into overtime.
Neither team took control in the extra period until Elkhorn got free throws in bunches. Leading 61-60, Brian Tordoff was called for a block in the lane with just 54 seconds left. Bryson knocked down both free throws (and scored the final eight points) for the Elks.
"We were trying not to foul Bryson at the end, but good players find a way," Murphy said.
Monroe made a short run in the final seconds. Bryan Tordoff banked in a 3-pointer with 13.7 left to bring the score to 66-64. Bryson hit two more free throws before Monroe's sophomore guard took a drive to the basket with 6.8 left. Elkhorn turned the ball over on the inbound pass to give the Cheesemakers one last chance.
Off the inbound, Mitch Tordoff followed a pick to the left wing and threw up a desperation 3-pointer as time expired. The shot missed and Monroe lost.
"We had it charted after the game that Elkhorn had only two possessions where they didn't score in overtime. We like to pride ourselves on wearing the other team down. But it's a learning experience," Murphy said.
Murphy said it could be a "good loss".
"Hopefully our guys take this and grow on it. Our two goals are always to win conference and to get ready for the tournament," Murphy said. "They have to learn from those mistakes, and that will start when we go into our video session on Monday."
Brian Tordoff finished with a game-high 22 points for Monroe. Jake Grinnell had a pair of 3s and eight total points. Cullen Sampson also had two 3-pointers for six points. Monroe made 10 3-pointers.
The Cheesemakers go back to work at practice this week and will host Edgewood in their Badger South Conference opener Friday.
The Cheesemakers return just a handful of pieces from last year's state-bound team, and the inexperience showed at times Saturday in Monroe's season-opening 68-66 overtime loss to Elkhorn.
"We had a lot of guys playing in their first varsity game," Monroe head coach Pat Murphy said. "You can never fault their effort, though."
Despite the lack of varsity playing time, the Cheesemakers did the best they could against a hot shooting (and tall) Elkhorn team. The Elks nailed eight 3-pointers and forced Monroe to shoot from the outside early because of the presence of 6-foot, 10-inch junior Skyler O'Laughlin, who had 12 points and numerous rebounds in the game.
Monroe's first basket came in the first minute of the game when senior guard Cullen Sampson drilled a 3-pointer from the left wing. From there, Elkhorn's size and defense slowed Monroe's offense. With about two minutes left in the first quarter, Elkhorn held a solid 18-8 lead.
"I think we're a better team when we go inside and then outside. But I think tonight we settled for a lot of 3-pointers," Murphy said of his offense.
A late surge to close out the quarter left the Cheesemakers down just five points at 20-15.
From there, the momentum seemed to swing into Monroe's favor.
The Cheesemakers used a technical foul against Elkhorn senior guard Eric Bryson to go on an 11-0 run over six minutes of the second quarter, to take a 29-27 lead at the half.
Bryson, who finished with 19 points, held Monroe's top shooter, senior Mitch Tordoff, scoreless in the first quarter and allowed him only one field goal in the second quarter. Tordoff made only three shots from the field (all 3-pointers), yet finished with 19 points thanks to a 10-for-10 night at the free throw line.
"Bryson made some shots and played some damn good defense on Mitch (Tordoff)," Murphy said.
Mitch's younger brother, sophomore Bryan Tordoff, led all scorers with 22 points. He had seven first-half points before taking over the third quarter.
The younger Tordoff hit running jumpers from the baseline repeatedly throughout the third, helping Monroe extend its lead to 37-30. Elkhorn jumped back to take a 39-37 lead with 3:49 left in the frame and led 41-39 headed into the fourth.
From there, the physical game seemed to be up for grabs.
Elkhorn struck first in the fourth quarter, and led by as many as six points with just 4:10 to play in regulation. But back to back 3-pointers by Jake Grinnell and Mitch Tordoff tied the score with 3:10 left to play.
Monroe took the lead with 2:01 left when Bryan Tordoff dropped a backdoor pass to Grinnell under the basket. O'Laughlin tied up the game with a minute and a half left.
Elkhorn got a pair of free throws with 19.1 seconds left in the game. However, Mitch Tordoff countered with two gigantic free throws of his own with just 9.5 ticks left. From there, the game was headed into overtime.
Neither team took control in the extra period until Elkhorn got free throws in bunches. Leading 61-60, Brian Tordoff was called for a block in the lane with just 54 seconds left. Bryson knocked down both free throws (and scored the final eight points) for the Elks.
"We were trying not to foul Bryson at the end, but good players find a way," Murphy said.
Monroe made a short run in the final seconds. Bryan Tordoff banked in a 3-pointer with 13.7 left to bring the score to 66-64. Bryson hit two more free throws before Monroe's sophomore guard took a drive to the basket with 6.8 left. Elkhorn turned the ball over on the inbound pass to give the Cheesemakers one last chance.
Off the inbound, Mitch Tordoff followed a pick to the left wing and threw up a desperation 3-pointer as time expired. The shot missed and Monroe lost.
"We had it charted after the game that Elkhorn had only two possessions where they didn't score in overtime. We like to pride ourselves on wearing the other team down. But it's a learning experience," Murphy said.
Murphy said it could be a "good loss".
"Hopefully our guys take this and grow on it. Our two goals are always to win conference and to get ready for the tournament," Murphy said. "They have to learn from those mistakes, and that will start when we go into our video session on Monday."
Brian Tordoff finished with a game-high 22 points for Monroe. Jake Grinnell had a pair of 3s and eight total points. Cullen Sampson also had two 3-pointers for six points. Monroe made 10 3-pointers.
The Cheesemakers go back to work at practice this week and will host Edgewood in their Badger South Conference opener Friday.
