MONROE - As far as debuts go, Monroe boys basketball coach Pat Murphy may not have been able to write a better script after the Cheesemakers rolled to a 54-39 win over Brodhead Saturday.
Monroe junior Alex Barenklau scored a game-high 16 points to lead the Cheesemakers to a season-opening win. There were several players in their first varsity games who delivered, including junior Trent Wyssbrod (nine points), junior Joe Latimer (seven points) and sophomore Jake Hirsbrunner (seven points).
Even though it was a non-conference game, Barenklau saw the game as a chance to set the tone.
"It means a lot for our team because we have a lot of guys who are inexperienced and are in their first game," Barenklau said. "Getting this win will give us momentum for the rest of the season."
The Cheesemakers went on a 12-2 second-quarter run sparked by two layups and jumper from Barenklau. Hirsbrunner scored all seven of his points in the second quarter to spark the Cheesemakers to a 29-17 lead at halftime.
"It just seemed like we were more aggressive," Murphy said. "You take what they give you. You start making a few shots and it starts looking fun and exciting."
The Cheesemakers also turned up the pressure on defense.
"We knew we had to step up our defense," Barenklau said.
Brodhead coach Brian Kammerer liked the Cardinals' start, but he understands how the game snowballed.
"I was proud of their effort," Kammerer said. "We forced some shots and all of a sudden a four-point game becomes a 12- or 14-point game. Playing a team like Monroe that is well coached and disciplined, it will be hard to crawl back from a deficit like that."
Murphy said the Cheesemakers have to continue working to get better.
He said he would like to see more players step up to take charges.
"We have to continually work to get better on the defensive end," he said. "I think we have to move quicker on defense and read and react better."
Brodhead senior Tate Harnack scored seven points and senior Jesse DeLorme added six for the Cardinals.
Barenklau is looking forward to the rest of the season and a run at a sixth straight Badger South Conference title.
"As long as we continue to get better this season, I will be fine with whatever happens at the end of the season," he said.
Monroe hosts Portage in a Badger Conference crossover game on Tuesday.
Murphy said that competition for playing time is one of the strengths this season.
"We have 13 guys who are battling," Murphy said. "They (Portage) are young. They may not be as big as Brodhead, but they may be more athletic and quicker on the perimeter."
Monroe junior Alex Barenklau scored a game-high 16 points to lead the Cheesemakers to a season-opening win. There were several players in their first varsity games who delivered, including junior Trent Wyssbrod (nine points), junior Joe Latimer (seven points) and sophomore Jake Hirsbrunner (seven points).
Even though it was a non-conference game, Barenklau saw the game as a chance to set the tone.
"It means a lot for our team because we have a lot of guys who are inexperienced and are in their first game," Barenklau said. "Getting this win will give us momentum for the rest of the season."
The Cheesemakers went on a 12-2 second-quarter run sparked by two layups and jumper from Barenklau. Hirsbrunner scored all seven of his points in the second quarter to spark the Cheesemakers to a 29-17 lead at halftime.
"It just seemed like we were more aggressive," Murphy said. "You take what they give you. You start making a few shots and it starts looking fun and exciting."
The Cheesemakers also turned up the pressure on defense.
"We knew we had to step up our defense," Barenklau said.
Brodhead coach Brian Kammerer liked the Cardinals' start, but he understands how the game snowballed.
"I was proud of their effort," Kammerer said. "We forced some shots and all of a sudden a four-point game becomes a 12- or 14-point game. Playing a team like Monroe that is well coached and disciplined, it will be hard to crawl back from a deficit like that."
Murphy said the Cheesemakers have to continue working to get better.
He said he would like to see more players step up to take charges.
"We have to continually work to get better on the defensive end," he said. "I think we have to move quicker on defense and read and react better."
Brodhead senior Tate Harnack scored seven points and senior Jesse DeLorme added six for the Cardinals.
Barenklau is looking forward to the rest of the season and a run at a sixth straight Badger South Conference title.
"As long as we continue to get better this season, I will be fine with whatever happens at the end of the season," he said.
Monroe hosts Portage in a Badger Conference crossover game on Tuesday.
Murphy said that competition for playing time is one of the strengths this season.
"We have 13 guys who are battling," Murphy said. "They (Portage) are young. They may not be as big as Brodhead, but they may be more athletic and quicker on the perimeter."
