FORT ATKINSON - When the game got more physical in the second half, the Monroe boys basketball team had no answers for Fort Atkinson in a 60-35 loss Friday.
Monroe (1-3, 0-1 Badger South) jumped out to a 15-12 lead in the first quarter and trailed by five points at the half. The Blackhawks outscored the Cheesemakers 32-12 in the second half.
"When the adversity came at us, we didn't handle it well," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "We left a lot of shots short. When we got down, we rushed things. Once we got down, our defense got worse."
Fort Atkinson's Clay Gerds scored a game-high 17 points. Monroe senior Kevin Noriega scored a team-high 10 points. Sophomore teammate Alex Toroff scored nine points and junior Ben Latimer added eight points.
"I knew the game would be physical," Murphy said. "We just have to find a way to play tougher without fouling."
Monroe will play at Stoughton at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13.
"We have to get better in every phase," Murphy said. "We have to guard better and limit them to one shot. As a coach, I thought we would be further along on the defensive end. We have to find a way to get better on defense, boxing out and rebounding."
Darlington 76,
Riverdale 46
With a late start due to the Darlington football team's run to the state championship game, the Redbird boys basketball team showed no ill-effects rolling to a 76-46 win over Riverdale Friday.
Darlington senior Cole McDonald scored a team-high 18 points and was one of three players in double figures in the season-opening win. Senior teammate Ben Muhlstein and sophomore Hunter Johnson each added 16 points. The Redbirds made 16 of 21 free throws and outscored Riverdale 24-14 in the second quarter to take a 12-point lead at the half.
"We got a little rust off in the first quarter," Darlington coach Mike Hopkins said. "We have a lot of depth."
Hopkins said the Redbirds switched to a halfcourt trap and zone that gave Riverdale some difficulty.
Lake Mills 58,
New Glarus 47
LAKE MILLS - New Glarus junior Gavin Binger scored a game-high 19 points, but Lake Mills had a big third quarter and held off the Glarner Knights handing them a 58-47 loss.
The L-Cats led by just three points at the half, but broke the game open outscoring the Knights 20-9 in the third quarter. Lake Mills had four players in double figures led by Simon Lensmire and Brady Wagner with 15 points each.
New Glarus junior Austin Schlueter added 12 points and the Knights made 4 of 9 free throws compared to 14 of 16 for the L-Cats.
Monroe (1-3, 0-1 Badger South) jumped out to a 15-12 lead in the first quarter and trailed by five points at the half. The Blackhawks outscored the Cheesemakers 32-12 in the second half.
"When the adversity came at us, we didn't handle it well," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "We left a lot of shots short. When we got down, we rushed things. Once we got down, our defense got worse."
Fort Atkinson's Clay Gerds scored a game-high 17 points. Monroe senior Kevin Noriega scored a team-high 10 points. Sophomore teammate Alex Toroff scored nine points and junior Ben Latimer added eight points.
"I knew the game would be physical," Murphy said. "We just have to find a way to play tougher without fouling."
Monroe will play at Stoughton at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13.
"We have to get better in every phase," Murphy said. "We have to guard better and limit them to one shot. As a coach, I thought we would be further along on the defensive end. We have to find a way to get better on defense, boxing out and rebounding."
Darlington 76,
Riverdale 46
With a late start due to the Darlington football team's run to the state championship game, the Redbird boys basketball team showed no ill-effects rolling to a 76-46 win over Riverdale Friday.
Darlington senior Cole McDonald scored a team-high 18 points and was one of three players in double figures in the season-opening win. Senior teammate Ben Muhlstein and sophomore Hunter Johnson each added 16 points. The Redbirds made 16 of 21 free throws and outscored Riverdale 24-14 in the second quarter to take a 12-point lead at the half.
"We got a little rust off in the first quarter," Darlington coach Mike Hopkins said. "We have a lot of depth."
Hopkins said the Redbirds switched to a halfcourt trap and zone that gave Riverdale some difficulty.
Lake Mills 58,
New Glarus 47
LAKE MILLS - New Glarus junior Gavin Binger scored a game-high 19 points, but Lake Mills had a big third quarter and held off the Glarner Knights handing them a 58-47 loss.
The L-Cats led by just three points at the half, but broke the game open outscoring the Knights 20-9 in the third quarter. Lake Mills had four players in double figures led by Simon Lensmire and Brady Wagner with 15 points each.
New Glarus junior Austin Schlueter added 12 points and the Knights made 4 of 9 free throws compared to 14 of 16 for the L-Cats.
