MONROE - The showdown between Badger South Conference unbeatens may be a game the Monroe boys basketball team would like to forget after a 44-26 loss to Fort Atkinson Friday night.
Fort Atkinson (5-0, 3-0 Badger South) used a stifling 1-2-2 zone and a 1-2-2 press to slow down the Cheesemakers.
"Either you are a step slower or quicker," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "We were definitely a step slower tonight. As coaches, we have to do a better job of getting them ready to play. That will be our focus the coming week in practice."
Monroe (3-1, 1-1) got off to a slow start with turnovers on its first two possessions. Monroe senior Bryce Messerli, who scored a team-high six points, drilled a 3-pointer with 2 minutes, 18 seconds left in the first quarter to give the Cheesemakers an 8-6 lead. After finishing the period tied at 8, it started to unravel for the Cheesemakers. The Blackhawks went on a 14-1 second-quarter run sparked by some hot 3-point shooting. Fort Atkinson junior Casey O'Brien hit a 3-pointer and junior Michael Rossing knocked down two 3-pointers to give the Blackhawks a 25-11 halftime lead. The Blackhawks made five 3-pointers and the Cheesemakers shot just 4 of 18 in the first half.
"We all thought it was going to be a close game," Messerli said. "We had trouble with their press. That killed the momentum we had coming in. We definitely could have battled harder."
The Blackhawks led by as many as 20 points in the second half. Fort Atkinson junior Travis Hartmann drilled a 3-pointer to start the third quarter. Fort Atkinson's Jimmy Hanson scored down low about midway through the third quarter to give the Blackhawks a 32-12 lead. The Cheesemakers struggled penetrating the zone.
"We played against a similar defense against Oregon and we handled it," Murphy said. "To go backwards as a coach is disappointing. We were not forceful enough with the ball in making plays. We didn't force shots, we just have to execute better. They are not that much bigger and physical than us."
The Cheesemakers did get a lift off the bench from sophomore Jake Hirsbrunner who scored five points in the second half. Messerli hit a 3-pointer late in the third quarter to cut the Blackhawks' lead to 36-20.
Hirsbrunner made a layup with 6:25 to go in the fourth quarter to slice the Blackhawks' lead to 36-24. Monroe junior Alex Barenklau made 1 of 2 free throws with about 3 minutes left to cut the Blackhawks' lead to 10 points. However, the Cheesemakers had dug too big of a hole and they couldn't rally.
With the Cheesemakers forced to pressure the ball and foul, the Blackhawks made 7 of 10 free throws in the final 2:15.
"I thought we played with more urgency in the second half," Murphy said.
Monroe junior Brian Schneider and senior Tyler Barta each scored five points. Messerli and the Cheesemakers will have to wait a week before they get an opportunity to rebound from their first loss.
"He said we will have to figure it out," Messerli said of Murphy's message to the team after the game. "We will have to work harder next week and come back and get a victory."
Fort Atkinson (5-0, 3-0 Badger South) used a stifling 1-2-2 zone and a 1-2-2 press to slow down the Cheesemakers.
"Either you are a step slower or quicker," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "We were definitely a step slower tonight. As coaches, we have to do a better job of getting them ready to play. That will be our focus the coming week in practice."
Monroe (3-1, 1-1) got off to a slow start with turnovers on its first two possessions. Monroe senior Bryce Messerli, who scored a team-high six points, drilled a 3-pointer with 2 minutes, 18 seconds left in the first quarter to give the Cheesemakers an 8-6 lead. After finishing the period tied at 8, it started to unravel for the Cheesemakers. The Blackhawks went on a 14-1 second-quarter run sparked by some hot 3-point shooting. Fort Atkinson junior Casey O'Brien hit a 3-pointer and junior Michael Rossing knocked down two 3-pointers to give the Blackhawks a 25-11 halftime lead. The Blackhawks made five 3-pointers and the Cheesemakers shot just 4 of 18 in the first half.
"We all thought it was going to be a close game," Messerli said. "We had trouble with their press. That killed the momentum we had coming in. We definitely could have battled harder."
The Blackhawks led by as many as 20 points in the second half. Fort Atkinson junior Travis Hartmann drilled a 3-pointer to start the third quarter. Fort Atkinson's Jimmy Hanson scored down low about midway through the third quarter to give the Blackhawks a 32-12 lead. The Cheesemakers struggled penetrating the zone.
"We played against a similar defense against Oregon and we handled it," Murphy said. "To go backwards as a coach is disappointing. We were not forceful enough with the ball in making plays. We didn't force shots, we just have to execute better. They are not that much bigger and physical than us."
The Cheesemakers did get a lift off the bench from sophomore Jake Hirsbrunner who scored five points in the second half. Messerli hit a 3-pointer late in the third quarter to cut the Blackhawks' lead to 36-20.
Hirsbrunner made a layup with 6:25 to go in the fourth quarter to slice the Blackhawks' lead to 36-24. Monroe junior Alex Barenklau made 1 of 2 free throws with about 3 minutes left to cut the Blackhawks' lead to 10 points. However, the Cheesemakers had dug too big of a hole and they couldn't rally.
With the Cheesemakers forced to pressure the ball and foul, the Blackhawks made 7 of 10 free throws in the final 2:15.
"I thought we played with more urgency in the second half," Murphy said.
Monroe junior Brian Schneider and senior Tyler Barta each scored five points. Messerli and the Cheesemakers will have to wait a week before they get an opportunity to rebound from their first loss.
"He said we will have to figure it out," Messerli said of Murphy's message to the team after the game. "We will have to work harder next week and come back and get a victory."
