MONROE - Developing an edgy attitude on the court is one area in which Monroe boys basketball coach Pat Murphy wants the Cheesemakers to improve after a 62-47 loss to Beloit Memorial Saturday.
"We just hesitated on everything," Murphy said. "We were half a step slow. We really didn't have a sense of urgency. That is what bothers me. We didn't have that edginess. They were obviously the more disciplined team. It's disappointing we didn't put up more of a fight on alumni weekend. They were primed and ready to go.
"It's my job as a coach to have them prepared and ready to go. They did what they wanted to do with very little resistance."
Monroe (0-2) shot just 35 percent at the free throw line (7-or-20). Beloit Memorial used a 12-0 run in the second quarter, fueled by a halfcourt press that took the Cheesemakers out of their offensive sets.
Beloit Memorial senior Dallen McAtee had a steal and a layup and drilled a 3-pointer with 5 minutes, 4 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Purple Knights a 25-16 lead. The Purple Knights outscored Monroe 21-2 in the second quarter as the Cheesemakers went through a cold spell. The Purple Knights hit 10 three-pointers and shot 48.8 percent in the game (21 of 43).
"We have to hang our hat on some kind of halfcourt defense," Murphy said. "This is our second straight game where the other team has lit us up. Guys have to be ready to make plays."
Monroe senior Desmond Ford scored a team-high 10 points and made two 3-pointers. Senior Logan Weckerly added seven points, junior Ben Latimer chipped in six points and sophomore Alex Tordoff added five points.
"It was by far our effort," Ford said of the difference in the game. "We didn't show enough urgency and will to play and close out on people. It hurt us a lot. We definitely need to get a hand in their face."
The Cheesemakers didn't have many turnovers attacking the Purple Knights' stifling halfcourt traps, but it made taking a shot more difficult after the Cheesemakers jumped out to a 16-13 lead in the first quarter.
"We didn't get the good shots we wanted," Ford said. "It (halfcourt press) played a bit of a factor."
Beloit Memorial sophomore Drew Freitag drilled a 3-pointer and was fouled to open the third quarter. He sank the free throw to convert a rare four-point play to extend the Purple Knights' lead to 38-18. The Purple Knights led by as many as 25 points after junior Keyon McEachin scored on a layup to end the third quarter with Beloit Memorial leading 50-25.
"We didn't pass the ball quick enough or defend quick enough," Murphy said.
Beloit Memorial was led by sophomore Kyan Pleasant, who scored a game-high 16 points and made two 3-pointers. McAtee scored 13 points and hit a trio of 3-pointers.
Monroe won't dwell on the game against Beloit Memorial. It's a quick turnaround for the Cheesemakers as Monroe will host Brodhead tonight.
"We aren't picked very high in the conference," Ford said. "I feel like we can prove people wrong. It comes down to how hard we work. We have to come out a little more edgy and show who we really are."
"We just hesitated on everything," Murphy said. "We were half a step slow. We really didn't have a sense of urgency. That is what bothers me. We didn't have that edginess. They were obviously the more disciplined team. It's disappointing we didn't put up more of a fight on alumni weekend. They were primed and ready to go.
"It's my job as a coach to have them prepared and ready to go. They did what they wanted to do with very little resistance."
Monroe (0-2) shot just 35 percent at the free throw line (7-or-20). Beloit Memorial used a 12-0 run in the second quarter, fueled by a halfcourt press that took the Cheesemakers out of their offensive sets.
Beloit Memorial senior Dallen McAtee had a steal and a layup and drilled a 3-pointer with 5 minutes, 4 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Purple Knights a 25-16 lead. The Purple Knights outscored Monroe 21-2 in the second quarter as the Cheesemakers went through a cold spell. The Purple Knights hit 10 three-pointers and shot 48.8 percent in the game (21 of 43).
"We have to hang our hat on some kind of halfcourt defense," Murphy said. "This is our second straight game where the other team has lit us up. Guys have to be ready to make plays."
Monroe senior Desmond Ford scored a team-high 10 points and made two 3-pointers. Senior Logan Weckerly added seven points, junior Ben Latimer chipped in six points and sophomore Alex Tordoff added five points.
"It was by far our effort," Ford said of the difference in the game. "We didn't show enough urgency and will to play and close out on people. It hurt us a lot. We definitely need to get a hand in their face."
The Cheesemakers didn't have many turnovers attacking the Purple Knights' stifling halfcourt traps, but it made taking a shot more difficult after the Cheesemakers jumped out to a 16-13 lead in the first quarter.
"We didn't get the good shots we wanted," Ford said. "It (halfcourt press) played a bit of a factor."
Beloit Memorial sophomore Drew Freitag drilled a 3-pointer and was fouled to open the third quarter. He sank the free throw to convert a rare four-point play to extend the Purple Knights' lead to 38-18. The Purple Knights led by as many as 25 points after junior Keyon McEachin scored on a layup to end the third quarter with Beloit Memorial leading 50-25.
"We didn't pass the ball quick enough or defend quick enough," Murphy said.
Beloit Memorial was led by sophomore Kyan Pleasant, who scored a game-high 16 points and made two 3-pointers. McAtee scored 13 points and hit a trio of 3-pointers.
Monroe won't dwell on the game against Beloit Memorial. It's a quick turnaround for the Cheesemakers as Monroe will host Brodhead tonight.
"We aren't picked very high in the conference," Ford said. "I feel like we can prove people wrong. It comes down to how hard we work. We have to come out a little more edgy and show who we really are."
