MONROE - Ben Latimer suffered a broken arm his freshman year in baseball. That experience didn't prepare him for what happened three years later before his senior basketball season for Monroe High School.
Latimer broke a bone in his foot playing basketball at the Green County YMCA. Gone was the opportunity to start the season for the Cheesemakers. He questioned when he would return to 100 percent. Latimer didn't want his season to be derailed before it even started. The sting of the injury was tough to stomach for a 6-foot 5 post player who expected to be an anchor for Monroe on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor.
"Not being able to play and watching all of the practices was really tough to deal with," Latimer said. "It was frustrating. It was tougher than when I broke my arm because I wanted to get back and finish off my senior year. After I broke my arm, I had three years left. I always knew I would get back. I just didn't know how quick I would get back."
Latimer missed more than half the season. He has played in just eight games due to the broken bone in his foot. Since returning, he has averaged 14.2 points per game. He's starting to find a rhythm on the court as a scoring threat down low. Latimer has averaged 20.2 points per game in his past five games. He has made two starts after being named honorable mention all-conference last year. He is seeing an expanded role and even more minutes every game.
"I'm feeling a lot more comfortable now," Latimer said. "It feels like I'm back to where I was. It's nice to be back."
It has been a rollercoaster season not only for Latimer, but for the Cheesemakers as a whole. Monroe (4-16, 1-9 Badger South) has lost six straight games and is 1-6 since his return. However, the scoring for the Cheesemakers is up about four points per game since Latimer came back. The Cheesemakers are averaging 58.7 points per game since Latimer's return compared to 55.1 points without him.
Latimer remains humble through his successes and struggles on the court. He remains confident the Cheesemakers can be a surprise team come tournament time, which begins March 1.
"I believe we have the talent to fight with any team we play and compete at any level," Latimer said. "Our defense has been down lately. Our goal is to hold teams under 52 points. If we can do that we are a dangerous team."
Count Monroe coach Pat Murphy relishes the time he has left as Latimer's coach.
"You will not find a better person in my eyes," Murphy said. "Whether he was playing or not, he gives the team tips."
Murphy understands Latimer can help the Cheesemakers move the ball inside-out and that having him on the court could lead to more open shots.
"A post player will only be as good as the person making the pass," Murphy said. "A lot of our guys are getting used to where Ben likes and wants the ball. Our guys have done a darn good job of feeding him the ball. Ben on our team has to be a finisher at the rim. That is what we need him and expect him to do every time. He can shoot the 3-pointer once in a while. He can spread the defense out that way."
Latimer is coming off a 19-point and 15-rebound effort in a 71-63 overtime loss to Badger South Conference co-leader Stoughton on Tuesday. He scored a career-high 31 points in a loss to Dodgeville on Feb. 10.
"Whatever he is giving us we can always use more," Murphy said. "That is why we keep pushing him to try to extend his minutes as much as we can."
Some teams have resorted to using a smaller, quicker player to defend Latimer down low to deny the entry pass.
"A lot of teams are using a smaller guy to make the pass into him not as easy," Murphy said.
Murphy keeps preaching to Latimer about his positioning.
"We have had to get on him for having his hands too low," Murphy said. "If you are that big you want to play big and keep your hands up."
The challenge for Latimer and the Cheesemakers hasn't come on the offensive end. The Cheesemakers are giving up 73 points per game in their past five games.
"I think with Ben the tough thing is when you are off so much time it's hard to get up to speed on defense and know when and where to help," Murphy said. "That has been the hard part for our whole team. If you ask Ben or anyone else, we have been scoring enough points to win. We just haven't defended lately. We just haven't been able to stop people from scoring. We see it in pieces. We still have holes in our defense we have to get fixed up in a hurry."
Murphy said there is no secret formula for winning close games down the stretch. It comes down to defense and making plays.
The Cheesemakers have been making more plays on offense, but they are looking for more signature defensive stops to define their season. Only time will tell if Monroe will get the defensive stops they need when it matters most.
"These close games are the games we want to win," Latimer said. "It's tough when you are not finishing games. We just have to learn how to finish games. If we can figure it all out we will be a dangerous team."
Latimer broke a bone in his foot playing basketball at the Green County YMCA. Gone was the opportunity to start the season for the Cheesemakers. He questioned when he would return to 100 percent. Latimer didn't want his season to be derailed before it even started. The sting of the injury was tough to stomach for a 6-foot 5 post player who expected to be an anchor for Monroe on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor.
"Not being able to play and watching all of the practices was really tough to deal with," Latimer said. "It was frustrating. It was tougher than when I broke my arm because I wanted to get back and finish off my senior year. After I broke my arm, I had three years left. I always knew I would get back. I just didn't know how quick I would get back."
Latimer missed more than half the season. He has played in just eight games due to the broken bone in his foot. Since returning, he has averaged 14.2 points per game. He's starting to find a rhythm on the court as a scoring threat down low. Latimer has averaged 20.2 points per game in his past five games. He has made two starts after being named honorable mention all-conference last year. He is seeing an expanded role and even more minutes every game.
"I'm feeling a lot more comfortable now," Latimer said. "It feels like I'm back to where I was. It's nice to be back."
It has been a rollercoaster season not only for Latimer, but for the Cheesemakers as a whole. Monroe (4-16, 1-9 Badger South) has lost six straight games and is 1-6 since his return. However, the scoring for the Cheesemakers is up about four points per game since Latimer came back. The Cheesemakers are averaging 58.7 points per game since Latimer's return compared to 55.1 points without him.
Latimer remains humble through his successes and struggles on the court. He remains confident the Cheesemakers can be a surprise team come tournament time, which begins March 1.
"I believe we have the talent to fight with any team we play and compete at any level," Latimer said. "Our defense has been down lately. Our goal is to hold teams under 52 points. If we can do that we are a dangerous team."
Count Monroe coach Pat Murphy relishes the time he has left as Latimer's coach.
"You will not find a better person in my eyes," Murphy said. "Whether he was playing or not, he gives the team tips."
Murphy understands Latimer can help the Cheesemakers move the ball inside-out and that having him on the court could lead to more open shots.
"A post player will only be as good as the person making the pass," Murphy said. "A lot of our guys are getting used to where Ben likes and wants the ball. Our guys have done a darn good job of feeding him the ball. Ben on our team has to be a finisher at the rim. That is what we need him and expect him to do every time. He can shoot the 3-pointer once in a while. He can spread the defense out that way."
Latimer is coming off a 19-point and 15-rebound effort in a 71-63 overtime loss to Badger South Conference co-leader Stoughton on Tuesday. He scored a career-high 31 points in a loss to Dodgeville on Feb. 10.
"Whatever he is giving us we can always use more," Murphy said. "That is why we keep pushing him to try to extend his minutes as much as we can."
Some teams have resorted to using a smaller, quicker player to defend Latimer down low to deny the entry pass.
"A lot of teams are using a smaller guy to make the pass into him not as easy," Murphy said.
Murphy keeps preaching to Latimer about his positioning.
"We have had to get on him for having his hands too low," Murphy said. "If you are that big you want to play big and keep your hands up."
The challenge for Latimer and the Cheesemakers hasn't come on the offensive end. The Cheesemakers are giving up 73 points per game in their past five games.
"I think with Ben the tough thing is when you are off so much time it's hard to get up to speed on defense and know when and where to help," Murphy said. "That has been the hard part for our whole team. If you ask Ben or anyone else, we have been scoring enough points to win. We just haven't defended lately. We just haven't been able to stop people from scoring. We see it in pieces. We still have holes in our defense we have to get fixed up in a hurry."
Murphy said there is no secret formula for winning close games down the stretch. It comes down to defense and making plays.
The Cheesemakers have been making more plays on offense, but they are looking for more signature defensive stops to define their season. Only time will tell if Monroe will get the defensive stops they need when it matters most.
"These close games are the games we want to win," Latimer said. "It's tough when you are not finishing games. We just have to learn how to finish games. If we can figure it all out we will be a dangerous team."
