BARABOO — With a 67-55 win over the Thunderbirds on Friday, Jan. 27, the Cheesemakers reach .500 for the first time since Dec. 29. Monroe has won its last three games to hit this threshold.
The first five minutes of the game proved to be a battle between each team’s top-scorers in James Seagreaves and Ross Liegel. Seagreaves scored eight of Monroe’s first 10 points, while Liegel scored six of Baraboo’s first eight points.
Brandon Bassett extended the Cheesemakers’ lead to four with a pair of free throws. The Thunderbirds worked to get their first lead of the game, though, with a basket and assist from Alex Hannagan.
Baraboo’s lead lasted all of 12 seconds, as Ryan Mathiason scored to give Monroe a 14-13 lead. Tucker Markham then stole the ball and went the distance but was fouled on the fastbreak. At the line, he went 2-for-2.
The Thunderbirds took another slim, one-point lead with a bucket from Hannagan but Monroe then entered bonus with eight and a half minutes left. George Brukwicki tied the game at 17 with a free throw, and Markham followed with a basket.
Jayson Zittlow then drained a three that sparked a 14-2 run for Baraboo. Tobin Lefevre followed with back-to-back baskets, which included a pump-fake three and drive to the hoop. With consecutive scores from Beau Brewster, the Thunderbirds led by 10 with just over two minutes left in the half.
Bassett ended Baraboo’s run with a bucket, followed by two more points from Seagreaves. With the half coming to a close, Seagreaves blocked two shots to keep the Cheesemakers within five points.
Monroe flipped a switch in the second half, coming out of the locker room to score 10 unanswered points. Markham drained a three just 30 seconds in, followed by an inbounds bucket from Charlie Wiegel.
Liegel, who sat most of the first half after picking up two early fouls, collected his third foul when he charged into Seagreaves. Markham took advantage of the turnover with another three, while Keatin Sweeney chipped in with a bucket.
Drew Mistele broke up the Cheesemakers’ run with a basket — the Thunderbirds first points of the second half — nearly five minutes in. From the end of the first half to the beginning of the second, Monroe scored 15 straight points.
Baraboo’s basket didn’t faze Bassett, as he hit a 3-pointer on the offensive end. To go up by double digits, Seagreaves scored on back-to-back possessions, including an inbounds play. The Thunderbirds called a timeout to recollect, but the effort proved fruitless.
Out of the break, Basset scored on an offensive put-back. Markham sank his third 3-pointer and 20 seconds later Monroe reached bonus. At the line, Seagreaves made both of his shots.
Although Baraboo got within eight thanks to offensive boards, fouls continued to plague the Thunderbirds. The Cheesemakers spent the last five minutes in double bonus, going 7-for-12 at the charity stripe.
With the win secured, Monroe head coach Brian Bassett put his substitutes in for a possession. Jakar Briotzman capitalized on the opportunity, scoring a buzzer beater.
Seagreaves finished with his fifth double-double this season, scoring 25 points with 14 rebounds, all defensive. Markham also finished in double figures with 16 points, going 5-for-8 at the free-throw line with three 3-pointers. Brandon Bassett was the third Cheesemaker in double digits with 11 points.
DARLINGTON 76, RIVERDALE 48
MUSCODA — The Redbirds didn’t allow a single 3-pointer while sinking seven of their own in a SWAL Conference game on Thursday, Jan. 26.
Darlington was led by Will Murray with 23 points. Carver Fitzsimons grabbed a team-best seven rebounds with 18 points, while Brady Long also scored in double figures with 14 points. Reagan Jackson (six points), Broker Buschor (eight points) and Long tallied two 3-pointers each, with the final shot coming from Levi Carter (three points). At the free-throw line, the Redbirds went 9-for-14 for 64%.
NEW GLARUS 63, MARSHALL 57
NEW GLARUS — The Knights overcame a seven-point first-half deficit to defeat the Cardinals in a conference game on Thursday, Jan. 26.
Jack Leonard led New Glarus with 15 points, going 2-for-2 from the free-throw line with three 3-pointers. Max Parman also sank three 3-pointers in his 13-point total. The Knights made eight threes, with the other two coming from Breckyn Thompson (seven points) and Jake Roth (five points). AC Strok was the third player in double figures with 13 points, nine of which came at the charity stripe. The remaining offense came from Max Marty (four points), Lawrence Vasquez (four points) and Brett Warrell (two points).
TURNER 90, BRODHEAD 46
BRODHEAD — A balanced offense propelled the Trojans past the Cardinals in a Rock Valley Conference game on Thursday, Jan. 26.
Turner had four players in double figures, while Jaxon Dooley and Cullen Walker led Brodhead with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Walker and Gabe Bockhop (eight points) drained a pair of threes each, while the remaining two came from Sam Searls (three points) and Dooley. Nathan Engen tallied five points, while Gavin Pinnow made a second-half bucket. Ryan Searls went 1-for-2 from the charity stripe.
BARNEVELD 86, JUDA 10
JUDA — The Panthers dropped a game to the conference-leading Eagles on Thursday, Jan. 26. Blake Adkins and Jayden Brown led with three points each, while Aiden Schadewalt and Hunter Foster chipped in two points apiece.
