MONROE — In seven of the last eight holiday seasons, Monroe and New Glarus have played each other. This year was no different, with the Cheesemakers extending their series lead to 6-2 with a narrow 75-71 victory on Friday, Dec. 22.
Monroe jumped out to an 11-point lead just under five minutes into the game. James Seagreaves, Brandon Bassett and Logan Taylor all made shots from beyond the arc during the run. Ryan Mathiason scored off a steal from Mekhi Brown, while Bassett capped the run with a 2-for-2 trip to the line.
New Glarus dipped into the deficit with 3-point plays from Max Marty and Jake Roth.
Seagreaves attempted to steal Roth’s pass to Marty, giving Marty a wide-open path to the basket. Josh Meyer came over too late on the help defense, picking up a foul. Marty made the and-one. Two minutes later, Roth bodied up Bassett on a basket from the right block. He also made the bonus shot, making it a 14-8 game.
The Cheesemakers built up a 10-point lead twice more in the first half. At the eight-minute mark, Bassett drained a 3-pointer from the right corner. After a bucket from Danny Austin, Monroe quickly responded with two free throws from Mathiason.
Monroe took its largest lead of the half with Bassett’s fourth three of the game. Getting into a rhythm, Bassett let one go five feet beyond the line for a 29-16 advantage.
The Knights were able to go into the locker room trailing by three thanks to an 11-4 run in the final four minutes of the period.
Brett Warrell sparked the run with a fastbreak basket, assisted by Roth. After a defense rebound, Roth assisted in another fastbreak bucket, this time to Marty. Lawrence Vasquez capped the run with two from the left block.
Marcus Ott broke up the rally with a steal and two points, but Roth kept his fire. Breckyn Thompson drove baseline then kicked it out to Roth for three. Warrell then ended the half with two points in transition, making for a 33-27 game in favor of Monroe.
Monroe kept a two-possession lead for the first five minutes of the half until Taylor’s pull-up jumper gave the Cheesemakers a 48-37 advantage. With a pair of free throws from Kaden Kuester and Taylor, in addition to another three from Bassett, Monroe had its largest lead of the game, 55-41.
The Cheesemakers built up a 14-point lead again with 10 minutes remaining, thanks to an and-one dunk from Seagreaves. Momentum quickly shifted as Austin and Roth hit back-to-back 3-pointers. The scores put New Glarus within eight.
Following a double-bonus trip to the line for Mathiason, the Knights went on a 12-2 run.
Vasquez began with two in the paint, followed by a pair of free throws from Marty. Out of a New Glarus timeout, Thompson scored on a fast break. Warrell and Thompson then sank a pair of threes to pull the Knights within one, 63-62. During the run, Monroe was without a field goal for over five minutes.
The Cheesemakers regrouped in a timeout, allowing Bassett to find his rhythm once again. The senior sank a three at the top of the key for a 66-62 lead with just under three minutes left. Roth and Brown exchanged a pair of free throws each, as Monroe maintained a two-possession lead.
In the final minute of play, the two teams combined for 12 points. All five of Monroe’s points came from the charity stripe, as Thompson and Marty fouled out. Mathiason and Taylor were a perfect 5-for-5.
Roth and Vasquez scored in crucial possessions, but their shots only kept New Glarus on pace with Monroe — never putting the Knights ahead.
The big difference in the game came on free throws, where Monroe made more than New Glarus attempted (21-for-31; 7-for-15). Bassett, Taylor and Kuester were perfect from the charity stripe (9-for-9).
Bassett and Taylor also had career nights, scoring 23 and 21 points respectively. Of Bassett’s 23 points, 18 of them were behind the arc. Seagreaves and Mathiason also finished in double figures with 21 and 13 points, respectively.
Roth also scored 23 points with four 3s to pace the Knights. Thompson and Vasquez also finished in double figures with 14 and 11 points, respectively. Marty led on the boards with 11 rebounds, 10 of which were defensive.
