MONROE — After pushing their first games back to let players recover from football season, the Cheesemakers had to adjust to the competition quickly. Monroe’s first conference game against Milton exposed some weaknesses, as the Cheesemakers were unable to maintain their lead and lost 74-67.
“We got tired,” head coach Brian Bassett said. “We got worn out and started making mistakes that we hadn’t done all game. I think it was fatigue. We are a little bit behind where a lot of people are right now — about a week and a half. So, we are still trying to get into basketball shape.”
Milton took an early 6-1 lead despite committing three fouls. Ayden Goll, who finished the game with 28 points, opened with a bucket for the Red Hawks. Teammates Brady Kavanaugh and Matt Kirk added two more points each.
Senior George Brukwicki came off a screen and drained a 3-pointer from the right side. With a James Seagreaves jumper off the inbounds play a minute later, Monroe tied the game at six.
Although Milton regained its lead with a three from Brogan McIntyre, Monroe hung around thanks to missed opportunities by the Red Hawks.
Charlie Wiegel fouled Laine Twist while shooting a three, but Milton’s guard went 0-for-3 at the free throw line. Milton went to the charity stripe again with a foul under the basket, but Kavanaugh also failed to convert.
After a Milton foul by Logan branch, Tucker Markham went to the line to show the Red Hawks how it’s done. He went 2-for-2 to bring the Cheesemakers within two. With back-to-back 3-pointers from Brandon Bassett, Monroe took the lead. Seagreaves kept the momentum on the home side with a slam dunk, assisted by Brukwicki.
“It was great to see those shots start to fall,” Brian Bassett said of the deep shots. “The reason they started to fall was because we were playing inside-out. We got a lot of post touches. George, James and Tucker did a fantastic job posting up and playing strong off of two feet.”
Kirk gave Milton the lead once again with consecutive buckets, but another three from Brukwicki erased it. With two bonus free throws from Wiegel, Monroe padded its lead to three. Keatin Sweeney put his body on the line and took a charge to give the Cheesemakers the ball again.
Monroe ended the half at the free throw line shooting bonus. Markham missed his shot, but Seagreaves grabbed the rebound and was fouled in the process. With his free throw, the Cheesemakers took a 35-28 lead into the half.
The Cheesemakers had a consistent nine-point lead through most of the second half. With back-to-back baskets from Seagreaves and Taylor Herbst, Monroe led 48-39. That’s when the fatigue started to set in, though.
The Red Hawks got within two thanks to a three-pointer from Branch. In the next offensive possession, Kirk converted a three-point play at the free throw line, as he was fouled while making his shot.
Although Brandon Bassett and Brukwicki scored to extend Monroe’s lead, Milton went on a 9-0 run to tie and eventually take the lead.
While the Red Hawks were 0-for-5 from the charity stripe in the first half, they flipped a switch in the second half. Goll’s pair of free throws gave Milton the lead, and Kirk’s pair extended it.
Brandon Bassett was fouled in the act of shooting a three and went 3-for-3 from the free-throw line to take a slim 59-57 lead. Monroe’s lead lasted just one possession, as Kirk drained a second-chance 3-point shot. He followed it up with yet another three for a 63-59 lead.
Seagreaves got a pass from Markham in transition for another slam dunk to get back within two, but Monroe was forced to foul the rest of the game to stop the clock. Down the stretch, Milton went 7-for-10 from the free-throw line to pull further and further away for the win.
Seagreaves led Monroe with 21 points, five assists and nine rebounds, one rebound away from a double-double. Brandon Bassett, who went 3-for-6 from beyond the arc, finished with 14 points. Brukwicki and Markham also finished in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Milton also had four players score in double digits. Ayden Goll led them all with 28 points. Kirk followed with 16 points, while McIntyre and Xander Wuetrich had 12 and 10, respectively.
The Red Hawks were ranked No. 9 in Division 2 after the first week of play. Stoughton, Monroe’s next opponent, is currently ranked No. 8 in Division 2.
“You’re always playing up,” Brian Bassett said of the Badger Conference. “We are the smallest team in the Badger besides Edgewood. You’re always going to get really good competition.”
