MONROE — The Monroe Cheesemakers quickly built a 10-point lead in the first half and blitzed the Evansville Blue Devils 68-33 in a Rock Valley Conference crossover game on Friday, Feb. 6.

Senior Mekhi Brown scored back-to-back baskets, senior Miles Versnik got a basket, and junior Kam Gerber-Reamer made a three to give Monroe a 30-14 lead with 4:30 remaining in the half. Senior Logan Taylor connected on a couple of baskets to give Monroe a 39-18 halftime lead.

In the second half, a layup by Versnik, a three-pointer by senior Marus Ott, and a layup by Brown extended Monroe’s lead to 63-31. Junior Ryan Roelli’s three gave the Cheesemakers their final points to make it 68-33.

Gerber-Reamer led the Cheese with 17 points. Brown had 12, and Taylor scored 10 points. The Blue Devils were led by sophomore Tyrell Louis with 12 points. 

The Cheesemakers won for the sixth straight time and Mekhi Brown feels this is the time for the Cheesemakers to play their best basketball. 

“I think that, not being the one-seed, and not winning the conference is definitely gonna light a fire under us and I think that will be able to make us be part of the hunt,” said Brown.

Cheesemakers coach Brian Bassett was asked if the team is tournament-ready or if some tweaking still needs to be done. 

“A lot tweaking to be done. I think, defensively, we’ve got a little ways to go when we bring guys off the bench to get them locked in. They’re pretty darn close, though. As far as offensively, I think we have a long ways to go and we still have to be better. We have to be more consistent about it,” said Bassett. 

Monroe (13-5, 8-2 RVC-Valley) had a nonconference game at Milton on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Evansville (8-9, 5-4 RVC-Rock) also had a nonconference game at Parkview on Tuesday, Feb. 10.