MONROE — Coming off their biggest win of the season, the Cheesemakers struggled to make it back-to-back Ws after falling 49-43 to Stoughton Dec. 15.

“We were feeling great. We felt like we had taken a big step forward and had a chance at No. 1 in the conference,” Monroe sophomore forward Cade Meyer said. “We watched film all week on them and they haven’t shot like this all season so far. It was just different (and) we just couldn’t make our shots.” 

The Vikings (6-1, 4-0 Badger South) came into the contest with a one-game lead in the conference standings over Monroe, which upended Monona Grove on the road earlier in the week thanks to some hot shooting. The magic touch did not carry over for the Cheesemakers (3-5, 2-2), which hit just one 3-pointer against Stoughton.

“We played really well, but we just missed every shot we took. We hit 1-for-16 on 3s,” senior guard Nick Schumacher said. “I think as far as mentally, we are fine. I think it was just a bad shooting night, again. Most of our losses have been from bad shooting. As far as I can tell, we’re fine.”

“We hit 3s all the time in practice — all the time — but then we can’t make any in a game. It’s just so frustrating,” Monroe head coach Brian Bassett said.

Stoughton played a hearty zone defense, a kryptonite to Monroe’s offense thus far this season. The two teams went into halftime tied at 15 after a 6-point burst by Schumacher in the waning minutes.

In the second half, the Cheesemakers attacked the rim more often, using its size advantage to bruise around in the post. With 8:04 left in regulation Monroe took a 35-28 lead after a pair of Cade Meyer free throws.

“Coach said we just have to move the ball more and look for open shots — don’t hold it and don’t let them get into their zone, just keep pushing it,” Meyer said of Bassett at halftime.

Then, in an eerie moment of déjà vu of the loss to Oregon, the Cheesemakers stalled offensively just as Stoughton got hot.

“As the game went on we got closer and closer to the basket and started tightening up more and more, when we needed more spacing instead of getting tighter. It’s something we work on — in practice we’re spread out like crazy. It’s a totally different team from what I see in practice,” Bassett said.

The Vikings hit four 3-pointers in a four-minute window and, to go along with a free throw and two baskets down in the paint, moved ahead 45-39 with just 2:06 to play.

“We had wide open looks and just didn’t make them. We had guys in good spots, especially in the first half against their zone. We had some really clean looks and we just couldn’t — for whatever reason — get it to go down tonight,” Bassett said.

Monroe made it as close as 47-43 with 33 seconds left.

Kade King led Monroe with 19 points, including 12 in the second half. Schumacher finished with eight and Meyer six. Adam Hobson led Stoughton with 21, including five total 3s — and four in the second half. The Vikings hit seven 3s in the game.

Monroe was just 3 of 6 in the second half from the free throw line and 4 of 11 for the game. Stoughton was 8 of 15 for the game and went 5 for 8 in the final 6:18.

“It changes the whole complexion of the game,” Bassett said of the Cheesemakers struggles from the line.

The Cheesemakers now get some days to rest before a battle Dec. 21 at Edgewood. Monroe’s only other game before the new year will be Dec. 28 at New Glarus.

“We might put in a couple new wrinkles in on offense just to continue to try and grow that way,” Bassett said. “I think we are starting to figure out where guys can make plays and where everybody is going to perform the best. We’re going to move some guys around a little bit more. We’re going to count on some of these young guys to learn a little bit more play from different spots. If we can get some movement with some guys around the floor in our swing, we think it can give them some more opportunities — basket cuts and stuff like that.”