MONONA - Monona Grove junior Caden Nelson scored a team-high 19 points to lead the Silver Eagles to an 80-55 win over Monroe in a Badger South Conference showdown Saturday.
Monona Grove (16-1, 9-1 Badger South), ranked No. 4 in the Division 2 Associated Press state poll, jumped out to a 16-point lead at the half, 37-21. The Silver Eagles had 12 blocked shots in the first half.
"They (Monona Grove) just have a lot of length and are athletic," Monroe coach Brian Bassett said.
With the loss, the Cheesemakers (11-7, 6-4 Badger South) had their six-game winning streak snapped.
"I don't know if it was the early start time or what," Bassett said. "If you want to win in March, you have to win on Saturday afternoon. They (Monona Grove) were a lot stronger than we were. We have to continue to get better defensively."
Monroe junior Kade King scored a game-high 20 points and senior teammate Jonah Tostrud added 11. Senior Brayden Zettle pitched in 10.
The Cheesemakers sliced the Silver Eagles' lead to 9 points at one point in the second half. Monroe followed that up with two straight turnovers, and the Silver Eagles got 3-pointers from junior Sam Hepp and Nelson to ignite an 18-0 run.
Bassett said the Silver Eagles have a lot of scoring weapons, but he was disappointed with the defensive execution.
"I think a lot of it was we were really bad defensively," Bassett said. "We were not in the gaps, and we gave up a lot of straight line drives. We were supposed to be there to help. Part of it is their guys are really good and our guys were afraid to leave them because they are good shooters. We have to stop the ball first."
Monona Grove senior Jake Schroeckenthaler added 14 points, and senior Jimmy Thome chipped in 13.
It won't get any easier for the Cheesemakers. Monroe will host fourth-ranked Stoughton Friday. The Vikings (11-5, 9-0 Badger South) lead the conference by one game over Monona Grove. With four games left, a win against the Vikings would go a long way in the Cheesemakers' attempt to get a top-four regional seed.
"We have to try and steal a couple more," Bassett said.
Monona Grove (16-1, 9-1 Badger South), ranked No. 4 in the Division 2 Associated Press state poll, jumped out to a 16-point lead at the half, 37-21. The Silver Eagles had 12 blocked shots in the first half.
"They (Monona Grove) just have a lot of length and are athletic," Monroe coach Brian Bassett said.
With the loss, the Cheesemakers (11-7, 6-4 Badger South) had their six-game winning streak snapped.
"I don't know if it was the early start time or what," Bassett said. "If you want to win in March, you have to win on Saturday afternoon. They (Monona Grove) were a lot stronger than we were. We have to continue to get better defensively."
Monroe junior Kade King scored a game-high 20 points and senior teammate Jonah Tostrud added 11. Senior Brayden Zettle pitched in 10.
The Cheesemakers sliced the Silver Eagles' lead to 9 points at one point in the second half. Monroe followed that up with two straight turnovers, and the Silver Eagles got 3-pointers from junior Sam Hepp and Nelson to ignite an 18-0 run.
Bassett said the Silver Eagles have a lot of scoring weapons, but he was disappointed with the defensive execution.
"I think a lot of it was we were really bad defensively," Bassett said. "We were not in the gaps, and we gave up a lot of straight line drives. We were supposed to be there to help. Part of it is their guys are really good and our guys were afraid to leave them because they are good shooters. We have to stop the ball first."
Monona Grove senior Jake Schroeckenthaler added 14 points, and senior Jimmy Thome chipped in 13.
It won't get any easier for the Cheesemakers. Monroe will host fourth-ranked Stoughton Friday. The Vikings (11-5, 9-0 Badger South) lead the conference by one game over Monona Grove. With four games left, a win against the Vikings would go a long way in the Cheesemakers' attempt to get a top-four regional seed.
"We have to try and steal a couple more," Bassett said.
