MONROE - Despite facing injuries and other off the court challenges, the Monroe boys basketball team found a way to win back-to-back games for the first time all season.
Most recently troubling the Cheesemakers was an injury to senior starting guard Hunter Ward. To fill in the gaps Monroe head coach Brian Bassett called upon a pair of junior varsity players for stability - freshman Max Golembiewski and sophomore Aaron Ziolkowski.
"We're just trying to hang on until Hunter comes back," Bassett said after Monroe's 58-47 nonconference win over Lena-Winslow Tuesday. "We need that backup point guard. Max has done a great job, and Aaron can handle the ball. If they keep giving us good minutes we'll have them stay with us as we go into the postseason."
Senior Brayden Zettle said newcomers have found a way to fit right in - mostly by performing when it matters most.
"Max has been playing really well, especially since Hunter went down," senior Brayden Zettle said. "He's really composed when he's on the court and he's got a nice shot. As long as he keeps passing well, I think he'll be alright."
After Le-Win, which has received votes in the Illinois state prep polls this year, jumped out to a 9-5 lead in the first five minutes of the game, Bassett brought in Golembiewski, who promptly knocked down a 3-pointer.
"There's definitely a lot more pressure," Golembiewski said of the varsity game. "Getting this nonconference game in, with a few more minutes, really helps me out."
The triple, along with sound defense, helped the Cheesemakers embark on a 13-1 run to take full momentum of the game from the Panthers.
"Our guys on offense started to move," Bassett said. "The first 5 or 10 minutes of the half our guys just passed it around and watched, hoping something good would happen. In the second 8-9 minutes of the half we started to cut really hard. We did a lot of good things."
Monroe's stout defense held Le-Win more than eight minutes without a field goal during the stretch, and closed the half on another big run (13-5) that made it 31-19 at the break.
"Once our defense picks up we usually play a lot better on both ends," Zettle said. "It was good to come out in the second half and not let them score for a while either, that was good."
Monroe forced the Panthers into 22 turnovers throughout the contest.
"Defensively we communicated the best we have all year," Bassett said. "We've worked on it a lot more the past few days in practice. The guys are starting to 'get it' - when to switch, when not and those things. There's still some stuff we've got to clean up, but I'm happy with the performance."
While the Cheesemakers were excessively patient in the first few minutes, their attack-style offense in the latter portion of the first half was the difference. Kade King scored 11 of his 13 points in a 14-minute stretch, which included three putbacks and six total rebounds. Brayden Zettle, meanwhile, scored all 14 of his points in the first 20 minutes of the contest, the last of which a 3-pointer that made it 38-19 just three minutes into the second half.
"I thought Kade did great in the high post, and that's something we're trying to work on. He gets 2, 3, 4 guys on him down in the block," Bassett said. "He can shoot it, which is great. We just have to get him more touches."
Monroe's biggest lead came to 22 with 8:31 to play in the second after Jonah Tostrud got a hoop and holler to push the advantage to 47-25. Moments later Bassett began inserting his reserves, which spent nearly the rest of the game on the floor.
"It's great - those guys get us better every day in practice and it's great to get them on the court on game night," Zettle said.
Le-Win never stopped fighting and made brought its deficit down to just 9 points with 2:06 to play, but soon brought in the last of its own bench.
"I definitely thought we were going to have to put our starters back in. I was ready to do it, but then they emptied their bench," Bassett said. "Those guys (reserves) need to be in those situations, too, though. They got some great reps tonight and I was really happy with it."
One of the reserves got a chance to start. Brian McKeon, a 6-foot senior, joined the starting five and ceremoniously lost the opening tip-off to Le-Win's much more physically gifted Isaiah Bruce.
"(McKeon) shows up to everything all summer long, shows up to every practice early and leaves late ... He may not be the most skilled player in the world, but he's got the biggest heart and he knows our offense better than anybody," Bassett said.
Zettle's 14 led the Cheesemakers, followed by King's 13. David Keegan had 8 for Monroe. Le-Win sophomore Sean Ormiston had 17 points and Bruce added 8.
Golembiewski said the upperclassmen on the team have been very receptive to his addition.
"In practice they are helping us out, because we run a different play style on JV," Golembiewski said. "And on the court (in games), they definitely help lead us when we get into tough situations."
Monroe (7-6) next hits the court Saturday afternoon at the Badger Conference Challenge against Portage.
Most recently troubling the Cheesemakers was an injury to senior starting guard Hunter Ward. To fill in the gaps Monroe head coach Brian Bassett called upon a pair of junior varsity players for stability - freshman Max Golembiewski and sophomore Aaron Ziolkowski.
"We're just trying to hang on until Hunter comes back," Bassett said after Monroe's 58-47 nonconference win over Lena-Winslow Tuesday. "We need that backup point guard. Max has done a great job, and Aaron can handle the ball. If they keep giving us good minutes we'll have them stay with us as we go into the postseason."
Senior Brayden Zettle said newcomers have found a way to fit right in - mostly by performing when it matters most.
"Max has been playing really well, especially since Hunter went down," senior Brayden Zettle said. "He's really composed when he's on the court and he's got a nice shot. As long as he keeps passing well, I think he'll be alright."
After Le-Win, which has received votes in the Illinois state prep polls this year, jumped out to a 9-5 lead in the first five minutes of the game, Bassett brought in Golembiewski, who promptly knocked down a 3-pointer.
"There's definitely a lot more pressure," Golembiewski said of the varsity game. "Getting this nonconference game in, with a few more minutes, really helps me out."
The triple, along with sound defense, helped the Cheesemakers embark on a 13-1 run to take full momentum of the game from the Panthers.
"Our guys on offense started to move," Bassett said. "The first 5 or 10 minutes of the half our guys just passed it around and watched, hoping something good would happen. In the second 8-9 minutes of the half we started to cut really hard. We did a lot of good things."
Monroe's stout defense held Le-Win more than eight minutes without a field goal during the stretch, and closed the half on another big run (13-5) that made it 31-19 at the break.
"Once our defense picks up we usually play a lot better on both ends," Zettle said. "It was good to come out in the second half and not let them score for a while either, that was good."
Monroe forced the Panthers into 22 turnovers throughout the contest.
"Defensively we communicated the best we have all year," Bassett said. "We've worked on it a lot more the past few days in practice. The guys are starting to 'get it' - when to switch, when not and those things. There's still some stuff we've got to clean up, but I'm happy with the performance."
While the Cheesemakers were excessively patient in the first few minutes, their attack-style offense in the latter portion of the first half was the difference. Kade King scored 11 of his 13 points in a 14-minute stretch, which included three putbacks and six total rebounds. Brayden Zettle, meanwhile, scored all 14 of his points in the first 20 minutes of the contest, the last of which a 3-pointer that made it 38-19 just three minutes into the second half.
"I thought Kade did great in the high post, and that's something we're trying to work on. He gets 2, 3, 4 guys on him down in the block," Bassett said. "He can shoot it, which is great. We just have to get him more touches."
Monroe's biggest lead came to 22 with 8:31 to play in the second after Jonah Tostrud got a hoop and holler to push the advantage to 47-25. Moments later Bassett began inserting his reserves, which spent nearly the rest of the game on the floor.
"It's great - those guys get us better every day in practice and it's great to get them on the court on game night," Zettle said.
Le-Win never stopped fighting and made brought its deficit down to just 9 points with 2:06 to play, but soon brought in the last of its own bench.
"I definitely thought we were going to have to put our starters back in. I was ready to do it, but then they emptied their bench," Bassett said. "Those guys (reserves) need to be in those situations, too, though. They got some great reps tonight and I was really happy with it."
One of the reserves got a chance to start. Brian McKeon, a 6-foot senior, joined the starting five and ceremoniously lost the opening tip-off to Le-Win's much more physically gifted Isaiah Bruce.
"(McKeon) shows up to everything all summer long, shows up to every practice early and leaves late ... He may not be the most skilled player in the world, but he's got the biggest heart and he knows our offense better than anybody," Bassett said.
Zettle's 14 led the Cheesemakers, followed by King's 13. David Keegan had 8 for Monroe. Le-Win sophomore Sean Ormiston had 17 points and Bruce added 8.
Golembiewski said the upperclassmen on the team have been very receptive to his addition.
"In practice they are helping us out, because we run a different play style on JV," Golembiewski said. "And on the court (in games), they definitely help lead us when we get into tough situations."
Monroe (7-6) next hits the court Saturday afternoon at the Badger Conference Challenge against Portage.
