CLINTON - The Monroe boys basketball team struggled shooting from the free throw line and lost a non-conference game at Clinton 48-38 Monday night.
Monroe (6-7, 2-4 Badger South), which lost its third straight game, hit just 10 of 28 from the foul line.
"The difference in the game was we shot 10 of 28 free throws," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "That puts you in a hole."
The Cheesemakers battled back from a 16-point deficit starting the fourth quarter.
Monroe cut the deficit to five points with 2 minutes, 9 seconds left, but couldn't finish it off. Murphy said the Cheesemakers had a trap set, but the Cougars were able to split the trap and score on a layup to extend their lead to seven points.
"That was a killer play," Murphy said. "We are not doing the little things as well as we need to. Our rebounding and free throw shooting are things we stress. Every coach stresses them."
Monroe junior Alex Barenklau scored a team-high 16 points and Brian Schneider had six.
Clinton center Justin Langley scored a game-high 23 points and hit four 3-pointers.
Monroe will play Baraboo in a Badger Challenge game at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Mount Horeb.
"We never want to get used to losing," Murphy said. "We will go back, look at the tape and try to get better."
Monroe (6-7, 2-4 Badger South), which lost its third straight game, hit just 10 of 28 from the foul line.
"The difference in the game was we shot 10 of 28 free throws," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "That puts you in a hole."
The Cheesemakers battled back from a 16-point deficit starting the fourth quarter.
Monroe cut the deficit to five points with 2 minutes, 9 seconds left, but couldn't finish it off. Murphy said the Cheesemakers had a trap set, but the Cougars were able to split the trap and score on a layup to extend their lead to seven points.
"That was a killer play," Murphy said. "We are not doing the little things as well as we need to. Our rebounding and free throw shooting are things we stress. Every coach stresses them."
Monroe junior Alex Barenklau scored a team-high 16 points and Brian Schneider had six.
Clinton center Justin Langley scored a game-high 23 points and hit four 3-pointers.
Monroe will play Baraboo in a Badger Challenge game at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Mount Horeb.
"We never want to get used to losing," Murphy said. "We will go back, look at the tape and try to get better."
