MONROE - Joe Latimer understands there may be bigger games down the road, but he wanted to start a new winning streak with a Badger South Conference showdown with Madison Edgewood looming.
The senior scored a game-high 23 points to power Monroe to a 63-53 win over Janesville Craig in a non-conference game Tuesday night. Latimer dominated down low as Craig played without 6-foot-5-inch senior Will Eden who suffered a broken bone in his foot last week.
"It feels really good coming off a loss," Latimer said, referencing Monroe's 65-62 overtime loss to Freeport Saturday. "We had won seven in a row. We didn't want to lose two in a row."
After an eight-game road trip, the Cheesemakers enjoyed the home cooking. Monroe shot 19 of 22 at the free throw line including 9 of 10 in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
Latimer scored eight points in the first quarter and helped Monroe (12-2, 4-1 Badger South) overcome a hot shooting start by the Cougars.
Craig shot 6 of 8 to start the game and hit four 3-pointers to take a 16-10 first quarter lead. Latimer converted a three-point play late in the first quarter to help cut the Cougars' lead to 18-16.
"We knew it was going to be a great test," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "(Latimer) knows what it is like. The seniors know their time is coming. They know they have X number of games left. We have to build off of it."
Janesville Craig (8-7) came in averaging 65.8 points per game in their last six contests.
"They were coming in on a little bit of a roll," Murphy said. "We held them to 53, which is more than our average of 43. We tried to keep them in front of us. We limited them to one shot the best we could. If you play decent 5-on-5 defense and make your free throws you will always be in it."
It was a see-saw second quarter and the Cheesemakers took a 25-24 lead on another three-point play by Latimer with 1:56 left in the second quarter. Janesville Craig senior Troy Malmanger answered, hitting a jumper before the buzzer to tie the game at 26 at the half.
"One of the keys was boxing out, because they can shoot," Latimer said. "You can see that by the first half. They can shoot lights-out."
The Cheesemakers went on an 11-5 run in the third quarter. Monroe senior Ben Murray drilled a 3-pointer with 6:21 to go in the third quarter, and Latimer later scored down low to give the Cheesemakers a 33-28 lead. Senior Brian Schneider scored on a putback to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to 37-31.
After the Cougars pulled within three points, Monroe junior Jake Hirsbrunner knocked down a 3-pointer and later dished to Charlie Kind for a layup and three-point play to give the Cheesemakers a 43-35 lead with 2:16 to go in the third quarter.
Janesville Craig junior Jerry Ngobi scored a team-high 15 points. The Cheesemakers used several players to guard him. Monroe senior Trent Wyssbord battled foul trouble and picked up his fourth foul with 1:32 to go in the third quarter. Murray picked up his fourth foul with 5:21 left in the fourth quarter.
"All I know is (Ngobi) is really good," Murphy said. "At least he didn't score 30 like he has been."
Wyssbrod made 4 of 4 free throws in the final 1:20. Monroe senior Alex Barenklau scored 11 points and made a layup with 6:03 to go in the fourth quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 49-39 lead. Murray scored all seven of his points in the second half.
"It was nice to get back on the winning track," Murray said. "It was a good momentum swing going into Friday's game."
Tipoff against Madison Edgewood will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, in the Monroe High School gymnasium. The Cheesemakers are playing to stay in the driver's seat for a conference championship, currently owning a one game lead over Edgewood, Fort Atkinson and Monona Grove.
"You have to bring it every night," Murphy said. "That is our goal on Friday."
The senior scored a game-high 23 points to power Monroe to a 63-53 win over Janesville Craig in a non-conference game Tuesday night. Latimer dominated down low as Craig played without 6-foot-5-inch senior Will Eden who suffered a broken bone in his foot last week.
"It feels really good coming off a loss," Latimer said, referencing Monroe's 65-62 overtime loss to Freeport Saturday. "We had won seven in a row. We didn't want to lose two in a row."
After an eight-game road trip, the Cheesemakers enjoyed the home cooking. Monroe shot 19 of 22 at the free throw line including 9 of 10 in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
Latimer scored eight points in the first quarter and helped Monroe (12-2, 4-1 Badger South) overcome a hot shooting start by the Cougars.
Craig shot 6 of 8 to start the game and hit four 3-pointers to take a 16-10 first quarter lead. Latimer converted a three-point play late in the first quarter to help cut the Cougars' lead to 18-16.
"We knew it was going to be a great test," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "(Latimer) knows what it is like. The seniors know their time is coming. They know they have X number of games left. We have to build off of it."
Janesville Craig (8-7) came in averaging 65.8 points per game in their last six contests.
"They were coming in on a little bit of a roll," Murphy said. "We held them to 53, which is more than our average of 43. We tried to keep them in front of us. We limited them to one shot the best we could. If you play decent 5-on-5 defense and make your free throws you will always be in it."
It was a see-saw second quarter and the Cheesemakers took a 25-24 lead on another three-point play by Latimer with 1:56 left in the second quarter. Janesville Craig senior Troy Malmanger answered, hitting a jumper before the buzzer to tie the game at 26 at the half.
"One of the keys was boxing out, because they can shoot," Latimer said. "You can see that by the first half. They can shoot lights-out."
The Cheesemakers went on an 11-5 run in the third quarter. Monroe senior Ben Murray drilled a 3-pointer with 6:21 to go in the third quarter, and Latimer later scored down low to give the Cheesemakers a 33-28 lead. Senior Brian Schneider scored on a putback to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to 37-31.
After the Cougars pulled within three points, Monroe junior Jake Hirsbrunner knocked down a 3-pointer and later dished to Charlie Kind for a layup and three-point play to give the Cheesemakers a 43-35 lead with 2:16 to go in the third quarter.
Janesville Craig junior Jerry Ngobi scored a team-high 15 points. The Cheesemakers used several players to guard him. Monroe senior Trent Wyssbord battled foul trouble and picked up his fourth foul with 1:32 to go in the third quarter. Murray picked up his fourth foul with 5:21 left in the fourth quarter.
"All I know is (Ngobi) is really good," Murphy said. "At least he didn't score 30 like he has been."
Wyssbrod made 4 of 4 free throws in the final 1:20. Monroe senior Alex Barenklau scored 11 points and made a layup with 6:03 to go in the fourth quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 49-39 lead. Murray scored all seven of his points in the second half.
"It was nice to get back on the winning track," Murray said. "It was a good momentum swing going into Friday's game."
Tipoff against Madison Edgewood will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, in the Monroe High School gymnasium. The Cheesemakers are playing to stay in the driver's seat for a conference championship, currently owning a one game lead over Edgewood, Fort Atkinson and Monona Grove.
"You have to bring it every night," Murphy said. "That is our goal on Friday."
