MONROE - If the Monroe boys basketball team was going to stay in third place in the Badger South Conference, coach Brian Bassett knew the Cheesemakers faced a must-win situation against Oregon Saturday.
Monroe senior Brayden Zettle scored a game-high 18 points and junior Kade King added 9 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the Cheesemakers to a 59-44 win over the Panthers.
Monroe (10-6, 6-3 Badger South), which has won five straight games, opened the game with a 19-3 run. It's the longest winning streak for Monroe since 2013 when the Cheesemakers had a seven-game winning streak and lost in the WIAA Division 2 sectional semifinal to DeForest 59-56. The sectional run from 2013 is also the last time the Cheesemakers had a winning record.
"It's our longest winning streak since Joe Latimer's senior year," Bassett said. "Multiple people have been stepping up."
To open the game King scored on a putback and moments later drilled a 3-pointer. Senior teammate Jonah Tostrud scored four points during the opening surge. Monroe freshman Max Golembiewski knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Cheesemakers a commanding 13-2 lead with 13 minutes, 20 seconds left in the first half. Senior teammate David Keegan came up with a steal and scored on a layup to give Monroe a 19-3 lead with 8:58 to go in the first half.
The Cheesemakers led 34-7 at the half.
"We were just playing with more energy than them," Bassett said. "That was the biggest thing. We wanted to try to speed them up because they like to walk the ball up the floor. We didn't want them to walk the ball up the floor."
The second half was a different story. The Panthers switched to a press like the Cheesemakers. Oregon outscored Monroe 37-25 in the second half.
"In the second half, they sped us up and we didn't react to it very well," Bassett said.
Monroe seniors Hunter Ward and David Keegan each chipped in 8 points. The Cheesemakers made six 3-pointers. Zettle and Golembiewski each knocked down two 3s.
Monroe will play a nonconference game at Whitewater Tuesday.
Pecatonica 56,
Albany 52
BLANCHARDVILLE - Pecatonica senior Evan Prust scored a game-high 23 points and the Vikings came back to edge Albany Saturday.
Pecatonica (11-5, 8-0 Six Rivers East) led 30-21 at the half. Albany (5-11, 2-6) battled back and led by four points, 46-42, at one point in the second half. The Vikings closed the game with a 14-6 run over the final 4 minutes to cap the comeback victory.
"We were fortunate to win," Pecatonica coach Matt Fink said. "Colton Schraepfer played sparingly (ankle injury). Their 2-3 zone gave us problems. I think every game in the conference will be a challenge. We are starting to play teams a second time. There are no secrets. They know what you like to do."
Schraepfer and junior Carter Ruegsegger each added 9. The Comets were led by junior Josh Dahl, who scored a team-high 14 points. Senior Josh Shell added 12 and junior Logun Parker chipped in 10 and hit two of the Comets' six 3-pointers.
Monroe senior Brayden Zettle scored a game-high 18 points and junior Kade King added 9 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the Cheesemakers to a 59-44 win over the Panthers.
Monroe (10-6, 6-3 Badger South), which has won five straight games, opened the game with a 19-3 run. It's the longest winning streak for Monroe since 2013 when the Cheesemakers had a seven-game winning streak and lost in the WIAA Division 2 sectional semifinal to DeForest 59-56. The sectional run from 2013 is also the last time the Cheesemakers had a winning record.
"It's our longest winning streak since Joe Latimer's senior year," Bassett said. "Multiple people have been stepping up."
To open the game King scored on a putback and moments later drilled a 3-pointer. Senior teammate Jonah Tostrud scored four points during the opening surge. Monroe freshman Max Golembiewski knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Cheesemakers a commanding 13-2 lead with 13 minutes, 20 seconds left in the first half. Senior teammate David Keegan came up with a steal and scored on a layup to give Monroe a 19-3 lead with 8:58 to go in the first half.
The Cheesemakers led 34-7 at the half.
"We were just playing with more energy than them," Bassett said. "That was the biggest thing. We wanted to try to speed them up because they like to walk the ball up the floor. We didn't want them to walk the ball up the floor."
The second half was a different story. The Panthers switched to a press like the Cheesemakers. Oregon outscored Monroe 37-25 in the second half.
"In the second half, they sped us up and we didn't react to it very well," Bassett said.
Monroe seniors Hunter Ward and David Keegan each chipped in 8 points. The Cheesemakers made six 3-pointers. Zettle and Golembiewski each knocked down two 3s.
Monroe will play a nonconference game at Whitewater Tuesday.
Pecatonica 56,
Albany 52
BLANCHARDVILLE - Pecatonica senior Evan Prust scored a game-high 23 points and the Vikings came back to edge Albany Saturday.
Pecatonica (11-5, 8-0 Six Rivers East) led 30-21 at the half. Albany (5-11, 2-6) battled back and led by four points, 46-42, at one point in the second half. The Vikings closed the game with a 14-6 run over the final 4 minutes to cap the comeback victory.
"We were fortunate to win," Pecatonica coach Matt Fink said. "Colton Schraepfer played sparingly (ankle injury). Their 2-3 zone gave us problems. I think every game in the conference will be a challenge. We are starting to play teams a second time. There are no secrets. They know what you like to do."
Schraepfer and junior Carter Ruegsegger each added 9. The Comets were led by junior Josh Dahl, who scored a team-high 14 points. Senior Josh Shell added 12 and junior Logun Parker chipped in 10 and hit two of the Comets' six 3-pointers.
