MONROE - Junior Alex Tordoff battled cramps as he looked to will the Monroe boys basketball team to a thrilling win.
Even though Tordoff scored nine of his team-high 29 points in the third overtime, the Cheesemakers couldn't hang on and lost a triple-overtime heartbreaker 91-87 to Janesville Parker Tuesday night.
Monroe let the game slip away after building an eight-point lead late in regulation.
"It was a tough game," Tordoff said. "We got punched in the mouth early on, but we fought back and it just slipped away from us. Our goal is to always make more free throws than our opponent shoots. I don't think we met that goal and that changed the game."
Monroe (1-6, 1-3 Badger South) looked to be in control after Tordoff's layup gave the Cheesemakers a 52-44 lead with 3:52 to go in the second half. The Cheesemakers struggled from the free-throw line down the stretch, making just 2 of 8 in the final 2 minutes, 26 seconds. The Cheesemakers shot 57.8 percent (33 of 57) from the free-throw line in the game.
Janesville Parker senior Mike Weis drilled a 3-pointer with 11.5 seconds to go in the second half to force overtime.
In the first extra session, the Cheesemakers led by as many as four points but couldn't close the door on the Vikings. Janesville Parker senior Darion Young scored down low with 44.2
seconds left to cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 64-62. The Cheesemakers made 6 of 13 free throws in the first overtime and the Vikings took advantage. Janesville Parker junior Ed Jacobson scored on a layup with 3.9 seconds to go in the first overtime to tie the game at 64.
In the second extra session, the Cheesemakers trailed by three points but rallied when sophomore Brayden Zettle hit two free throws. Monroe senior Brent Edmunds then knocked down a game-tying 3-pointer with 1:04 left to tie the game at 69. With the Vikings leading by three points and 8.1 seconds to go, the Cheesemakers dialed up a clutch play. Tordoff buried a game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game to a third overtime.
Tordoff continued his hot shooting in triple overtime, scoring nine points.
Tordoff hit 18 of 21 from the free-throw line. Take away Tordoff's performance from the foul line, and the Cheesemakers were 15 of 36 from the line.
"At this level we have to salt away games at the free-throw line and we didn't do it," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "It's a heck of a battle any time you go three overtimes. It's a great learning experience if our guys learn from it and apply it."
Monroe junior Carter Sawdey added 16 points before fouling out late in the third overtime. Sophomore teammate David Keegan scored 12 points and drilled a key 3-pointer with 1:38 left in the third overtime to slice the Vikings' lead to one-point. Edmunds and sophomore Hunter Ward each chipped in 10 points.
"It's good to see we have some depth on the bench, and we can really rely on them when we get people in foul trouble," Tordoff said of Keegan, Ward and Zettle.
Tordoff knocked down a baseline jumper with 9 seconds to go that cut the Vikings' lead to 89-87. The Cheesemakers had a golden opportunity on the ensuing inbounds play when Parker junior Mylik Williams fell over and was called for an offensive foul. Despite being down two points, the Cheesemakers stopped the clock and got to the line with a chance to tie the game. Ward missed two free throws with 7.4 seconds left.
Murphy said Ward has been shooting with more confidence.
"I'm happy for him," Murphy said of Ward. "We needed him to make plays. We just need to keep battling. The guys are not happy with the result. It's tough when you battle that hard and come up short. It was crazy."
Parker senior Carlos Campos scored a game-high 36 points.
Even though Tordoff scored nine of his team-high 29 points in the third overtime, the Cheesemakers couldn't hang on and lost a triple-overtime heartbreaker 91-87 to Janesville Parker Tuesday night.
Monroe let the game slip away after building an eight-point lead late in regulation.
"It was a tough game," Tordoff said. "We got punched in the mouth early on, but we fought back and it just slipped away from us. Our goal is to always make more free throws than our opponent shoots. I don't think we met that goal and that changed the game."
Monroe (1-6, 1-3 Badger South) looked to be in control after Tordoff's layup gave the Cheesemakers a 52-44 lead with 3:52 to go in the second half. The Cheesemakers struggled from the free-throw line down the stretch, making just 2 of 8 in the final 2 minutes, 26 seconds. The Cheesemakers shot 57.8 percent (33 of 57) from the free-throw line in the game.
Janesville Parker senior Mike Weis drilled a 3-pointer with 11.5 seconds to go in the second half to force overtime.
In the first extra session, the Cheesemakers led by as many as four points but couldn't close the door on the Vikings. Janesville Parker senior Darion Young scored down low with 44.2
seconds left to cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 64-62. The Cheesemakers made 6 of 13 free throws in the first overtime and the Vikings took advantage. Janesville Parker junior Ed Jacobson scored on a layup with 3.9 seconds to go in the first overtime to tie the game at 64.
In the second extra session, the Cheesemakers trailed by three points but rallied when sophomore Brayden Zettle hit two free throws. Monroe senior Brent Edmunds then knocked down a game-tying 3-pointer with 1:04 left to tie the game at 69. With the Vikings leading by three points and 8.1 seconds to go, the Cheesemakers dialed up a clutch play. Tordoff buried a game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game to a third overtime.
Tordoff continued his hot shooting in triple overtime, scoring nine points.
Tordoff hit 18 of 21 from the free-throw line. Take away Tordoff's performance from the foul line, and the Cheesemakers were 15 of 36 from the line.
"At this level we have to salt away games at the free-throw line and we didn't do it," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "It's a heck of a battle any time you go three overtimes. It's a great learning experience if our guys learn from it and apply it."
Monroe junior Carter Sawdey added 16 points before fouling out late in the third overtime. Sophomore teammate David Keegan scored 12 points and drilled a key 3-pointer with 1:38 left in the third overtime to slice the Vikings' lead to one-point. Edmunds and sophomore Hunter Ward each chipped in 10 points.
"It's good to see we have some depth on the bench, and we can really rely on them when we get people in foul trouble," Tordoff said of Keegan, Ward and Zettle.
Tordoff knocked down a baseline jumper with 9 seconds to go that cut the Vikings' lead to 89-87. The Cheesemakers had a golden opportunity on the ensuing inbounds play when Parker junior Mylik Williams fell over and was called for an offensive foul. Despite being down two points, the Cheesemakers stopped the clock and got to the line with a chance to tie the game. Ward missed two free throws with 7.4 seconds left.
Murphy said Ward has been shooting with more confidence.
"I'm happy for him," Murphy said of Ward. "We needed him to make plays. We just need to keep battling. The guys are not happy with the result. It's tough when you battle that hard and come up short. It was crazy."
Parker senior Carlos Campos scored a game-high 36 points.
