MOUNT HOREB - The Monroe boys basketball team has had a penchant for giving up buzzer-beating shots this season, a nasty habit that Alex Barenklau said needs to change.
Tyler Barta helped the Cheesemakers take a step in the right direction.
The senior forward hit nothing but net from just inside midcourt to close the first quarter Saturday, giving Monroe its first lead. The Cheesemakers took control from there in rolling to a 54-39 victory against Baraboo in a battle between fifth-place teams in the Badger Conference Challenge.
"I just caught it, took one dribble and shot it with confidence," Barta said. "It just happened. I'm not going to complain."
Said Barenklau: "Every shot matters. Usually it's been the other team hitting those shots at the buzzer that have come back to bite us. Hopefully this helps us turn that around."
Monroe coach Pat Murphy, who watched Barta cap a 9-0 run to end the first quarter that gave Monroe a 9-8 lead, was pleased with the way his team responded to a quick 8-0 deficit.
"That's been one of our things that we don't get off to good starts," Murphy said. "That shot gave us some momentum going into the second quarter.
"I told the guys in the locker room they did a good job of not hanging their heads when they got down early."
Barenklau scored 15 points in spite of long stretches on the bench due to foul trouble, and junior forward Joe Latimer added 10 for Monroe (7-7), which hit 26 of 37 free throws - including 12 of 18 in the fourth quarter, when the Cheesemakers connected on just one field goal.
"It's been a while since we won a Badger Challenge game," said Barenklau, a junior guard. "It's nice to come through with a solid win."
Senior swingman Sean McGann scored 24 points to lead Baraboo.
"I think for the most part we stuck to our defensive rules," Murphy said. "That (McGann) is a good player. Anytime he gets the ball, he's a threat. He's tough."
Junior guard Brian Schneider scored seven of his nine points in the second quarter, when Monroe extended its lead to 26-20 entering halftime.
Latimer took over in the third quarter, scoring six points as Monroe opened a 39-27 lead entering the fourth quarter.
The Cheesemakers' biggest lead was 16 points midway through the fourth quarter.
"It a good win," Murphy said. "It helps us in the seeding meeting (for regionals) and gets us back to .500.
"Now we start the second half of the (Badger) Conference schedule and we want to be better against those teams than we were the first time."
Tyler Barta helped the Cheesemakers take a step in the right direction.
The senior forward hit nothing but net from just inside midcourt to close the first quarter Saturday, giving Monroe its first lead. The Cheesemakers took control from there in rolling to a 54-39 victory against Baraboo in a battle between fifth-place teams in the Badger Conference Challenge.
"I just caught it, took one dribble and shot it with confidence," Barta said. "It just happened. I'm not going to complain."
Said Barenklau: "Every shot matters. Usually it's been the other team hitting those shots at the buzzer that have come back to bite us. Hopefully this helps us turn that around."
Monroe coach Pat Murphy, who watched Barta cap a 9-0 run to end the first quarter that gave Monroe a 9-8 lead, was pleased with the way his team responded to a quick 8-0 deficit.
"That's been one of our things that we don't get off to good starts," Murphy said. "That shot gave us some momentum going into the second quarter.
"I told the guys in the locker room they did a good job of not hanging their heads when they got down early."
Barenklau scored 15 points in spite of long stretches on the bench due to foul trouble, and junior forward Joe Latimer added 10 for Monroe (7-7), which hit 26 of 37 free throws - including 12 of 18 in the fourth quarter, when the Cheesemakers connected on just one field goal.
"It's been a while since we won a Badger Challenge game," said Barenklau, a junior guard. "It's nice to come through with a solid win."
Senior swingman Sean McGann scored 24 points to lead Baraboo.
"I think for the most part we stuck to our defensive rules," Murphy said. "That (McGann) is a good player. Anytime he gets the ball, he's a threat. He's tough."
Junior guard Brian Schneider scored seven of his nine points in the second quarter, when Monroe extended its lead to 26-20 entering halftime.
Latimer took over in the third quarter, scoring six points as Monroe opened a 39-27 lead entering the fourth quarter.
The Cheesemakers' biggest lead was 16 points midway through the fourth quarter.
"It a good win," Murphy said. "It helps us in the seeding meeting (for regionals) and gets us back to .500.
"Now we start the second half of the (Badger) Conference schedule and we want to be better against those teams than we were the first time."
