MONROE - For Monroe senior Noah Thompson, the summer remains the perfect time for working on his game of basketball.
Thompson scored a team-high 14 points in a thrilling 48-44 overtime win over Darlington in a Monroe summer league semifinal game Thursday, July 25.
In the championship game, Mineral Point put on a shooting display by hitting 13 three-pointers en route to knocking off Monroe 57-31.
"We were all working really hard against Darlington," Thompson said. "We knew we had to win that game to get to the championship. I don't know if that took the energy out of us. That is not an excuse."
The Monroe varsity basketball team splits into two teams for the summer to give everyone a chance to play and improve.
"I have been working at being more aggressive taking it to the post right away instead of settling for jumpers," Thompson said. "It took most of the summer to get there."
Thompson showcased his post skills in the second half against Darlington, scoring 12 of his team-high 14 points to fuel a 19-7 run by the Cheesemakers. Monroe's Logan Weckerly drilled a 3-pointer in the second half to give the Cheesemakers a 37-25 lead. Darlington chipped away at the lead, with Cole McDonald hitting a key jumper and a 3-pointer.
The Redbirds switched to a press and forced the Cheesemakers into six second half turnovers. The Cheesemakers made just 3 of 8 free throws in the final 3 minutes of regulation. McDonald hit two clutch free throws and Cody Hardyman hit a jumper to give the Redbirds a 44-43 lead with about 45 seconds to go. Monroe's Jake Hirsbrunner made one free throw with 33.7 seconds left to tie the game at 44 and Thompson's halfcourt shot went off the back board at the buzzer.
Monroe's Alex Tordoff scored on a layup in overtime to give the Cheesemakers a 46-44 lead. Hirsbrunner and Jake Flannery each hit free throws to seal the win. Hirsbrunner scored 11 points and Tordoff added 10.
McDonald scored a game-high 17 points and Cade Hardyman had 12.
In the championship game, it was all Mineral Point early on. The Cheesemakers missed their first seven shots and the Pointers jumped out to a 14-3 lead after Sy Staver nailed a 3-pointer. Monroe didn't score until Flannery grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a putback. Staver scored a game-high 19 points and hit five 3-pointers. Mineral Point's Joey Gorgen helped the Pointers end the first half with a bang when he drilled a 3-pointer before the buzzer to help his team take a 29-19 lead.
The Pointers poured it on in the second half, going on a 26-6 run that included a barrage of 3-pointers. Mineral Point's Trevor Wendhausem knocked down two 3-pointers during the surge and Alec Schmitz and Gorgen each made one to give the Pointers an insurmountable 55-25 lead. The Pointers had several second chance scoring opportunities, grabbing 10 offensive rebounds.
"(Mineral Point) shot lights out, especially from 3-point range," Thompson said. "They were just really good at knowing when to shoot and pass."
Thompson led the Cheesemakers with a team-high 10 points and Hirsbrunner added seven points.
Monroe wraps up its summer basketball tournaments with a tournament in Waukesha July 27-28.
Thompson scored a team-high 14 points in a thrilling 48-44 overtime win over Darlington in a Monroe summer league semifinal game Thursday, July 25.
In the championship game, Mineral Point put on a shooting display by hitting 13 three-pointers en route to knocking off Monroe 57-31.
"We were all working really hard against Darlington," Thompson said. "We knew we had to win that game to get to the championship. I don't know if that took the energy out of us. That is not an excuse."
The Monroe varsity basketball team splits into two teams for the summer to give everyone a chance to play and improve.
"I have been working at being more aggressive taking it to the post right away instead of settling for jumpers," Thompson said. "It took most of the summer to get there."
Thompson showcased his post skills in the second half against Darlington, scoring 12 of his team-high 14 points to fuel a 19-7 run by the Cheesemakers. Monroe's Logan Weckerly drilled a 3-pointer in the second half to give the Cheesemakers a 37-25 lead. Darlington chipped away at the lead, with Cole McDonald hitting a key jumper and a 3-pointer.
The Redbirds switched to a press and forced the Cheesemakers into six second half turnovers. The Cheesemakers made just 3 of 8 free throws in the final 3 minutes of regulation. McDonald hit two clutch free throws and Cody Hardyman hit a jumper to give the Redbirds a 44-43 lead with about 45 seconds to go. Monroe's Jake Hirsbrunner made one free throw with 33.7 seconds left to tie the game at 44 and Thompson's halfcourt shot went off the back board at the buzzer.
Monroe's Alex Tordoff scored on a layup in overtime to give the Cheesemakers a 46-44 lead. Hirsbrunner and Jake Flannery each hit free throws to seal the win. Hirsbrunner scored 11 points and Tordoff added 10.
McDonald scored a game-high 17 points and Cade Hardyman had 12.
In the championship game, it was all Mineral Point early on. The Cheesemakers missed their first seven shots and the Pointers jumped out to a 14-3 lead after Sy Staver nailed a 3-pointer. Monroe didn't score until Flannery grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a putback. Staver scored a game-high 19 points and hit five 3-pointers. Mineral Point's Joey Gorgen helped the Pointers end the first half with a bang when he drilled a 3-pointer before the buzzer to help his team take a 29-19 lead.
The Pointers poured it on in the second half, going on a 26-6 run that included a barrage of 3-pointers. Mineral Point's Trevor Wendhausem knocked down two 3-pointers during the surge and Alec Schmitz and Gorgen each made one to give the Pointers an insurmountable 55-25 lead. The Pointers had several second chance scoring opportunities, grabbing 10 offensive rebounds.
"(Mineral Point) shot lights out, especially from 3-point range," Thompson said. "They were just really good at knowing when to shoot and pass."
Thompson led the Cheesemakers with a team-high 10 points and Hirsbrunner added seven points.
Monroe wraps up its summer basketball tournaments with a tournament in Waukesha July 27-28.
