OREGON - Monroe junior Nick Schmuacher scored a game-high 24 points to help the Cheesemakers outlast Oregon in overtime 51-46 Friday.
Monroe (3-2, 2-0 Badger South) was coming off a loss to New Glarus in which they let a 15-point lead slip away.
"Any game we play is a must-win game," Monroe coach Brian Bassett said. "It's been a long time since we have been very good. The biggest difference in close games this year is our players are making plays. Schumacher made the plays to bring us home."
The ride home hit a snag when Monroe's bus broke down in Oregon. The Cheesemakers had a bus driver from Oregon bring them home.
The Panthers led the Cheesemakers after a slow first half, 15-13. Tied at 41 after regulation, Monroe outscored Oregon 10-5 in the overtime.
"It was nice because our defense was a lot better," Bassett said of the Cheesemakers' game against New Glarus. "They don't have as many scorers as New Glarus, but our defense stepped up a lot."
Oregon's Ethan Victorson scored a team-high 19 points and hit three straight 3-pointers in the second half. Bassett responded by switching senior Jonah Tostrud out to guard Victorson.
"We switched Jonah out on him and he shut him down," Bassett said.
Monroe junior Max Lange added 12 points and junior Kade King chipped in 7 points.
"We are trying to string some (wins) together," Bassett said. "We have to see if we can put two good ones together."
Monroe (3-2, 2-0 Badger South) was coming off a loss to New Glarus in which they let a 15-point lead slip away.
"Any game we play is a must-win game," Monroe coach Brian Bassett said. "It's been a long time since we have been very good. The biggest difference in close games this year is our players are making plays. Schumacher made the plays to bring us home."
The ride home hit a snag when Monroe's bus broke down in Oregon. The Cheesemakers had a bus driver from Oregon bring them home.
The Panthers led the Cheesemakers after a slow first half, 15-13. Tied at 41 after regulation, Monroe outscored Oregon 10-5 in the overtime.
"It was nice because our defense was a lot better," Bassett said of the Cheesemakers' game against New Glarus. "They don't have as many scorers as New Glarus, but our defense stepped up a lot."
Oregon's Ethan Victorson scored a team-high 19 points and hit three straight 3-pointers in the second half. Bassett responded by switching senior Jonah Tostrud out to guard Victorson.
"We switched Jonah out on him and he shut him down," Bassett said.
Monroe junior Max Lange added 12 points and junior Kade King chipped in 7 points.
"We are trying to string some (wins) together," Bassett said. "We have to see if we can put two good ones together."
