DEFOREST - The Monroe boys basketball team had an offensive breakout they hope to carry over after knocking off Portage 60-46 in a Badger Challenge game Saturday, Jan. 25.
Monroe senior Charlie Kind scored a game-high 16 points and senior Jake Hirsbrunner had 11 points. Freshman Alex Tordoff and senior Kylan Helmeid each scored nine points and junior Kevin Noriega chipped in eight points. The South edged the North 4-3, but all three of the top-seeded teams from the South lost, including Monona Grove, which lost to No. 1-ranked Mount Horeb.
"It's what we needed," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "Hopefully, it gives the team confidence."
Monroe (7-8, 2-5 Badger South) raced out to a 14-9 lead in the first quarter. The Cheesemakers led by just three at the half, but put the game away outscoring the Warriors 37-26 in the second half.
"We wanted to take away their best offensive option and we did," Murphy said.
The Cheesemakers had a big edge on the free throw line 26-14. The Cheesemakers finished 15 of 26.
"One of our biggest stats is we want to make more free throws than the other team attempts," Murphy said. "This is one of those times we hit that goal. When we do those things we give ourselves a chance to win."
"It was like a tournament game because we got off the bus and just played," Murphy said. "It had a tournament atmosphere with the preparation."
Monroe will host Monona Grove at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30. It's also middle school night for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade boys.
"If we can play defense and limit teams to one shot, we have a chance to win," Murphy said. "It's the same message since Day 1. We just hope we can do it consistently for four quarters. That is what it will come to."
Monroe senior Charlie Kind scored a game-high 16 points and senior Jake Hirsbrunner had 11 points. Freshman Alex Tordoff and senior Kylan Helmeid each scored nine points and junior Kevin Noriega chipped in eight points. The South edged the North 4-3, but all three of the top-seeded teams from the South lost, including Monona Grove, which lost to No. 1-ranked Mount Horeb.
"It's what we needed," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "Hopefully, it gives the team confidence."
Monroe (7-8, 2-5 Badger South) raced out to a 14-9 lead in the first quarter. The Cheesemakers led by just three at the half, but put the game away outscoring the Warriors 37-26 in the second half.
"We wanted to take away their best offensive option and we did," Murphy said.
The Cheesemakers had a big edge on the free throw line 26-14. The Cheesemakers finished 15 of 26.
"One of our biggest stats is we want to make more free throws than the other team attempts," Murphy said. "This is one of those times we hit that goal. When we do those things we give ourselves a chance to win."
"It was like a tournament game because we got off the bus and just played," Murphy said. "It had a tournament atmosphere with the preparation."
Monroe will host Monona Grove at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30. It's also middle school night for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade boys.
"If we can play defense and limit teams to one shot, we have a chance to win," Murphy said. "It's the same message since Day 1. We just hope we can do it consistently for four quarters. That is what it will come to."
