STOUGHTON - The Monroe boys basketball team was on the brink of upsetting Stoughton, ranked No. 6 in the WisSports.net Coaches' poll. The Cheesemakers jumped out to an eight-point lead on the Vikings, but Stoughton came back to tip the Cheesemakers 62-60 Saturday.
Monroe (1-4, 0-2 Badger South) limited 6 foot, 8 inch Nick McGlynn, a Drake recruit, to just eight points.
"If we get that type of effort every game we give ourselves a chance," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "They are not only one of the top teams in our conference, but one of the top 10 teams in the state in Division 2. They are that balanced."
Stoughton (4-0, 2-0 Badger South) made 9 of 23 three-pointers and the Cheesemakers were 8 of 24 from the 3-point line.
Stough-ton's Bradley Graffin scored a game-high 20 points and drilled four 3-pointers. He had made just one 3-pointer on the season entering the game.
"They had some kids step up and make some threes who I didn't think would consistently make them," Murphy said.
The Cheesemakers jumped out to an 18-9 lead in the first quarter and led by eight points at the half.
The Cheesemakers had a balanced scoring attack with three players in double figures led by senior Desmond Ford, who scored a team-high 15 points.
Junior teammate Ben Latimer scored 14 points and sophomore Alex Tordoff added 12 points. Senior Kevin Noriega chipped in eight points and senior Logan Weckerly added seven points.
Having at least three players in double figures is a good sign for the Cheesemakers.
"It makes us harder to guard," Murphy said. "They shared the ball and got the shots we wanted. That has to be the expectation every game to make the extra pass. When you score 60 points, you have to like your chances."
The Vikings outscored the Cheesemakers 41-31 in the second half. Stoughton shot 43 percent (19 of 44, while the Cheesemakers shot 40.7 percent (22 of 54).
The Cheesemakers made 11 of 17 free throws, but missed five from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter.
Monroe (1-4, 0-2 Badger South) limited 6 foot, 8 inch Nick McGlynn, a Drake recruit, to just eight points.
"If we get that type of effort every game we give ourselves a chance," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "They are not only one of the top teams in our conference, but one of the top 10 teams in the state in Division 2. They are that balanced."
Stoughton (4-0, 2-0 Badger South) made 9 of 23 three-pointers and the Cheesemakers were 8 of 24 from the 3-point line.
Stough-ton's Bradley Graffin scored a game-high 20 points and drilled four 3-pointers. He had made just one 3-pointer on the season entering the game.
"They had some kids step up and make some threes who I didn't think would consistently make them," Murphy said.
The Cheesemakers jumped out to an 18-9 lead in the first quarter and led by eight points at the half.
The Cheesemakers had a balanced scoring attack with three players in double figures led by senior Desmond Ford, who scored a team-high 15 points.
Junior teammate Ben Latimer scored 14 points and sophomore Alex Tordoff added 12 points. Senior Kevin Noriega chipped in eight points and senior Logan Weckerly added seven points.
Having at least three players in double figures is a good sign for the Cheesemakers.
"It makes us harder to guard," Murphy said. "They shared the ball and got the shots we wanted. That has to be the expectation every game to make the extra pass. When you score 60 points, you have to like your chances."
The Vikings outscored the Cheesemakers 41-31 in the second half. Stoughton shot 43 percent (19 of 44, while the Cheesemakers shot 40.7 percent (22 of 54).
The Cheesemakers made 11 of 17 free throws, but missed five from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter.
