FREEPORT - The Freeport Pretzels seem to have Monroe's number after hanging on to knock off the Cheesemakers 65-62 in overtime in the Snack Bowl Saturday.
Monroe (11-2), ranked seventh in the Associated Press Division 2 state poll, is now 1-5 the last six years against the Pretzels.
Monroe senior Joe Latimer had a monster game with 24 points and 14 rebounds.
"We don't want to call it a rivalry because we have only won one," Latimer said. "It was important to win this one because it's my last time coming here. I don't think we played with a sense of urgency after the third quarter."
Monroe senior Alex Barenklau got going in the second half, scoring 17 of his 24 points. Barenklau drilled a 3-pointer with 22.1 seconds left in overtime to cut the Pretzels' lead to 64-62.
The Cheesemakers had their chances late in the extra session. Senior Trent Wyssbrod missed two free throws with 15.3 seconds left and a 3-pointer with about 5 seconds to go that could have tied it. Monroe junior Jake Hirsbrunner just rimmed out a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Monroe shot just 10 of 21 at the free throw line. The Pretzels struggled even more shooting just 45 percent (9-for-20) from the charity stripe. The Cheesemakers shot just 2 of 6 from the free throw line in the final 2 minutes.
"If we only make 50 percent of our free throws and give up 70 points a game, I bet we probably only win one game," Barenklau said. "Those are both bad numbers."
Freeport's Julius Robinson scored a team-high 20 points for the Pretzels.
"We knew he was the most athletic guy on their team based on our scouting reports," Barenklau said. "We didn't box him out."
One of the focuses for the Cheesemakers was to limit the Pretzels' points in the paint.
"We like to play a wall up in the lane and we didn't do it," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "They showed a heightened sense of urgency early on. They played with a fearlessness."
It was a see-saw first half. The Cheesemakers had success by getting the ball down low to Latimer. Latimer scored 12 points in the first half to lead the Cheesemakers.
The Cheesemakers went on a 9-0 third quarter run fueled by Barenklau. He knocked down a jumper and then hit a floater in the lane. Latimer then scored down low to help the Cheesemakers take a 33-29 lead. Barenklau hit three 3-pointers in the second half.
Freeport senior Brady Frank hit a big 3-pointer with 5:16 left in the fourth quarter to cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 48-46. Wyssbrod took a charge and Latimer blocked a shot in the final minute of regulation to help send the game to overtime. Freeport sophomore Giovonni Offard scored 14 points and made two key free throws with 33.3 seconds left in the overtime to give the Pretzels a 64-59 lead.
"We knew they were a really good offensive team that likes to play up-tempo," Barenklau said. "We knew if we were going to win we would have to play good defense and we didn't do it."
Monroe (11-2), ranked seventh in the Associated Press Division 2 state poll, is now 1-5 the last six years against the Pretzels.
Monroe senior Joe Latimer had a monster game with 24 points and 14 rebounds.
"We don't want to call it a rivalry because we have only won one," Latimer said. "It was important to win this one because it's my last time coming here. I don't think we played with a sense of urgency after the third quarter."
Monroe senior Alex Barenklau got going in the second half, scoring 17 of his 24 points. Barenklau drilled a 3-pointer with 22.1 seconds left in overtime to cut the Pretzels' lead to 64-62.
The Cheesemakers had their chances late in the extra session. Senior Trent Wyssbrod missed two free throws with 15.3 seconds left and a 3-pointer with about 5 seconds to go that could have tied it. Monroe junior Jake Hirsbrunner just rimmed out a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Monroe shot just 10 of 21 at the free throw line. The Pretzels struggled even more shooting just 45 percent (9-for-20) from the charity stripe. The Cheesemakers shot just 2 of 6 from the free throw line in the final 2 minutes.
"If we only make 50 percent of our free throws and give up 70 points a game, I bet we probably only win one game," Barenklau said. "Those are both bad numbers."
Freeport's Julius Robinson scored a team-high 20 points for the Pretzels.
"We knew he was the most athletic guy on their team based on our scouting reports," Barenklau said. "We didn't box him out."
One of the focuses for the Cheesemakers was to limit the Pretzels' points in the paint.
"We like to play a wall up in the lane and we didn't do it," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "They showed a heightened sense of urgency early on. They played with a fearlessness."
It was a see-saw first half. The Cheesemakers had success by getting the ball down low to Latimer. Latimer scored 12 points in the first half to lead the Cheesemakers.
The Cheesemakers went on a 9-0 third quarter run fueled by Barenklau. He knocked down a jumper and then hit a floater in the lane. Latimer then scored down low to help the Cheesemakers take a 33-29 lead. Barenklau hit three 3-pointers in the second half.
Freeport senior Brady Frank hit a big 3-pointer with 5:16 left in the fourth quarter to cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 48-46. Wyssbrod took a charge and Latimer blocked a shot in the final minute of regulation to help send the game to overtime. Freeport sophomore Giovonni Offard scored 14 points and made two key free throws with 33.3 seconds left in the overtime to give the Pretzels a 64-59 lead.
"We knew they were a really good offensive team that likes to play up-tempo," Barenklau said. "We knew if we were going to win we would have to play good defense and we didn't do it."
