MADISON - The Monroe boys basketball team will bring home the silver ball after a record breaking performance in a 79-67 loss to Wisconsin Lutheran in the WIAA Division 2 state championship game Saturday at the Kohl Center.
"We came here with a mission to win two games and we won one," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "We will get back to Monroe and celebrate."
It was a historic record breaking performance for Monroe senior Mitch Tordoff. Tordoff broke three individual state records. Tordoff broke Mike Jirschele's 32-year old record by scoring 61 total points in two tournament games. He also set a Division 2 state record by nailing eight three pointers. Tordoff scored a game-high 33 points, which tied Monroe alum Brett Stangel's single game Division 2 state record. The Cheesemakers as a team also set a Division 2 state record for the most 3-pointers made (12).
Tordoff drilled a 3-pointer with 2 minutes, 27 seconds left in the fourth quarter to slice the Vikings' lead to 69-63. Wisconsin Lutheran (24-2) closed the fourth quarter on a 10-4 run as the Cheesemakers were forced to foul.
Early on, it looked like the Cheesemakers would be up to the task of knocking off the Vikings to win their second state title in three years. Monroe (19-8) came out on fire hitting 4-of-9 three-pointers during a 17-4 first quarter run. Monroe sophomore Bryan Tordoff drilled a 3-pointer that gave the Cheesemakers a 16-9 lead. The Cheesemakers hit 7-of-17 3-pointers in the first half, but trailed 34-29 at the break. Wisconsin Lutheran junior Flavien Davis was a thorn in the side of the Cheesemakers, scoring a team-high 29 points to go along with 15 rebounds.
The Vikings outrebounded the Cheesemakers, 38-22. Monroe gave up 14 offensive rebounds for the second straight game at state.
"As the game went on, I think we established our power underneath," Wisconsin Lutheran coach Ryan Walz said. "The rebounding was the key."
Monroe senior Jake Grinnell in his final prep game scored 17 points and Bryan Tordoff had 12.
"We came here with a mission to win two games and we won one," Monroe coach Pat Murphy said. "We will get back to Monroe and celebrate."
It was a historic record breaking performance for Monroe senior Mitch Tordoff. Tordoff broke three individual state records. Tordoff broke Mike Jirschele's 32-year old record by scoring 61 total points in two tournament games. He also set a Division 2 state record by nailing eight three pointers. Tordoff scored a game-high 33 points, which tied Monroe alum Brett Stangel's single game Division 2 state record. The Cheesemakers as a team also set a Division 2 state record for the most 3-pointers made (12).
Tordoff drilled a 3-pointer with 2 minutes, 27 seconds left in the fourth quarter to slice the Vikings' lead to 69-63. Wisconsin Lutheran (24-2) closed the fourth quarter on a 10-4 run as the Cheesemakers were forced to foul.
Early on, it looked like the Cheesemakers would be up to the task of knocking off the Vikings to win their second state title in three years. Monroe (19-8) came out on fire hitting 4-of-9 three-pointers during a 17-4 first quarter run. Monroe sophomore Bryan Tordoff drilled a 3-pointer that gave the Cheesemakers a 16-9 lead. The Cheesemakers hit 7-of-17 3-pointers in the first half, but trailed 34-29 at the break. Wisconsin Lutheran junior Flavien Davis was a thorn in the side of the Cheesemakers, scoring a team-high 29 points to go along with 15 rebounds.
The Vikings outrebounded the Cheesemakers, 38-22. Monroe gave up 14 offensive rebounds for the second straight game at state.
"As the game went on, I think we established our power underneath," Wisconsin Lutheran coach Ryan Walz said. "The rebounding was the key."
Monroe senior Jake Grinnell in his final prep game scored 17 points and Bryan Tordoff had 12.
