1:35: We are about 19 minutes from tipoff in the WIAA Division 2 state championship game between Monroe and Wisconsin Lutheran. This will be a tough match-up for Monroe. Lutheran has a lot more athletic and has more size than Appleton Xavier. Lutheran has three players averaging double figures led by the 6-foot-4 inch junior guard Flavien Davis. Davis averages 16.1 points per game and is lightning quick. The Cheesemakers will probably start out with senior Mitch McArdle on Davis. It will be important for McArdle to stay out of foul trouble. I expect Michael Barrett to be the player to click for Monroe. I believe Barrett is athletic enough to guard either Lutheran Cedquon Holmes ((14 ppg) or Davis when McArdle is on the bench for a rest. It should be a great title game so stay tuned.
1:53: Good luck to the Monroe track team tonight at UW-Platteville.
1:58 It's nice to see Villanova is pounding UCLA in the NCAA tournament. Unfortunately, I already lost two Sweet 16 teams with West Virginia losing to Dayton and Cleveland St. beating Wake Forest. I didn't see those upsets coming. However, I did pick all #12 seed over No. 5 upsets with Western Kentucky, Arizona and Wisconsin. I have the Badgers in the Sweet 16. I will have to wait until next year.
2:00 Time for tipoff and out go the lights. I'm picking Wisconsin Lutheran to beat Monroe by eight points. Hopefully, I'm wrong.
2:03 I predict Monroe sophomore Michael Barrett will make the first basket for Monroe.
2:06 Wisconsin Lutheran is off to a fast start with a 3-pointer by Cedquon Holmes and a shot down low by Flavien Davis. Jake Grinnell just buried a 3-pointer to cut Lutheran's lead to 5-3. My predicition was way off. Lutheran senior Andrew Rumler just scored down low to give the Vikings a 7-3 lead.
2:09 Mitch Tordoff drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give the Cheesemakers an 8-7 lead and Bryan Tordoff nailed a jumper. Mitch Tordoff on the next posession drilled a 3-pointer to give the Cheesemakers a 13-7 lead. The Cheesemakers are on a 13-2 run.
2:11 The Cheesemakers are now on a 17-4 run as Bryan Tordoff just hit a 3-pointer to give Monroe a 16-9 lead and Michael Barrett hit a free throw.
2:15 Monroe has had a big first quarter from the 3-point line shooting 4-for-6 from behind the arc.
2:17 The Cheesemakers have a 17-9 lead after the first quarter. If Monroe keeps shooting 50 percent or better from the 3-point line, the Cheesemakers will win. However, I bet the Cheesemakers will look to drive. You can't live at the 3-point line all game, can you?
2:19: I guess they can. Jake Grinnell just drilled a 3-pointer at 6:45 in the second quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 20-13 lead.
2:23: Lutheran junior Flavien Davis just knifed down through the lane and hit a running shot and was fouled. Davis converted the coventional three-point play with 4:45 left in the second quarter to tie the game at 20.
2:25: Lutheran's Flavien Davis jumped over Monroe senior Mitch McArdle and scored on a putback and he was fouled. Davis converted the conventional three-point play at the free throw line to give Lutheran a 23-22 lead.
2:30: Lutheran's P.J. Marion just knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Vikings a 28-25 lead. Mitch Tordoff answered with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 28.
Lutheran's Marcus Radue responded with a 3-pointer to give the Vikings a 31-28 lead. Marion buried another 3-pointer at the buzzer before halftime to give the Vikings a 34-29 lead and capped a 9-3 spurt.
2:44: The penetration of Davis in the first half was key as the Vikings outscored the Cheesemakers, 16-0 on points in the paint. Davis led the Vikings with 12 first half points and PJ Marion had 10. The Cheesemakers were led by Mitch Tordoff, who scored 13 first half points.
2:46: Mitch Tordoff made a 3-pointer to cut the Vikings' lead to 36-34. Lutheran's Flavien Davis answered with a basket. Mitch Tordoff scored again to cut the Vikings' lead to 38-36.
2:48: Monroe looks to be taking the ball to the basket more in the second half. Jake Grinell made both free throws to tie the game at 38.
2:51: Jake Grinnell, who has 12 points, just scored down low to pull the Cheesemakers within two points, at 42-40. Flavien Davis again answered scoring on a power move in the post, which he was fouled on. He converted his third three-point play at the free throw line to give Lutheran a 45-40 lead.
2:55: Two free throws by PJ Marion capped a 9-2 run and gave the Vikings a 47-40 lead. Jake Grinnell hit a jumper to cut the lead to 47-43. Davis for Lutheran answered with a putback to give the Vikings a 49-43 lead.
2:59: Andrew Rumler scored on a lay in before the third quarter buzzer to give the Vikings a 53-43 lead.
3:02: Mitch Tordoff nailed a 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter to cut the Vikings' lead to 53-46.
3:05: Lutheran's Tim Rotruck scored down low to give the Vikings a 60-48 lead with 6:07 to go, but Jake Grinnell answered with a basket to cut the deficit to 10, 60-50 with 5:56 left. Davis scored again and Lutheran's lead is back to 12 points, 62-50.
3:16: Mitch Tordoff will not go out quietly. Mitch Tordoff hit a 3-pointer with 2:27 left to slice the Vikings' lead to 69-63.
3:08: Lutheran's PJ Marion knifed into the lane and knocked down a jumper to give Lutheran a 64-50 lead. Barrett made two free throws to cut the lead to 64-52. With only 4:02 left, Lutheran senior Cedquon Holmes missed a free throw and Andrew Rumler grabbed an offensive rebound, which led to a basket in the paint by Flavian Davis to give the Vikings a 66-52 lead.
3:16: Mitch Tordoff won't go quietly after hitting a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 66-55.
3:17: With that 3-pointer, I think Mitch Tordoff now has eight 3-pointers in the game, which ties a Division 2 state record.
3:23: The Cheesemakers have had an amzing and improbable season, but it looks like the Cheesemakers are bringing home the silver ball as they trail 75-65 with 53.9 seconds left.
3:28: By my math, Monroe senior Mitch Tordoff set two more Division 2 state records - Scoring 61 total points in the tournament and tying Monroe alum Brett Stangel's single game Division 2 scoring record, with 33 points. Monroe will bring home the silver ball with a 79-67 loss to Wisconsin Lutheran.
1:53: Good luck to the Monroe track team tonight at UW-Platteville.
1:58 It's nice to see Villanova is pounding UCLA in the NCAA tournament. Unfortunately, I already lost two Sweet 16 teams with West Virginia losing to Dayton and Cleveland St. beating Wake Forest. I didn't see those upsets coming. However, I did pick all #12 seed over No. 5 upsets with Western Kentucky, Arizona and Wisconsin. I have the Badgers in the Sweet 16. I will have to wait until next year.
2:00 Time for tipoff and out go the lights. I'm picking Wisconsin Lutheran to beat Monroe by eight points. Hopefully, I'm wrong.
2:03 I predict Monroe sophomore Michael Barrett will make the first basket for Monroe.
2:06 Wisconsin Lutheran is off to a fast start with a 3-pointer by Cedquon Holmes and a shot down low by Flavien Davis. Jake Grinnell just buried a 3-pointer to cut Lutheran's lead to 5-3. My predicition was way off. Lutheran senior Andrew Rumler just scored down low to give the Vikings a 7-3 lead.
2:09 Mitch Tordoff drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give the Cheesemakers an 8-7 lead and Bryan Tordoff nailed a jumper. Mitch Tordoff on the next posession drilled a 3-pointer to give the Cheesemakers a 13-7 lead. The Cheesemakers are on a 13-2 run.
2:11 The Cheesemakers are now on a 17-4 run as Bryan Tordoff just hit a 3-pointer to give Monroe a 16-9 lead and Michael Barrett hit a free throw.
2:15 Monroe has had a big first quarter from the 3-point line shooting 4-for-6 from behind the arc.
2:17 The Cheesemakers have a 17-9 lead after the first quarter. If Monroe keeps shooting 50 percent or better from the 3-point line, the Cheesemakers will win. However, I bet the Cheesemakers will look to drive. You can't live at the 3-point line all game, can you?
2:19: I guess they can. Jake Grinnell just drilled a 3-pointer at 6:45 in the second quarter to give the Cheesemakers a 20-13 lead.
2:23: Lutheran junior Flavien Davis just knifed down through the lane and hit a running shot and was fouled. Davis converted the coventional three-point play with 4:45 left in the second quarter to tie the game at 20.
2:25: Lutheran's Flavien Davis jumped over Monroe senior Mitch McArdle and scored on a putback and he was fouled. Davis converted the conventional three-point play at the free throw line to give Lutheran a 23-22 lead.
2:30: Lutheran's P.J. Marion just knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Vikings a 28-25 lead. Mitch Tordoff answered with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 28.
Lutheran's Marcus Radue responded with a 3-pointer to give the Vikings a 31-28 lead. Marion buried another 3-pointer at the buzzer before halftime to give the Vikings a 34-29 lead and capped a 9-3 spurt.
2:44: The penetration of Davis in the first half was key as the Vikings outscored the Cheesemakers, 16-0 on points in the paint. Davis led the Vikings with 12 first half points and PJ Marion had 10. The Cheesemakers were led by Mitch Tordoff, who scored 13 first half points.
2:46: Mitch Tordoff made a 3-pointer to cut the Vikings' lead to 36-34. Lutheran's Flavien Davis answered with a basket. Mitch Tordoff scored again to cut the Vikings' lead to 38-36.
2:48: Monroe looks to be taking the ball to the basket more in the second half. Jake Grinell made both free throws to tie the game at 38.
2:51: Jake Grinnell, who has 12 points, just scored down low to pull the Cheesemakers within two points, at 42-40. Flavien Davis again answered scoring on a power move in the post, which he was fouled on. He converted his third three-point play at the free throw line to give Lutheran a 45-40 lead.
2:55: Two free throws by PJ Marion capped a 9-2 run and gave the Vikings a 47-40 lead. Jake Grinnell hit a jumper to cut the lead to 47-43. Davis for Lutheran answered with a putback to give the Vikings a 49-43 lead.
2:59: Andrew Rumler scored on a lay in before the third quarter buzzer to give the Vikings a 53-43 lead.
3:02: Mitch Tordoff nailed a 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter to cut the Vikings' lead to 53-46.
3:05: Lutheran's Tim Rotruck scored down low to give the Vikings a 60-48 lead with 6:07 to go, but Jake Grinnell answered with a basket to cut the deficit to 10, 60-50 with 5:56 left. Davis scored again and Lutheran's lead is back to 12 points, 62-50.
3:16: Mitch Tordoff will not go out quietly. Mitch Tordoff hit a 3-pointer with 2:27 left to slice the Vikings' lead to 69-63.
3:08: Lutheran's PJ Marion knifed into the lane and knocked down a jumper to give Lutheran a 64-50 lead. Barrett made two free throws to cut the lead to 64-52. With only 4:02 left, Lutheran senior Cedquon Holmes missed a free throw and Andrew Rumler grabbed an offensive rebound, which led to a basket in the paint by Flavian Davis to give the Vikings a 66-52 lead.
3:16: Mitch Tordoff won't go quietly after hitting a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 66-55.
3:17: With that 3-pointer, I think Mitch Tordoff now has eight 3-pointers in the game, which ties a Division 2 state record.
3:23: The Cheesemakers have had an amzing and improbable season, but it looks like the Cheesemakers are bringing home the silver ball as they trail 75-65 with 53.9 seconds left.
3:28: By my math, Monroe senior Mitch Tordoff set two more Division 2 state records - Scoring 61 total points in the tournament and tying Monroe alum Brett Stangel's single game Division 2 scoring record, with 33 points. Monroe will bring home the silver ball with a 79-67 loss to Wisconsin Lutheran.
