It's about an hour until tipoff between the Cheesemakers and Appleton Xavier. The Division 2 semifinal between unbeaten Northwestern and Wisconsin Lutheran is turning into the best game of the tournament. Northwestern just erased a 10-point deficit and took a 34-33 lead.
2:24 Northwestern is making a run and junior Steve Tecker, a 6-foot-5-inch guard just brought Northwestern fans to their feet with a two handed dunk to give Northwestern a 38-34 lead.
2:48 I expect the Monroe- Appleton Xavier game to be a barn burner. Xavier has three players averaging double figures led by senior Jonathan Burns (14.2 points a game). Burns is looking to play basketball at Chicago University or MATC next year. The other double figure scorers for the Hawks are Dan Klister (12.4) and Ollie Livengood (11.8). When I talked to Monroe coach Pat Murphy on Monday, he said stopping dribble penetration would be key. I think Monroe sophomore Bryan Tordoff is the X-factor and will have a big game. The CHeesemakers have to make sure senior Mitch McArdle doesn't get in foul trouble because they need his defense.
2:57 Wisconsin Lutheran advanced to the Division 2 state championship with a thrilling 61-58 win over Northwestern.
3:00 Wisconsin Lutheran senior Flavien Davis missed two free throws with 31.9 seconds left and Lutheran clinging to a 59-58 lead. After the second missed free throw, officials called a jump ball and Lutheran retained possession. Lutheran then scored to seal a 61-58 victory.
3:15 It's time for tipoff and a stingy Cheesemakers' defense and clutch free throw shooting could be the difference. There also is a track meet tonight for Monroe at UW-Whitewater, which some athletes will run in. When I talked to Monroe boys track coach Dave Hirshbrunner earlier this week, he said athletes would not be forced to go to the track meet with the state boys tournament going on. However, he still anticipated several athletes making the trip. Good luck!
3:21 Jake Grinnell gives the Cheesemakers a 2-0 lead on a pass from sophomore Michael Barrett.
3:24: The Cheesemakers are off to a running start as senior Mitch Tordoff hit a driving jumper in the lane for a 4-0 lead.
3:26 Dan Murphy scored down low at 4:21 in the first quarter to tie the game at 4. Murphy has scored the Hawks' first two baskets. The Cheesemakers are 0-for-4 from the 3-point line at the start. Xavier's Jonatahn Burns just scored to give the Hawks a 6-4 lead.
3:29 Boxing out will be critical. Xavier has three offensive rebounds in the first 6 minutes and Ollie Livengood's putback gave the Hawks an 8-4 lead. Monroe is now 0-for 6 from the 3-point range.
3:31 Monroe is off to a cold start shooting in the first quarter 2-for-11 and 0-for-6 from the 3-point line.
3:34 Xavier senior Dan Klister scored a layup on the break to give the Hawks a 12-6 lead. Mitch Tordoff answered with a basket. Mitch Tordoff picked up his second foul and the Cheesemakers are going to have to box out or the Hawks will have a boat load of second chance scoring opportunities. My unofficial tally on offensive rebounds at the end of the first quarter is five. That will have to change. Xavier has a 12-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
3:48 Sorry for the delay. You have to love technology, especially when you laptop computer just times out and shuts down in the middle of the Cheesemakers' 14-8 run. Mitch Tordoff scored on back-to-back conventional three-point plays to give the Cheesemakers a 14-12 lead. Mitch McArdle also hit a big 3-pointer from the wing to give Monroe a 17-14 lead. Mitch Tordoff picked up his third foul 5 minutes, 48 seconds left in the second quarter. Monroe senior Zach Rast jump-started the Cheesemakers off the bench as he converted a conventional three-point play at the free throw line after scoring a layup on the break. Xavier's Jonathan Burns drilled a 3-pointer with about 2:45 left to slice the Cheesemakers' lead to 21-20.
3:52 Monroe has a 21-20 lead at the half. Mitch Tordoff has scored 10 first half points, but he will have to stay away from picking up a quick foul in the third quarter.
4:04 Ollie Livengood started the third quarter with a bang scoring down low and he was fouled. Livengood converted the three-point play at the free throw line to give the Hawks a 23-21 lead. Mitch Tordoff answered, scoring down low to tie the game at 23.
4:06 Xavier's Jonathan Burns baned in a jumper Scottie Pippen style to give the Hawks a 25-24 lead.
4:10 Xavier senior Dan Klister tipped in a missed shot on the break to give the Hawks a 27-24 lead with 4:30 left in the third. Monroe sophomore Bryan Tordoff just scored to cut the Hawks' lead to 27-26. Dan Murphy answered by grabbing an offensive rebound and scoring to give the Hawks a 29-26 lead.
4:13 Bryan Tordoff has gave the Cheesemakers a spark off the bench at the end of the third quarter by drilling two clutch 3-pointers to Monroe a 32-31 lead. The Hawks responded with two straight steals and layups by Dan Murphy and Mike Fitzgerald to give the Hawks a 37-32 lead.
4:17: The Cheesemakers have eight more minutes remaining to make a comeback.
4:19: Mitch McArdle came up with a big steal and made a layup on the break to cut the Hawks' lead to 37-34. Mitch Tordoff picked up his fourth foul with 6:43 left. Xavier senior Dan Klister made a jumper to give the Hawks a 39-34 lead. Ollie Livengood picked up his fourth foul and Mitch Tordoff made two free throws to cut the Hawks' lead to 39-36.
4:23: It looks like my pick to click in Bryan Tordoff is delivering. Bryan Tordoff just made his third 3-pointer of the game to tie the game at 39 with 4:17 to go.
4:25: Mitch Tordoff nailed his first 3-pointer of the game to give the Cheesemakers a 42-39 lead with 3:18 to go.
4:26: Monroe is 2 minutes, 30 seconds away from a state title game.
4:32: Mitch Tordoff has made 7-of-8 free throws in the final 2:32 to give the Cheesemakers a 49-39 lead. It looks like Monroe will be playing for its second title in the last three years.
4:35: Monroe senior Mitch Tordoff was automatic from the free throw line down the stretch making 11-of-12 free throws in the final 2:32 to propel the Cheesemakers a 53-39 win.
2:24 Northwestern is making a run and junior Steve Tecker, a 6-foot-5-inch guard just brought Northwestern fans to their feet with a two handed dunk to give Northwestern a 38-34 lead.
2:48 I expect the Monroe- Appleton Xavier game to be a barn burner. Xavier has three players averaging double figures led by senior Jonathan Burns (14.2 points a game). Burns is looking to play basketball at Chicago University or MATC next year. The other double figure scorers for the Hawks are Dan Klister (12.4) and Ollie Livengood (11.8). When I talked to Monroe coach Pat Murphy on Monday, he said stopping dribble penetration would be key. I think Monroe sophomore Bryan Tordoff is the X-factor and will have a big game. The CHeesemakers have to make sure senior Mitch McArdle doesn't get in foul trouble because they need his defense.
2:57 Wisconsin Lutheran advanced to the Division 2 state championship with a thrilling 61-58 win over Northwestern.
3:00 Wisconsin Lutheran senior Flavien Davis missed two free throws with 31.9 seconds left and Lutheran clinging to a 59-58 lead. After the second missed free throw, officials called a jump ball and Lutheran retained possession. Lutheran then scored to seal a 61-58 victory.
3:15 It's time for tipoff and a stingy Cheesemakers' defense and clutch free throw shooting could be the difference. There also is a track meet tonight for Monroe at UW-Whitewater, which some athletes will run in. When I talked to Monroe boys track coach Dave Hirshbrunner earlier this week, he said athletes would not be forced to go to the track meet with the state boys tournament going on. However, he still anticipated several athletes making the trip. Good luck!
3:21 Jake Grinnell gives the Cheesemakers a 2-0 lead on a pass from sophomore Michael Barrett.
3:24: The Cheesemakers are off to a running start as senior Mitch Tordoff hit a driving jumper in the lane for a 4-0 lead.
3:26 Dan Murphy scored down low at 4:21 in the first quarter to tie the game at 4. Murphy has scored the Hawks' first two baskets. The Cheesemakers are 0-for-4 from the 3-point line at the start. Xavier's Jonatahn Burns just scored to give the Hawks a 6-4 lead.
3:29 Boxing out will be critical. Xavier has three offensive rebounds in the first 6 minutes and Ollie Livengood's putback gave the Hawks an 8-4 lead. Monroe is now 0-for 6 from the 3-point range.
3:31 Monroe is off to a cold start shooting in the first quarter 2-for-11 and 0-for-6 from the 3-point line.
3:34 Xavier senior Dan Klister scored a layup on the break to give the Hawks a 12-6 lead. Mitch Tordoff answered with a basket. Mitch Tordoff picked up his second foul and the Cheesemakers are going to have to box out or the Hawks will have a boat load of second chance scoring opportunities. My unofficial tally on offensive rebounds at the end of the first quarter is five. That will have to change. Xavier has a 12-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
3:48 Sorry for the delay. You have to love technology, especially when you laptop computer just times out and shuts down in the middle of the Cheesemakers' 14-8 run. Mitch Tordoff scored on back-to-back conventional three-point plays to give the Cheesemakers a 14-12 lead. Mitch McArdle also hit a big 3-pointer from the wing to give Monroe a 17-14 lead. Mitch Tordoff picked up his third foul 5 minutes, 48 seconds left in the second quarter. Monroe senior Zach Rast jump-started the Cheesemakers off the bench as he converted a conventional three-point play at the free throw line after scoring a layup on the break. Xavier's Jonathan Burns drilled a 3-pointer with about 2:45 left to slice the Cheesemakers' lead to 21-20.
3:52 Monroe has a 21-20 lead at the half. Mitch Tordoff has scored 10 first half points, but he will have to stay away from picking up a quick foul in the third quarter.
4:04 Ollie Livengood started the third quarter with a bang scoring down low and he was fouled. Livengood converted the three-point play at the free throw line to give the Hawks a 23-21 lead. Mitch Tordoff answered, scoring down low to tie the game at 23.
4:06 Xavier's Jonathan Burns baned in a jumper Scottie Pippen style to give the Hawks a 25-24 lead.
4:10 Xavier senior Dan Klister tipped in a missed shot on the break to give the Hawks a 27-24 lead with 4:30 left in the third. Monroe sophomore Bryan Tordoff just scored to cut the Hawks' lead to 27-26. Dan Murphy answered by grabbing an offensive rebound and scoring to give the Hawks a 29-26 lead.
4:13 Bryan Tordoff has gave the Cheesemakers a spark off the bench at the end of the third quarter by drilling two clutch 3-pointers to Monroe a 32-31 lead. The Hawks responded with two straight steals and layups by Dan Murphy and Mike Fitzgerald to give the Hawks a 37-32 lead.
4:17: The Cheesemakers have eight more minutes remaining to make a comeback.
4:19: Mitch McArdle came up with a big steal and made a layup on the break to cut the Hawks' lead to 37-34. Mitch Tordoff picked up his fourth foul with 6:43 left. Xavier senior Dan Klister made a jumper to give the Hawks a 39-34 lead. Ollie Livengood picked up his fourth foul and Mitch Tordoff made two free throws to cut the Hawks' lead to 39-36.
4:23: It looks like my pick to click in Bryan Tordoff is delivering. Bryan Tordoff just made his third 3-pointer of the game to tie the game at 39 with 4:17 to go.
4:25: Mitch Tordoff nailed his first 3-pointer of the game to give the Cheesemakers a 42-39 lead with 3:18 to go.
4:26: Monroe is 2 minutes, 30 seconds away from a state title game.
4:32: Mitch Tordoff has made 7-of-8 free throws in the final 2:32 to give the Cheesemakers a 49-39 lead. It looks like Monroe will be playing for its second title in the last three years.
4:35: Monroe senior Mitch Tordoff was automatic from the free throw line down the stretch making 11-of-12 free throws in the final 2:32 to propel the Cheesemakers a 53-39 win.
