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Monroe prepares for Appleton Xavier

MONROE — Monroe and Appleton Xavier will play in the second semifinal game of the WIAA Division 2 boys state basketball tournament.

The Cheesemakers are making their fourth trip to state in the last five years, including a state title in 2007.

The Hawks will be making their first appearance at the public state tournament after many successful years in the WISAA.

A decided advantage for the tournament-tested Cheesemakers? Not according to Monroe coach Pat Murphy.

“Two years ago, when we won the thing, nobody expected us to,” Murphy said. “Last year, when we were the favorite coming in and everyone thought we’d win it again, we lost our first game.

“It comes down to just going out and playing basketball. Records and experience, and all that other stuff, doesn’t mean much. It’s how you play for those two days.”

Monroe (18-7) has played well as of late. The Cheesemakers have won eight of their last nine games, with the only loss to Waunakee—a Division 1 sectional finalist. Monroe shared the Badger Conference South championship with Madison Edgewood, but beat the Crusaders, 44-42, in the sectional title game to earn the school’s 14th state appearance.

Senior sharpshooter Mitch Tordoff leads the Cheesemaker attack. The 6-foot guard is averaging 18 points per game and leads the Division 2 field with 74 three-point baskets. Tordoff had 30 points in a sectional semifinal win over Wisconsin Dells, but was held to three in the win over Edgewood after a three-game stretch in which he scored 81.

“I’ve watched Mitch play for the last eight years at different levels, and that was probably the worse game I’ve ever seen him play,” Murphy said of the Edgewood game. “But for all the times that he has carried this team, it’s nice to know that he didn’t have to be at his best for us to win.

“Mitch can obviously hurt you if he’s on, and we like to have the ball in his hands late in the game because he shoots free throws so well, but I have a lot of confidence in all five kids I have on the court.”

Tordoff’s younger brother, Bryan, is second on the team in scoring with a 9.9 point average and is the team’s top rebounder at 4.1 per game.

Xavier goes into Friday’s 3:15 p.m. game with a 22-3 record. The Hawks won the Eastern Valley Conference title and are a senior-dominated team. The top eight players in coach Tom Neises’ rotation are seniors.

Jonathon Burns leads Xavier in scoring with a 14.2 average, and Dan Klister (12.4) and Ollie Livengood (11.8) also average in double figures.

“They run a lot of the same sets that we do,” Murphy said of the Hawks. “And when you talk about all the so-called experience our kids have from playing at state the last two years, remember we only returned one starter this season. Xavier had all five starters back, and now they’re all seniors.

“I think people are going to see two pretty similar teams playing each other. It’s going to be a great challenge for us.”

Just the type of challenge the Cheesemakers seem to thrive on.