In General, a Bad Night for Monroe

NORTH HILLS — The Monroe High boys’ basketball team fell victim to a poor shooting performance in the second quarter and could not recover as visiting Washington ran away with a 77-56 victory Friday night in a City Section 4-A Division first-round playoff game.

Monroe (14-6), seeded No. 8, attacked Washington, seeded No. 9, from the opening tipoff and found success--in the first 12 minutes. It was the last 20 minutes, however, that gave the Vikings fits.

Monroe led throughout the first quarter and into the second before two free throws by Washington’s Daniel Moore gave the Generals their first lead, 17-16. But Monroe reclaimed the lead, 20-17, on two baskets by Marrean Robottom, who had nine rebounds in the first half.

But the Vikings missed their next 11 shots and allowed a 12-0 run by Washington to close out the first half. Monroe shot a paltry 17% (three for 18) in the second quarter.

“That was the difference in the game,” Monroe Coach Allen Caveness said. “We came out aggressive but didn’t get the job done in the second half like we did in the first.”

Washington padded its 29-20 halftime lead with Lamar Talton’s layup giving Washington a 13-point advantage with one minute remaining in the third quarter.

After the Generals increased their lead to 19 points, 62-43, on a three-point play by Emanuel Brown with 4 minutes 13 seconds left, Monroe had no recourse but to foul the Generals. Washington responded, making 14 of 17 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Robottom finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Yaniv Horovitz and Rolando Cardenas each had 10 points.

Four starters finished in double figures for Washington (13-13), including Brown with 22.