Hot-shooting Panthers top Cascade, 54-46

     The hot-shooting Monticello Panthers came off an extended layoff to go 11-for-17 from three-point range in a 54-46 home boys basketball win over Cascade Friday, Feb. 1.

     The Panthers did this, despite the fact they went 16 days without a game due to the difficult winter weather that forced numerous school cancellations. Monticello had just two practices in that time.

     “We didn’t know what to expect,” Monticello coach Tim Lambert said.

     Devin Kraus came off the bench to shoot 5-for-5 from beyond the arc, leading the Panthers with 15 points. Luke Lambert shot 3-for-4 and Connor Lambert 3-for-7 from three-point range, finishing with 12 and nine points, respectively. Justin Recker scored 10 points.

     “Cascade focused its defense on Justin, and our other guys really stepped up,” Lambert said. “Devin shot unbelievably well. We’ve been trying to get him to shoot more. We know he’s a good shooter.”

     Monticello (11-3, 12-3) jumped to an early 7-0 lead; an offensive rebound and put-back by Brayden Cleeton was part of that. Connor Lambert hit a pair of three-pointers later in the quarter, and the Panthers led 13-5 after one period.

     Cascade rallied to take a brief 15-14 lead, but back-to-back three-pointers by Luke Lambert led to a 25-19 halftime lead for the Panthers.

     “The momentum seemed to be swinging (Cascade’s way),” coach Lambert said. “That was a great response.”

     Monticello led 37-28 after three quarters, but the Cougars battled back again, pulling to within 39-38 with 3:40 to play. Kraus hit two more three-pointers, with a Cascade basket in between, and the Panthers led 45-41 with 1:43 to go.

     Free throws took over after that, with the Panthers sinking eight of nine in the last two minutes. Four of those came from Ty Kehoe, who came off the bench to go 4-for-4 from the line. The first two made the score 49-43 with 1:03 to play, and the last two, with 19.8 seconds left, gave Monticello an eight-point lead and sealed the win.

     Overall, Monticello shot 15-for-27 from the field (55.6 percent), and 65 percent from three-point distance. Luke Lambert had six rebounds, six assists and two steals. Recker also had six rebounds.

Feb. 1

Cascade    5 14   9  18 – 46

Monti       13 12  12 17 – 54

     CASCADE (46) – Carter Green 2-4 0-0 4, Michael Trumm 1-4 4-4 6, Reid Rausch 4-8 0-1 11, Haris Hoffman 7-13 0-0 16, Alex Aitchison 1-2 1-1 3, Wil Roling 2-4 2-4 6, Tom Knepper 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-35 7-10 46.

     MONTICELLO (54) – Tyler Luensman 0-0 0-2 0, Justin Recker 2-7 6-9 10, Luke Lambert 3-6 3-4 12, Connor Lambert 3-7 0-0 9, Brayden Cleeton 1-1 0-0 2, Devin Kraus 5-5 0-0 15, Jeff Carlson 1-1 0-0 2, Ty Kehoe 0-0 4-4 4. Totals 15-27 13-19 54.

     Three-pointers: Rausch 3, Hoffman 2; Kraus 5, L. Lambert 3, C. Lambert 3.

     Rebounds: Monticello 17 (Recker 6, L. Lambert 6), Cascade 13.

     Total fouls: Cascade 19, Monticello 16.