JV tops Anamosa, falls twice

Junior varsity

     The Monticello junior varsity boys basketball team lost consecutive conference games to Camanche and Mid-Prairie, but prevailed over Anamosa this past week.

     The game at Camanche was a hard fought game throughout with neither team ever building a substantial lead. The teams came out of halftime with Camanche clinging to a one-point lead. Camanche’s outside shooting was the difference as it pulled away to a 48-39 win. Kegan Arduser led Monticello with 12 points. Will Rieniets and Ryan Manternach each added 10 points.

     Monticello regrouped, and on Jan. 19 faced traditional rival Anamosa. The first half was a physical defensive struggle. Monticello led 14-13 at the break. In the third quarter the Panthers turned in their best offensive performance of the year, exploding for 39 points, racing away to an impressive 53-31 victory. Will Rieniets was a force on offense, scoring 25 points.

     The following evening the Panthers returned home to face Mid-Prairie. The lead went back and forth several times with no team ever having a lead bigger than five points. Monticello led by two at halftime and trailed by one as the third quarter ended. As the clock ran down, Mid-Prairie led by two points. The Panthers had two opportunities to tie or win the game in the last 12 seconds, but failed both times. Two late free throws gave Mid-Prairie a 45-41 win. Kegan Arduser kept Monticello close, pouring in 15 points.

     The Panthers are 5-7 against conference opponents, 6-8 overall.

– Steve Rucker, head coach

Eighth grade

     Monticello’s eighth-grade boys basketball teams opened the season with Jan. 12 home games against Northeast of Goose Lake, and won two games.

     The Panther A team won 45-20. Tyler Luensman led Monticello in scoring with 11 points, and Justin Recker added 10. Also scoring were Connor Lambert with eight, Brayden Cleeton with four, and Grahm Schneiter, Luke Lambert, Jasper Nietert and Andrew Morris with two apiece.

     In the B game, Monticello won 18-6. Tyler McAtee, Nietert and Morris scored four points apiece; Noah Arduser, Caleb Gillmore and Levi Temple scored two each.                  

     On Jan. 19, the Panthers played host to Bellevue, and split two games. The A team won 36-10. Recker scored nine points, Luensman had eight, Riley Manternach added seven, Schneiter had four, and Luke Lambert, Connor Lambert, Nietert and Morris had two apiece.

     Bellevue won the B game 27-12. Morris scored seven points, Dominick Chally added three and Nietert had two for Monticello.

Seventh grade

     The Monticello seventh-grade boys basketball team opened the season with a pair of losses at Northeast of Goose Lake Jan. 12. Monticello Red lost 50-14, and the White lost 47-17.

     At Bellevue Jan. 19, Monticello Red lost 48-8, and Monticello White was defeated 39-15.

     “It was a tough way to start the season, but the kids are playing hard, and we haven’t had many practices either,” Monticello coach Joe Steen said. “I look forward to watching these kids get better throughout the season.”