MHS bounces Durant

     Three Monticello Panthers scored in double figures, and the team played a strong second half to run away to a 64-45 boys basketball win at Durant Dec. 21.

     Luke Lambert scored 19 points, Connor Lambert added 17 and Justin Recker had 15 for Monticello.

     It was the final game before winter break for the Panthers, who are 8-1, including 7-1 in the River Valley Conference. Monticello led 26-22 at halftime, but outscored the Wildcats 38-24 in the final two quarters.

     “In the second half we played really well,” Monticello coach Tim Lambert said. “We didn’t turn the ball over, rebounded well, attacked them on offense, and got good shots. We played really clean.”

     The shooting percentages bear that out: the Panthers shot 25-for-43 from the field (58.1 percent) and 9-for-10 from the free throw line.

     The win avenged a lopsided home loss to Durant in late January last year, which coincidentally was by the same 64-45 score. It also spoiled the night for a big home Durant crowd, drawn by an organ donation awareness night.

     “It was definitely a game we were worried about,” coach Lambert said. “I thought our guys responded really well.”

     Connor Lambert shot 6-for-8 from the field, including 3-for-4 from three-point range. Recker was 7-for-12 from the field, and Luke Lambert was 6-for-12.

     Tyler Luensman added seven points, and Brayden Cleeton had six.

     “The kids shared the ball,” the coach said. “They’re not worried about who’s scoring.”

     Monticello had 15 assists as a team, led by Luke Lambert with six. Recker was the leading rebounder with eight, and Cleeton had seven.

     “It’s nice to head into the break with a win,” Lambert said. “To be sitting at 8-1; we’re really happy with that.”

Dec. 21

Monti   14 12 17 21 – 64

Durant 11 11 10 13 – 45

     MONTICELLO (64) – Tyler Luensman 3-5 0-0 7, Justin Recker 7-12 0-0 15, Luke Lambert 6-12 7-8 19, Connor Lambert 6-8 2-2 17, Brayden Cleeton 3-3 0-0 6, Devin Kraus 0-3 0-0 0, Jeff Carlson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-43 9-10 65.

     Three-pointers: C. Lambert 3, Luensman, Recker.

     Rebounds: Monticello 23 (Recker 8, Cleeton 7).

     Total fouls: Monticello 10.