Middle game is best game of week for Panthers


Taylor McDonald of Monticello (in white) is guarded closely by Mid-Prairie’s Anna Vilovchik Jan. 20 in Monticello. (Photo by Pete Temple)

Maddie Fellinger of the Panthers bounces a pass to a teammate in the Mid-Prairie game. (Photo by Pete Temple)

Lauren Ries of Monticello (25) battles a Camanche player for the ball in the Jan. 17 game at Camanche. (Photo courtesy of Lizzie Petersen)
GIRLS BASKETBALL
By: 
Pete Temple
Express Sports Editor

     It was all about middles for the Monticello High School girls basketball team last week.

     The middle game of a three-game week proved to be the best one for the Panthers, who scored a 59-45 victory over archrival Anamosa Thursday, Jan. 19 at Anamosa. The game was a makeup from a postponement on Dec. 10.

     And in that game, the middle two quarters made the difference. The Panthers (8-5, 10-6) trailed 10-7 after one quarter, but in the second and third period, outscored the Blue Raiders 39-21 and were in control from then on.

     “I thought we had a great team performance,” Monticello coach Donnie Kremer said. “I thought we played at a very high level. We distributed the ball very well. We converted in transition very well, and on offense we did a nice job of finding the open person.”

     Three Panthers scored in double figures in the game, led by Taylor McDonald, who scored 20. She shot 6-for-9 from the field, making three shots from beyond the three-point arc; and was 5-for-6 from the free throw line. Lauren Ries had 13 points and six assists and Carly Hayen had 11 points. Jordan Kuper came off the bench to contribute seven points and three assists. Shay Stephen made seven rebounds.

     Leading 22-19 at halftime, the Panthers outscored Anamosa 24-12 in the third period.

     “We just talked about setting the tone the first couple minutes of the third quarter,” Kremer said.

     Monticello’s other two games were against strong River Valley Conference teams. The most recent was Friday, Jan. 20, a 44-34 home loss against Mid-Prairie.

     The Golden Hawks took an 18-11 lead in the second quarter, and a 23-17 edge into halftime.

     Monticello spent the rest of the game trying to cut into the margin. The Panthers got within three points once in the third quarter, and were within six, 37-31, with 2:38 to play. But Mid-Prairie’s Addie Rath sank seven of eight free throws in the game’s final minute to seal the visitors’ win.

     “We just could not put a run together,” Kremer said. “We failed to convert in transition when we forced a turnover. Down the stretch we did not execute very well and finish shots. All these things can be taken care of.”

     Despite the loss, Ries had a double-double for Monticello, with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Stephen scored 10 points. McDonald had three steals, and Maddie Fellinger grabbed five rebounds.

     Earlier in the week, the Panthers traveled to Camanche and were handed a 65-41 defeat, as the Indians outscored Monti 33-16 in the second half.

     “Camanche did a good job of getting into the passing lanes and running the floor,” Kremer said. “We will have to be more mentally tough and play smarter to get things turned around. We just have to keep moving forward and learn from our mistakes.”

     Ries scored 17 points, grabbed seven rebounds and made three steals in that game. Ries shot 7-for-10 from the field. Stephen scored 10 points and had three assists. Fellinger made four steals. Hayen scored six points.

     “I thought Carly Hayen played really well against a very good post player,” Kremer said.

     Monticello had three games on this week’s schedule: at home against North Cedar Jan. 24, at home against Maquoketa Valley Jan. 26, and at Durant Jan. 27.

 

Jan. 17

Monti    11 14   8    8 – 41

Cam.     19 13 21 12 – 65

     MONTICELLO (41) – Taylor McDonald 1-5 2-4 5, Shay Stephen 4-9 0-0 10, Lauren Ries 7-10 0-0 17, Maddie Lambert 1-2 0-0 3, Rylee Warthen 0-1 0-0 0, Maddie Fellinger 0-4 0-0 0, Carly Hayen 3-6 0-0 6, Jordan Kuper 0-1 0-0 0, Caitlyn Cruise 0-1 0-0 0, Jacqueline Petersen 0-0 0-0 0, Rileigh Lambert 0-0 0-0 0, Savanah Kremer 0-0 0-0 0, Meredith Melchert 0-0 0-0 0, Anna Loes 0-0 0-0 0, Samantha Fritz 0-0 0-0 0, Macy McDonough 0-0 0-0 0, Paige Holub 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-39 2-5 41.

     CAMANCHE (65) – Lea Lefebure 6-10 0-0 12, Sami Puckett 2-7 0-0 5, Marly Bussa 7-10 0-0 18, Alexandra Nielsen 2-6 0-0 5, Courtney Schnoor 9-14 3-8 21, Madi Parson 1-1 0-0 2, Hanna Nissen 1-3 0-0 2, Emily McIlroy 0-1 0-0 0, Paige Waltz 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 28-54 3-8 65.

     Three-pointers:  Ries 3, Stephen 2, M. Lambert, McDonald; Bussa 4, Puckett, Nielsen.

     Rebounds: Camanche 28, Monticello 18 (Ries 7).

 

Jan. 19

Monti     7  15 24 13 – 59

Ana.     10    9 12 14 – 45

     MONTICELLO (59) – Taylor McDonald 6-9 5-6 20, Shay Stephen 0-2 3-6 3, Lauren Ries 3-8 5-6 13, Maddie Lambert 0-0 0-0 0, Rylee Warthen 0-1 0-0 0, Carly Hayen 5-9 1-2 11, Jordan Kuper 2-2 3-4 7, Jacqueline Petersen 1-1 0-0 2, Maddie Fellinger 1-2 1-2 3. Totals 18-34 18-26 59.

     Three-pointers: McDonald 3, Ries 2;

     Rebounds: Monticello 34 (Stephen 7, Ries 5, Hayen 5, Petersen 5),

     Total fouls: Monticello 17.

 

Jan. 20

Mid-P.    9  14   7 14 – 44

Monti     8    9   9   8 – 34

     MID-PRAIRIE (44) – Anna Vilovchik 0-1 0-0 0, Addie Rath 5-12 11-14 22, Shae Becker 5-6 2-4 12, Ali Butters 1-5 0-0 2, Ireland Hostetler 4-8 0-0 8, Caitlyn Riggan 0-3 0-0 0, Delaney Smith 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 15-37 13-18 44.

     MONTICELLO (34) – Taylor McDonald 0-1 2-2 2, Shay Stephen 4-9 0-0 10, Lauren Ries 3-11 4-6 11, Carly Hayen 2-9 0-0 4, Maddie Lambert 0-5 3-5 3, Maddie Fellinger 1-7 0-0 2, Rylee Warthen 0-1 0-2 0, Jordan Kuper 1-3 0-0 2, Jacqueline Petersen 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 11-46 9-15 34.

     Three-pointers: Rath; Stephen 2, Ries.

     Rebounds: Mid-Prairie 34, Monticello 30 (Ries 11, Fellinger 5, Kuper 4).

     Total fouls: Mid-Prairie 14, Monticello 13.

 

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