Panthers win, lose in districts

     Monticello got the enjoyment of winning a Class 2A district quarterfinal game, but went up against a familiar foe in the semifinals, and saw its boys basketball season come to an end.

     The Panthers traveled to Monona to face Waukon in the quarterfinal game, and scored a 57-39 win on Monday, Feb. 13.

     Three nights later, at Cascade, Monticello fell 57-46.

     The Waukon game was tale of three-point shot. The Indians attempted 37 shots from beyond the arc. Fortunately for the Panthers, they only made six of those (16 percent).

     Had Waukon been more successful from long range, it might have been a closer game. Instead, Monticello gradually inched away, leading 27-19 at halftime, 41-31 after three periods. The Panthers blew it open in the fourth quarter.

     “We figured they’d go on some runs with their shot selection, but they never really went on that run,” Lambert said.

     Monticello, meanwhile, shot 23-for-34 from the field (68 percent), and despite not making a three-point shot, won by 18.

     “I thought our kids did a good job of getting good shots,” Lambert said.        

     The Panthers had three players score in double figures. Alex Nealson had a double-double, with 15 points and 13 rebounds, along with three blocks, including a big one late in the second quarter. Nealson also had a highlight-reel dunk off a pass from Kyle Sperfslage in the third quarter that pushed the Panther lead to 12.

     Jacob Manternach had 14 points, six rebounds and six assists. Avery Martensen scored 10 points. Those three shot a combined 16-for-22 (73 percent) from the field.

     Getting three assists apiece were Kyle Sperfslage, Alex Nealson and Taylor Manternach. Josh White made two steals.

     At Cascade Feb. 16, things were looking good for the Panthers when Sperfslage hit a three-point shot at the buzzer from just inside the half court line, giving Monticello a 22-19 lead at the break.

     But the Cougars came back in the third quarter, outscoring the Panthers 16-5 to take a 35-27 lead they never relinquished.

     “We seemed a step slow defensively,” Lambert said. “They spread the floor, and we were out of rotation too many times, leaving them too many wide-open looks.”

     The Panthers trailed by four points with under six minutes to go, fell behind by seven with three minutes left, and then twice got back within five, but couldn’t get closer.

     It didn’t help that Avery Martensen left the game early in the first quarter after suffering an ankle injury.

     Despite the loss it was a big final game for Andrew Tjaden, who came off the bench to secure a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Jacob Manternach scored 15 points and made four assists. Sperfslage added nine points.

     Monticello finished with a record of 11-12, including 8-9 in River Valley Conference play.

     “From what we lost from last year’s team, I thought our kids had a nice season,” Lambert concluded. “I think we exceeded the expectations of a lot of people. We were very competitive all year except for a couple of games. We had that stretch when we lost all those close games. We could have really had a a nice record if we won more of those.”

     The Panthers will return four starters from this year’s team.

     “You hope that experience pays off,” the coach said. “We could be set up for a pretty fun season next year.”

Feb. 13

Class 2A District

Quarterfinal

(at Monona)

Monti      12 15 14 16 – 57

Waukon   5  14 12   8 – 39

     MONTICELLO (57) – Avery Martensen 4-5 2-2 10, Jacob Manternach 6-8 2-8 14, Josh White 1-4 2-6 4, Alex Nealson 6-9 3-4 15, Kyle Sperfslage 2-4 0-0 4, Taylor Manternach 2-2 1-2 5, Andrew Tjaden 2-2 1-3 5, Jordan Breashears 0-0 0-0 0, Ryan Manternach 0-0 0-0 0, Alex Kremer 0-0 0-0 0, T.J. Nealson 0-0 0-0 0, Connor Franzenburg 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-34 11-25 57.

     WAUKON (39) – Abe Schwartz 3-8 0-0 8, Michael Sweeney 3-15 2-2 9, Isaiah Welch 1-17 0-0 2, Colin Waters 2-7 1-1 6, Mitchell Snitker 4-11 1-3 11, Evan Armstead 1-2 1-2 3, Brandon Regan 0-2 0-0 0, Evan Armstead 1-2 1-2 3, Ethan Krueger 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 14-63 5-8 39.

     Three-pointers: Schwartz 2, Snitker 2, Sweeney, Waters.

     Rebounds: Monticello 39 (A. Nealson 13, Tjaden 7, J. Manternach 6), Waukon 25.

     Total fouls: Waukon 24, Monticello 12.

Feb. 16

Class 2A District

Semifinal

(at Cascade)

Monti     8  14   5  19 – 46

Cas.       7  12 16  22 – 57

     MONTICELLO (46) – Avery Martensen 0-2 0-0 0, Jacob Manternach 5-14 2-2 15, Josh White 1-4 0-0 3, Alex Nealson 1-7 0-0 2, Kyle Sperfslage 3-9 0-0 9, Andrew Tjaden 6-8 2-2 14, Taylor Manternach 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 17-45 4-4 46.

     CASCADE (57) – Brock Simon 6-9 1-2 18, Dilan Simon 2-3 0-1 5, Johnny Supple 3-7 2-4 8, Gannon O’Brien 3-9 8-8 15, Haris Hoffman 3-11 2-2 9, Bryce Simon 1-1 0-0 2, Derek Koppes 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-41 13-17 57.

     Three-pointers: J. Manternach 3, Sperfslage 3, White, T. Manternach; Brock Simon 5, D. Simon, O’Brien, Hoffman.

     Rebounds: Monticello 28 (Tjaden 10, A. Nealson 6, Sperfslage 5), Cascade 21.

     Total fouls: Monticello 18, Cascade 8.