Second-half rallies lead to JV victories

     A pair of big second-half rallies enabled the Monticello junior varsity girls basketball team to pick up a pair of River Valley Conference wins last week, upping the Panthers’ record to 3-0.

     The Panthers played host to Bellevue Nov. 27, and rode a big third quarter to a 40-33 win. Down 16-15 at the break, Monticello outscored the Comets 12-3 in the third quarter to take control.

     It was a big night for Beka Prull, who scored 17 points, grabbed seven rebounds and made three steals. Bronwyn Hodge had seven points and five rebounds. Karli Recker had seven points and three assists. DeLainy Fellinger had five points. Lydia Recker scored one point, and had six steals, five rebounds and five assists. Mallory Steiner added two points, and Kylee Van Dorn had one.

     “It was a very tight game all the way,” Monticello coach Chuck Welsch said. “The girls played hard and together.”

     On Nov. 30, the Panthers outscored North Cedar 13-0 in the third quarter and went on to defeat the Knights 35-12, also in Monticello. Karli Recker had 11 points, including three baskets from three-point range; and three steals. Hodge and Prull had six points apiece. Lydia Recker had three points, four rebounds and four steals. Also scoring were Piper Hansen with three points, and Kayla Simmons, Fellinger and Steiner with two apiece.