Big fourth quarter helps beat Tipton; regional tourney next


Rylee Warthen drives to the hoop for Monticello in the Feb. 3 Senior Night home win over Tipton. (Photos by Pete Temple)

Several players go for a rebound in Monticello’s Jan. 31 game at Cascade, including Panthers Jacqueline Petersen (left) and Jordan Kuper (obstructed, hands on ball).

Maddie Fellinger looks for an open teammate in the Cascade game.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
By: 
Pete Temple
Express Sports Editor

     Monticello ended a game in style in order to end its regular season strong.

     The Panther girls basketball team took a nine-point lead into the fourth quarter of its Friday, Feb. 3 Senior Night home game against Tipton.

     Then, Monticello outscored the Tigers 17-8 in the fourth quarter to score a 52-34 win and head into the post-season in a positive way.

     “I feel this team is ready for regionals, and if we play mentally tough and smart, and execute, we should be able to make some noise,” Monticello coach Donnie Kremer said.

     The Panthers (11-6, 13-8) open regionals with a quarterfinal game Saturday, Feb. 11 at home against Dyersville Beckman (7-12), starting at 7 p.m. The winner faces either Union or Vinton-Shellsburg in a semifinal game Wednesday, Feb. 15 at LaPorte City.

     On Friday against Tipton, Monticello took control in the second quarter in order to lead 22-13 at haltime.

     “I thought we did a great job of executing in the half court and ran the floor very well, especially in the second quarter,” Kremer said.

     Taylor McDonald led the Panthers in scoring with 16 points, shooting 7-for-12 from the field. Jordan Kuper had eight points and blocked two shots. Lauren Ries had 11 rebounds and five assists; Ries and Jacqueline Petersen each scored five points. Shay Stephen had seven points, six rebounds and four assists.

     Earlier in the week, the Panthers traveled to Cascade for a Jan. 31 game. Monticello fell behind 20-7 by halftime, pulled to within five points in two occasions in the fourth quarter, but lost 40-27.

     “They (the Cougars) did a good job of executing and making shots, and we missed shots and turned the ball over,” Kremer said.

     Monticello whittled the deficit down to eight by the end of the third quarter, 27-19. A basket by Ries cut the margin to five at 29-24 with 3:56 to play. After Cascade opened the lead back to eight, the Panthers’ McDonald sank a three-point shot to trim it to five again, 32-27, with 2:38 to go.

     “I thought we had very good ball movement, and our ability to pound the ball inside opened up our perimeter shooters,” Kremer said.

     But the Panthers had to put Cascade at the free throw line in the closing minutes, and the Cougars made six of seven to put the game away.

     McDonald and Kuper had nine points apiece for the Panthers. Kuper also had eight rebounds. Stephen made four assists, and Ries had three steals.

 

Jan. 31

Monti         2  5  12    8 – 27

Cascade  11  9    7  13 – 40

     MONTICELLO (27) – Taylor McDonald 3-11 1-2 9, Shay Stephen 0-2 0-0 0, Lauren Ries 3-11 0-0 7, Maddie Fellinger 0-3 0-0 0, Jordan Kuper 3-10 3-7 9, Rylee Warthen 1-4 0-0 2, Maddie Lambert 0-1 0-0 0, Jacqueline Petersen 0-1 0-0 0, Savanah Kremer 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 10-43 4-9 27.

     CASCADE (40) – Nicole McDermott 3-9 4-4 10, Anna Hunt 0-1 0-0 0, Lisa Tucker 1-5 2-4 4, Riley Takes 2-2 0-0 4, Abbie Ruggeberg 3-10 5-5 12, Anne Ryan 3-11 0-0 8, Jordan Simon 0-2 2-2 2, Rose Strang 0-1 0-0 0, Skylar Dolphin 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 12-41 13-15 40.

     Three-pointers: McDonald 2, Ries; Ryan 2, Ruggeberg.

     Rebounds: Monticello 30 (Kuper 8, McDonald 3, Stephen 3, Petersen 3), Cascade 27.

     Total fouls: Monticello 12, Cascade 12.

 

Feb. 3

Tipton    4    9   13    8  – 34

Monti     6   16  13   17 – 52

     MONTICELLO (52) – Taylor McDonald 7-12 1-1 16, Jacqueline Petersen 2-5 0-0 5, Shay Stephen 1-11 4-4 7, Lauren Ries 2-9 0-0 5, Rylee Warthen 1-5 1-2 3, Jordan Kuper 4-11 2-2 8, Maddie Lambert 1-1 0-0 2, Maddie Fellinger 1-2 0-0 2, Carly Hayen 1-1 1-2 3, Caitlyn Cruise 0-0 0-0 0, Meredith Melchert 0-0 0-0 0, Savanah Kremer 0-0 0-0 0, Samantha Fritz 0-0 0-0 0, Macy McDonough 0-0 1-2 1, Paige Holub 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-57 8-13 52.

     Three-pointers: McDonald, Petersen, Stephen, Ries.

     Rebounds: Monticello 40 (Ries 11, Stephen 6, Fellinger 5).

     Total fouls: Monticello 13.

 

Category:

Subscriber Login