Big starts are big factors as Panthers split games

     While the Monticello High School girls basketball team’s first two games of the new year produced different results, they both had one thing in common: The team that jumped out to the big early lead proved to be the winner.

     The Panthers (4-2 division, 7-3 overall) did that in a Jan. 5 home game against Northeast, taking an 18-5 lead after one quarter and going on to win 59-23. Three days later, at Cascade, the host Cougars got the early advantage, leading 14-0 midway through the second quarter and holding off a furious Panther rally to win 30-22.

     Monticello’s first game after the holiday break was a physical but largely one-sided Panther home win over Northeast of Goose Lake, 59-23.

     A key to the game was holding the visiting Rebels to just eight points in the first half as the Panthers built a 20-point lead. As part of that, the Panthers made 23 steals for the game.

     “I thought we set the tone right away and did a very good job of causing turnovers, which led to easy baskets for us,” Monticello coach Donnie Kremer said. “Defensively we played very sound.”

     Gabby Guilford recovered after taking an accidental forearm across the face while going for a layup early in the third quarter, re-entered the game, and finished with 18 points, showing 6-for-8 from the field and 6-for-6 from the free throw line.

     “I thought we handled their physicality pretty well,” Kremer said. “When Gabby took the shot, we just elevated our game and took it to them. I was very happy that we responded the way great teams do in that situation.”

     Jaelyn Aitchison came off the bench to score 10 points and make four steals. Tori McDonald had a strong game with nine points, eight rebounds and three steals. Beka Prull had six points, and Bronwyn Hodge grabbed six rebounds. Lydia Recker had five points and four steals.

     At Cascade Friday, Monticello fell behind 9-0 after one quarter, and the Cougars took a 14-0 lead before Guilford scored on a layup for the Panthers with 4:25 left in the first half. Cascade lead 20-7 at halftime.

     “In the first half we missed a lot of easy bunnies,” coach Kremer said. “We got the shots we wanted, but they did not fall. We were a little hesitant about attacking their gaps in the 2-3 zone.”

     The second half was markedly different. Down 23-12 midway through the third quarter, the Panthers went on an 8-0 run to get within three halfway through the fourth. Monticello had chances, but couldn’t close the gap any further.

     Alyssa Lux hit a key three-pointer for Cascade with 2:33 to go, and Faith Bower followed with a layup to give the Cougars a 28-20 lead with 1:50 left.

     “With the game at three points, we missed several layups, had a three-pointer go in and out, and missed several free throws down the stretch. That game could have easily turned in our favor had some of those shots fallen,” the coach said.

     Guilford had another strong game, shooting 6-for-8 from the field and finishing with 15 points, Five rebounds and four steals. McDonald had seven rebounds, Karli Recker had six, and Lydia Recker had five.

     “I think we proved we can come back from any score,” Kremer said. “Our defensive intensity weas as good as it can get in the second half. We held them to one basket until the last three minutes of the game.”

Jan. 5

N’east      5    3    9   6 – 23

Monti    18 10 15 16 – 59

     MONTICELLO (59) – Tori McDonald 4-9 1-4 9, Gabrielle Guilford 6-8 6-6 18, Karli Recker 1-7 1-2 3, Bronwyn Hodge 2-7 0-2 4, Beka Prull 3-7 0-0 6, Lydia Recker 1-7 2-2 5, Jaelyn Aitchison 3-11 2-2 10, Katie Roher 1-3 0-0 2, Brea Stahlberg 1-4 0-1 2. Totals 22-63 12-19 59.

     Three-pointers – Aitchison 2, L. Recker.

     Rebounds – Monticello 37 (McDonald 8, Hodge 6).

     Total fouls – Monticello 9.

     Assists – Monticello 9 (Guilford 3, McDonald 2).

     Steals – Monticello 23 (L. Recker 4, Aitchison 4).

     Turnovers – Monticello 8.

Jan. 8

Monti    0   9   7   8 – 22

Cas         9 11   3   7 – 30

     MONTICELLO (22) – Tori McDonald 0-7 0-2 0, Gabrielle Guilford 6-8 2-3 15, Karli Recker 0-5 1-2 1, Bronwyn Hodge 0-2 0-0 0, Rebekah Prull 1-6 2-4 4, Lydia Recker 1-6 0-0 2, Jaelyn Aitchison 0-5 0-0 0, Brea Stahlberg 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 8-39 5-11 22.

     CASCADE (30) – Ally Hoffman 4 1-2 10, Alyssa Lux 4 0-1 11, Sydney Weber 2 1-3 5, Megan Smith 0 0-0 0, Faith Bower 1 0-1 2, Laura Otting 1 0-0 2, Devin Simon 0 0-1 0, Taryn Hoffman 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 2-8 30.

     Three-pointers – Guilford; Lux 3, A. Hoffman.

     Rebounds – Monticello 29 (McDonald 7, K. Recker 6).

     Total fouls – Monticello 13.

     Assists – Monticello 4 (McDonald 2).

     Steals – Monticello 13 (Guilford 4, K. Recker 3).

     Turnovers – Monticello 19, Cascade 14.