Bouncing back

BOYS BASKETBALL

     It was one of those crossroads moments athletic teams generally experience during the course of the season.

     The Monticello boys basketball team had lost its opening game of the season, 71-35 at Northeast of Goose Lake, Nov. 29.

     On Dec. 2, the Panthers were in West Branch, and found themselves trailing 30-14 in the second quarter. It seemed likely the Friday game was going to have a similar outcome to the Tuesday game.

     Instead, the young Panthers mounted an impressive rally, going on a 10-0 run to get back within six points, 30-24, at halftime.

     Monticello then outscored the Bears 36-16 in the second half to win 70-56 and even its record at 1-1.

     “We settled in, and the light came on for some of our guys,” Monticello coach Tim Lambert said. “It was fun to watch.”

     Kyle Sperfslage, a junior, had an outstanding game, shooting 7-for-12 from the field, 8-for-8 from the free throw line, and finishing with 25 points. Jacob Manternach was 5-for-6 from the field and scored 14, while collecting nine rebounds. Andy Tjaden had 11 points, and Jordan Breashears added nine.

     “Kyle’s line was really impressive,” Lambert said. “He’s just very aggressive. He attacks the rim, and is active on the glass. Jacob shot well and played hard.”

     The Northeast game, which opened the season, started out well for Monticello, with Sperfslage going in for a lay-up and giving the Panthers an early 2-0 lead. With four minutes left in the first quarter, Monticello still only trailed 4-2.

     But Northeast outscored the Panthers 27-10 over the next 1½ quarters to take a 31-12 lead by halftime. The Rebels then added 24 points in the third quarter, and led 55-24 with a period to play.

     “It was the first varsity game for pretty much our whole team as far as playing a lot,” Lambert said, “against a really good opponent. Northeast played really well, and for us it was pretty much a struggle from start to finish. We had way too many turnovers.

     “It was kind of a perfect storm.”

     Monticello had some bright spots. It outrebounded Northeast 33-26, led by Andy Tjaden, with eight. Alex Nealson came off the bench to lead the Panthers with 13 points, and Sperfslage finished with eight.

     But the Panthers were overcome by the Rebels and senior guard Zach Parson, who scored 26 points while shooting 10-for-14 from the field.

     Monticello had a three-game week scheduled this week: at home against Camanche Dec. 6, at North Cedar Dec. 9, and at Anamosa Dec. 10.

     “You can’t teach experience,” Lambert said. “You just have to get it. They’ll take some lumps as they do, but I think they’ll be fine.”

Nov. 29

Monti     4     8   12  11 – 35

N’east  14  17   24  16 – 71

     MONTICELLO (35) – Jacob Manternach 0-3 1-3 1, Taylor Manternach 0-2 1-2 1, Jordan Breashears 1-5 0-0 2, Andrew Tjaden 1-10 2-3 4, Kyle Sperfslage 4-8 0-0 10, Alex Nealson 5-11 3-6 13, Alex Kremer 1-3 0-0 3, Avery Martensen 1-3 0-0 2, Josh White 0-2 1-2 1, Devin Kraus 0-3 0-0 0, Ryan Manternach 0-0 0-0 0, Kegan Arduser 0-0 0-0 0, Wesley Henderson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-50 8-16 35.

     NORTHEAST (71) – Zach Parson 10-14 2-2 26, Ben Lange 0-1 0-0 0, Axel Dondiego 3-5 2-2 8, Kyle Dell 5-7 0-0 14, Luke Empen 4-8 0-0 0, Dawson Stoll 2-6 0-0 6, T.J. Gertson 2-2 0-0 6, Braeden Hoyer 1-1 1-2 3, Colin Swanton 0-0 0-0 0, Connor McDonald 0-0 0-0 0, Andrey Drury 0-3 0-0 0, Tyson Sullivan 0-1 0-0 0, Kaleb Schneider 0-0 0-0 0.  Totals 27-48 5-6 71.

     Three-pointers: Kremer; Parson 4, Dell 4, Stoll 2, Gertson 2.

     Rebounds: Monticello 33 (Tjaden 8, J. Manternach 5, Sperfslage 5), Northeast 26.

     Total fouls: Northeast 24, Monticello 8.

Dec. 2

Monti   10  14  21  25 – 70

W. Br.   20  10  14  12 – 56

     MONTICELLO (70) – Jacob Manternach 5-6 1-5 14, Taylor Manternach 1-1 1-2 3, Jordan Breashears 2-3 5-6 9, Andrew Tjaden 5-9 1-2 11, Kyle Sperfslage 7-12 8-8 25, Avery Martensen 1-4 2-2 4, Devin Kraus 1-1 0-0 2, Alex Nealson 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 23-40 18-25 70.

     NORTHEAST (71) – Zach Parson 10-14 2-2 26, Ben Lange 0-1 0-0 0, Axel Dondiego 3-5 2-2 8, Kyle Dell 5-7 0-0 14, Luke Empen 4-8 0-0 0, Dawson Stoll 2-6 0-0 6, T.J. Gertson 2-2 0-0 6, Braeden Hoyer 1-1 1-2 3, Colin Swanton 0-0 0-0 0, Connor McDonald 0-0 0-0 0, Andrey Drury 0-3 0-0 0, Tyson Sullivan 0-1 0-0 0, Kaleb Schneider 0-0 0-0 0.  Totals 27-48 5-6 71.

     Three-pointers: J. Manternach 3, Sperfslage 3;.

     Rebounds: Monticello 35 (J. Manternach 9, Sperfslage 8, Breashears 7;

     Total fouls: Monticello 13.