COLUMN: Most wonderful time about to begin

HOME STRETCH
By: 
Pete Temple
Express Sports Editor

     Some say the Christmas season is “the most wonderful time of the year.” (And just try to get the song with that name out of your head now.)

     But for the fan of high school sports, you could make a different argument: that the best period begins in early January and ends with district/regional competition and state tournaments in February and early March.

     This January, weather permitting, is loaded with opportunities for fans of the Monticello Panthers. The three varsity teams have a total of 31 events scheduled in the coming month.

     It’s been a fun winter campaign so far. The girls basketball team is 6-2, and living up to its billing. The Panthers are ranked 14th in the Class 3A rankings that came out Dec. 22. The two losses were to another pair of ranked teams, Iowa City Regina (first in 2A) and Cascade (12th in 2A).

     The Panther boys basketball team is 4-3, a record made more significant, as I noted in the game article of last week, by the fact its record is better at the break than last year’s senior-dominated team (4-4). It, too, has only lost to teams that are ranked.

     Monticello’s wrestlers have also shown signs of a big season, with three dual meet wins already under their belts and a fourth match – against East Buchanan – that was decided by three points.

     The opportunities to see these teams are plenty. The basketball teams have 11 dates scheduled in January, including six home games each. The biggest home stretch is three straight, Jan. 20 against Mid-Prairie, Jan. 24 against North Cedar, and Jan. 26 against Maquoketa Valley.

     The wrestlers have nine dates on the January slate, including a home meet Jan. 19 against Tipton and Wilton, and a tournament every Saturday: Jan. 7 at Maquoketa Valley, Jan. 14 at Marion, Jan. 21 at Alburnett, and the River Valley Conference tournament Jan. 28 at Northeast of Goose Lake.

     It only gets better from there, with February and the beginning of the post-season.

     We’ll know a lot more about the Panther teams at the end of January than we do now. And I can’t wait to learn.

 

Category:

Subscriber Login