Fresh-soph Panthers win twice

Freshman-sophomore team

     Two wins lifted the Monticello freshman-sophomore boys basketball team to a 6-4 record on the season.

     The Panthers played at Anamosa Jan. 29, and avenged an earlier loss by winning 49-25. Easton Prull scored 15 points. Austin Kurt had eight points and a strong rebounding game. Nathan Sauser sank a three-point shot.

     “We played one of our best games of the season,” Monticello coach Jarrett Easton said. “I thought our energy was great, and our effort on ‘D’ turned into some easy scores for us.”

     On Feb. 1, the Panthers played host to Midland and won 60-23.

     “Austin Kurt and Easton Prull did a great job in the paint again, converting and rebounding,” Easton said. “We pressured them early and made them turn it over some. Our defense has improved throughout the season.”

     Scoring for the Panthers were Kurt with 11, Peyton Schilling and Prull with nine apiece, Deacon Besler with eight, Cole Welter with five, Kyle Shady with four, Chesney Capron and Sawyer Brokaw with three each, and Connor Sauser, Joel Arduser, Nathan Sauser and Keaton Hermsen with two apiece.

     “Connor Sauser gave us great runs in every game and always plays at 100 percent,” the coach noted. “Nathan Sauser and Sawyer Brokaw also gave us positive minutes off the bench.”

Junior varsity

     Monticello split a pair of junior varsity boys basketball games last week.

     The Panthers (13-2) opened the week with a 48-42 win at Northeast of Goose Lake, as Ian Temple scored 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field. He also had two steals and two rebounds. Caleb Sauser had 11 points and six assists. Gage Guilford had seven points, three steals and two rebounds. Trey Kuper had four points, four rebounds and three assists. Peyton Schilling had three points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Lucas Bartachek had two rebounds.

     Monticello then played host to Cascade Feb. 5, and was dealt a 35-30 loss. Temple made four shots from three-point range and finished with 12 points, three rebounds and two assists. Gage Guilford had eight points, seven rebounds, three blocks and two assists. Trey Kuper had eight points, three rebounds and two steals. Peyton Schilling had two points, three rebounds and two assists. Caleb Sauser had five assist and two rebounds.