JV boys win five of first six

Boys basketball

     The Monticello junior varsity boys basketball team had an impressive start to the 2017-18 season, winning five of its first six games.

     The Panthers opened the season with a 40-28 home win over Northeast of Goose Lake Nov. 28. Ty Kehoe led Monticello in scoring with 10 points, and had four assists and four steals. Also scoring were Daltyn Kramer with six points, Devin Kraus and Brayden Cleeton with four apiece, Connor Lambert with three, Tyler Luensman and Jeff Carlson with two apiece. Cleeton had eight rebounds, Connor Lambert had six, Devin Kraus had five and Gavin Cooper had four.

     On Dec. 1, the Panthers lost a 43-41 decision at home against West Branch. Monticello had a balanced scoring attack, led by Kraus with 11. Kramer had seven, Luensman added six, Connor Lambert had five, Kehoe, Cleeton and Carlson had four apiece, and Cooper had two. Connor Lambert made three steals. Cooper had four rebounds.

     Monticello then traveled to Midland Dec. 2 and scored a 53-28 win as Connor Lambert scored 20 points. Kehoe added nine, Cooper had eight, Kraus and Kramer scored six apiece, while Cleeton, Luensman and Carlson had two each. Cooper pulled down five rebounds.

     At Camanche Dec. 5, the Panthers won 40-34. Seven players had three points or more, including Connor Lambert with 11, Kehoe with seven, Kraus, Cooper and Kramer with six each, Cleeton and Carlson with four apiece, and Luensman with three. Cleeton had eight rebounds, while Kraus and Cooper had six apiece. Luensman made three steals.

     Next, Monticello played host to North Cedar Dec. 8, and picked up a 38-17 win. Carlson led the way with nine points and seven rebounds. Also scoring were Luensman with six, Connor Lambert and Cleeton with five apiece; Kramer with four and Cooper with two. Luensman had four steals and three assists; Connor Lambert made three assists and three steals.

     The Panthers then played host to neighboring rival Anamosa Dec. 9, and triumphed 55-38. Every Monticello player scored, including Carlson with 12 points, Luensman with 10, Connor Lambert with nine, Kehoe and Cooper with six each, Cleeton and Kramer with five apiece, and Kraus with two. Carlson and Kramer each had seven of the team’s 31 rebounds. Kehoe had three assists and three steals, while Kraus had three assists and two steals.

Junior varsity

girls basketball

     Monticello picked up two more victories in River Valley Conference play last week, beating Iowa City Regina Dec. 12 at home 58-18, and topping Cascade 46-18 Dec. 15 at Cascade.

     Three Panthers scored in double figures against Regina: Beka Prull with 14 points, Gabby Guilford with 12 and Tori McDonald with 10. Also scoring were Gabrielle Steiner with eight, Karli Recker and Emily Schlarmann with four apiece, and DeLainy Fellinger, Megan Mahoney and Dru Kramer with two each.

     Regina entered the game with a 7-0 record.

     “Every game we are getting better as a team, working together on both ends of the floor,” Monticello coach Chuck Welsch said.

     At Cascade Friday, the Panthers outscored Cascade 15-0 in the third quarter to pull to a 46-18 win. Guilford led the way with 11 points, Prull added nine, Steiner scored seven, McDonald and Fellinger had six apiece, Recker had four and Schlarmann added 3.

     “Cascade played a good 2-3 zone, and we were a little off in the first half,” Welsch said. “In the second half the defense really stepped it up, and the running game got going with several fast break layups. It was a great team effort.”

     The Panthers headed into the holiday break with a 9-0 record.