JV closes on winning note

Junior varsity

     The Monticello junior varsity boys basketball team ended its 2016-17 season on a strong note Feb. 7, with a convincing 47-31 victory on the road over the Bellevue Comets.

     This final game was an opportunity for the team to learn how well and how much it had progressed since the start of the season. The JV Panthers did not disappoint, dominating the first three quarters while substituting liberally. The Panther offense was effective the entire game. Neither the Comets’ zone nor man defenses could stop Monticello. The Panthers scored in the paint as well as from the arc.

     Coach Steve Rucker commented, “We have really showed our improvement both offensively and defensively over these last two weeks. In the last quarter, Bellevue made a run at us. With our lead down to nine, I challenged our players to not let Bellevue score in the final 2:15. They came out of our time out and did just that. We completely shut Bellevue’s offense down. It was a great way for these young men to end their season. This season win or lose, this group always played hard.  The word ‘quit’ was not in their vocabulary.”

     Will Rieniets again led Monticello in scoring with an impressive 22-point performance. Will had an outstanding season averaging over 13 points per game and connecting on 70 percent of his free throws.

     The Panthers ended their season with a 7-10 River Valley Conference record. Their overall record was 9-11. 

Eighth-grade

     Monticello’s eighth-grade boys basketball teams faced several opponents in recent action, with the A team winning four out of five games and the B team going 3-1-1.

     At North Cedar Jan. 30, Monticello won a pair of games. The A team prevailed 53-19, as Justin Recker scored 23 points. Also scoring for the Panthers were Tyler Luensman with five, Grahm Schneiter, Luke Lambert, Connor Lambert, Brayden Cleeton and Andrew Morris with four apiece; Riley Manternach with three, and Caleb Gillmore with two.

     The B team won 33-30. Morris led the way with 10 points, Levi Temple added nine, Jasper Nietert had four, Tyler McAtee and Gillmore scored three apiece; and Alex Fagan had two.

     The Panthers then went to Anamosa to play three games, winning two and tying one. The A team won 43-30. Recker scored 11 points, Connor Lambert had 10, Luke Lambert added nine, Schneiter scored eight and Luensman had five.

     In the B game, Monticello won 26-20. Morris led the team with 12 points, David Fokken added six, Nietert and Gillmore had four apiece, and Temple scored two.

     The teams played to a 13-13 tie in the C game. For Monticello, Temple had five, while Dominik Chally, McAtee, Kaden Kiburz and  Fokken added two each.

     Monticello played host to Bellevue Feb. 6, and came away with a win and a tie. The A team won 52-20 with a balanced scoring attack. Recker led the team with 13 points, Connor Lambert, Manternach and Luensman added eight each, Luke Lambert had seven, Cleeton chipped in six and Schneiter scored two.

     The B team played Bellevue to a 23-23 tie. Morris and Gillmore scored seven points each. Noah Arduser, Kiburz, McAtee and Temple had two apiece; and Nietert scored one.

     On Feb. 7, Monticello sent its A team to Maquoketa Valley, and won 48-13. Connor Lambert and Recker scored 12 points apiece, Luke Lambert had seven, Luensman added six, Schneiter and Cleeton had four each, and Manternach had three.

     The same day, the B team traveled to Midland, and lost 29-24. Kaden Kiburz and Morris scored eight points apiece, Fokken added six, and Temple had two.

     Next, the teams played at Camanche Feb. 9. The A team lost 36-23. Connor Lambert scored eight points, Luke Lambert added five, Recker and Manternach scored three each, while Luensman and Cleeton had two apiece.

     The B team went to overtime and won 16-15 on a shot by Morris with five seconds to play. Nietert led the team in scoring with six points, Morris finished with four, McAtee had three, Gillmore and Temple added two apiece.

Seventh grade

     Monticello’s seventh-graders played boys basketball games against three opponents in recent action.

     The teams played host to Bellevue Feb. 6. Monticello Red lost 50-12, and Monticello Black fell 44-14.

     On Feb. 7 at Maquoketa Valley, the Red lost 33-23, but the Black won 10-2.

     Monticello then played at Camanche Feb. 9. The Red lost 51-10, and the Black scored a 12-6 victory.

     “I see a lot of growth with the kids, and they are learning how to play as a team,” Monticello coach Joe Steen said. “You can see the improvement each game, especially with different lineups this week due to illness.”