JV takes two of three

     Two River Valley Conference wins sandwiched a narrow loss to Anamosa in three games last week for the Monticello junior varsity girls basketball team.

     The Panthers (12-2, 13-3) opened the week with a 41-26 win at Camanche. Jaelynn Kraus led the way with 11 points, Sydney Hansen scored eight, Aspen Gillmore and Carly Hayen had six apiece, Caitlyn Cruise had five, Gabrielle Steiner had three and Lydia Franzenburg added two.

     Gillmore and Steiner had four steals apiece in the first half.

     On Jan. 19, the Panthers lost a 32-30 decision at Anamosa.

     “The girls played really hard, but had way too many turnovers and a couple key players got into foul trouble,” Monticello coach Chuck Welsch said.

     Hansen scored 10 points, Gillmore had seven, Emily Schlarmann, Cruise and Kraus had four apiece, and Steiner added one.

     Monticello bounced back with a 48-26 home win over Mid-Prairie Jan. 20. Maria Recker scored 10 points, all in the first half. Cruise added seven, Hansen and Gillmore had six each, Emmi Sampson scored four, Kraus had three and Franzenburg had two.

     “It was our best game of the year,” Welsch said. “We played great help defense, working together. The transition offense was also very good. We had great outlet passes from Gillmore and Hansen, and Steiner and Recker did a great job finishing around the basket.”