Loss to Anamosa, one more cancellation close regular season

     It was a regular season in which five games were lost due to the weather. The last of those was supposed to be a home game against Mid-Prairie Feb. 7, a contest that wound up being called off three times in this wild winter.

     Monticello did get one game in to finish its regular season, but it didn’t go well for the Panthers, a 64-48 home loss to Anamosa Feb. 4.

     The second quarter was key to the Anamosa game. Monticello led 12-11 after one period, but the Blue Raiders outscored the Panthers 19-5 in the second session for a 30-17 lead.

     “They got off to such a hot start. It felt like we were battling to get back in it the whole night,” coach Lambert said. “They went on a run, and we couldn’t do much to stop it.”

     Anamosa extended the lead to 50-30 after the third quarter.

     Despite the efforts of Connor Lambert, who made five of eight three-point attempts and ended up with 17 points, Monticello couldn’t get closer than a 13-point margin in the fourth quarter.

     “Connor made some big shots,” the coach said. “When we were trying to make a comeback, he was carrying us offensively.”

     Justin Recker added 12 points and seven rebounds. Devin Kraus scored eight points. Four Panthers had three assists each: Tyler Luensman, Luke Lambert, Recker and Kraus.

     It wasn’t enough, however, to avenge the early-season loss at Anamosa.

     “Give them credit,” coach Lambert said of the Blue Raiders. “Sometimes the other team just beats you. It might be a good wake-up call for our guys.”

District game Thursday

     Monticello (11-4, 12-4) received a top seed and a first round bye in the Class 2A, District 6 tournament. The Panthers are scheduled to host a district semifinal game Thursday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m., against either Tipton or Durant (who were scheduled to meet Feb. 11).

     It is the second game of a doubleheader at Monticello; the first one will be Cascade against either Northeast or Bellevue.

     The district final will be Feb. 19 at Maquoketa.

Feb. 4

Anamosa 11 19 20 14 – 64

Monti         12   5 13 18 – 48

     ANAMOSA (38) – Maverick Tjaden 3-5 1-1 9, Zac McLean 5-8 0-0 11, Spencer Norton 6-8 0-0 16, Matthew Walton 2-5 2-3 7, Lazarius Bland 5-6 0-0 10, Sam Wilt 3-8 0-0 6, Walker Marsh 0-0 2-4 2, Lucas Otting 0-0 2-4 2, Dylan Rickles 0-0 1-2 1, Casey Heims 0-0 0-0 0, Brady Lasack 0-1 0-2 0, D.J. Reese 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-41 8-16 64.

     MONTICELLO (48) – Tyler Luensman 0-2 0-0 0, Justin Recker 5-17 2-5 12, Luke Lambert 1-3 2-2 5, Connor Lambert 5-10 2-2 17, Brayden Cleeton 1-1 0-0 2, Devin Kraus 3-7 0-0 8, Jeff Carlson 1-3 0-1 2, Ty Kehoe 0-2 2-4 2, Gavin Cooper 0-0 0-0 0, Mason Kraus 0-0 0-0 0, Daltyn Kramer 0-0 0-0 0, Riley Manternach 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-45 8-14 48.

     Three-pointers: Norton 4, Tjaden 2, McLean, Walton; C. Lambert 5, Kraus 2, L. Lambert.

     Rebounds: Anamosa 32, Monticello 21 (Recker 7, C. Lambert 4).

     Total fouls: Anamosa 18, Monticello 16.