Monti JV splits pair of games

     A lopsided win and a narrow loss were last week’s results for the Monticello junior varsity girls basketball team.

     The Panthers (11-2) traveled to Camanche Jan. 14 and scored a 52-15 victory, as Jaelyn Aitchison scored 18 points. She also had eight steals, and was 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Lydia Recker had 12 points and three rebounds in two quarters of play. Emma Hynick had four points and four rebounds. Reagan Schneiter had four points and three rebounds. Triniti Etzel chipped in four points. Brea Stahlberg had two points and three rebounds. Scoring two points apiece were Piper Hansen, Katie Roher, Kayla Simmons and Elise Kehoe.

     Back home against Bellevue Jan. 16, the Panthers ralled from a 28-11 deficit late in the third quarter to get within one point, but wound up losing 32-29.

     “Bellevue is a good team; we can’t dig that big of a hole,” Monticello coach Chuck Welsch said. “I was proud that the girls didn’t give up, and gave themselves a chance to win it in the end.”

     Roher led the Panthers with 11 points. Recker had five points. Stahlberg had four points, five rebounds and three steals. Aitchison had four points and three steals. Schneiter scored four points, while Madison Butterworth, Hansen and Hynick had two points each.