Monti takes two-of-three home matchups

Monticello 51, Beckman 35

   In the first of three home games of the week for the Monticello girls basketball team, the Panthers picked up a 51-35 win over Beckman on Jan. 27.

   The Panthers opened up a 13-3 lead after the first quarter and didn’t look back, leading 25-10 at halftime and 42-14 after three quarters.

   The Blazers outscored Monti 21-9 in the fourth frame, but the Panthers built a big enough lead to outlast the visitors by double digits.

   “I thought we did a great job of executing on offense and finding the open girl for easy shots,” Panther coach Donnie Kremer said. “I also thought we did a really good job of working together on defense and making it very difficult for them to get a good look at the basket. We did a much better job of blocking out as well.”

Jan. 27

(vs. Beckman)

Monti......... 13  12  17    9  51

Beckman...... 3    7    4  21  35

TEAM STATISTICS

                    Monti   Beck

FG Made-Att........... 20-48  11-44

3PT Made-Att........... 8-21   5-19

FT Made-Att................ 3-6   8-15

Rebounds...................... 32      25

Assists............................. 14       6

Steals.............................. 12      10

Blocks................................ 0       2

Turnovers....................... 15      22

Fouls............................... 11       6

MONTICELLO STATISTICS

Points (FG Made-Att) – Kennedy Hermsen 15 (5-12), Kayla Arduser 11 (3-6), Halle Recker 8 (4-11), Mallory McElmeel 7 (3-7), Kylee McElmeel 6 (3-4), Peyton Ries 2 (1-5), Kenya Davis-Robinson 2 (1-2); Three-pointers (Made-Att) – Hermsen 4-7, Arduser 3-4, M. McElmeel 1-3, Ries 0-1, Recker 0-6; Rebounds – Recker 7, Hermsen 5, M. McElmeel 3, Arduser 3, Davis-Robinson 3, Ries 1, K. McElmeel 1; Assists – Arduser 6, Hermsen 3, M. McElmeel 2, Ries 2, Recker 1; Steals – Hermsen 3, Ries 3, Recker 2, K. McElmeel 2, M. McElmeel 1, Arduser 1

Cascade 43, Monticello 29

   In game two of the home-stand, the Panthers fell to Cascade, 43-29, giving the Class 2A, No. 15-ranked Cougars the season sweep.

   The Panthers trailed by eight, 21-13, at the break, but a 13-3 third frame for Cascade put them ahead 32-16 with just eight minutes left.

   “We didn’t handle the press very well and could never get all five girls on the same page,” Kremer said. “These things were huge factors as to why they were able to extend the lead. I thought Halle played really well.”

Jan. 30

(vs. Cascade)

Cascade...... 11  10  11  11  43

Monti........... 6    7    3  13  29

TEAM STATISTICS

                    Monti   Casc

FG Made-Att........... 11-40  15-35

3PT Made-Att........... 4-17     2-9

FT Made-Att................ 3-5  11-18

Rebounds...................... 17      27

Assists............................... 9      10

Steals................................. 8       8

Blocks................................ 1       2

Turnovers....................... 14      14

Fouls............................... 17       8

MONTICELLO STATISTICS

Points (FG Made-Att) – Halle Recker 14 (5-16), Kylee McElmeel 4 (2-6), Mallory McElmeel 3 (1-4), Kennedy Hermsen 3 (1-5), Kayla Arduser 3 (1-5), Kenya Davis-Robinson 2 (1-2); Three-pointers (Made-Att) – Recker 2-6, Hermsen 1-3, Arduser 1-3, Ries 0-2, M. McElmeel 0-3; Rebounds – Recker 8, K. McElemeel 3, Ries 2, Arduser 2; Assists – Ries 5, Hermsen 3, Arduser 1; Steals – Hermsen 3, K. McElmeel 2, M. McElmeel 1, Ries 1, Arduser 1; Blocks – Arduser 1

Monticello 27, Benton 25

   The Panthers finished the week with a matchup a Class 3A opponent, the Benton Bobcats.

   “It was a tough turnaround for us, so I told the girls we have to be ready to play and we need to be ready to go,” Kremer said of the pre-game speech to the girls.

   In a low-scoring affair, the Panthers won a 27-25 battle over the Bobcats. The Panthers trailed 19-8 at halftime before holding the Bobcats scoreless in the third quarter and coming back to lead by one, 20-19.

   Monti won the fourth frame 7-6 to pick up its 11th win of the season.

   “We played outstanding defense in the second half,” Kremer commented. “We all helped each other out and worked really well with one another.”

Jan. 31

(vs. Benton)

Monti........... 6    2  12    7  27

Beckman...... 7  12    0    6  25

TEAM STATISTICS

                    Monti   Bent

FG Made-Att............. 9-43   8-33

3PT Made-Att........... 2-13   3-17

FT Made-Att.............. 7-13   6-11

Rebounds...................... 29      31

Assists............................... 2       5

Steals................................. 6       4

Blocks................................ 1       2

Turnovers......................... 8      14

Fouls............................... 13      15

MONTICELLO STATISTICS

Points (FG Made-Att) – Mallory McElmeel 14 (5-13), Kennedy Hermsen 6 (2-11), Halle Recker 4 (1-6), Peyton Ries 2 (1-6), Kylee McElmeel 1 (0-5); Three-pointers (Made-Att) – M. McElmeel 2-4, Ries 0-2, Kayla Arduser 0-2, Hermsen 0-5; Rebounds – Recker 8, Hermsen 8, Ries 5, M. McElmeel 3; Assists – Hermsen 2; Steals – Recker 3, M. McElmeel 1, Hermsen 1, K. McElmeel 1; Blocks – Recker 1

RIVER VALLEY CONFERENCE

Girls Basketball Standings

        North Division

TEAM                      Div.      Ovr.

Maquoketa             11-0      15-2

Cascade                    9-2      13-4

Bellevue                    7-4      13-5

Monticello              7-5     11-6

Anamosa                  5-6      9-10

Camanche                3-8      6-12

Beckman                   3-8      5-12

Northeast               0-11      1-17