Monti uses balanced attack to rout Camanche in opener

     Monticello’s season-opening girls basketball win provided early evidence that this year’s Panther squad is going to have a lot of contributors.

     Three Panthers scored in double figures, and the team had nine different players score, as they defeated Camanche 52-24 Nov. 23 at Monticello High School.

     “We have a lot of girls that can play,” Monticello coach Donnie Kremer said. “So hopefully we can keep that going, and they can all play together and have fun doing it. It was a good first game for us, just to get going.”

     It took a little while for the Panthers to take control, but once they did, they pulled away.

     Camanche made a buzzer-beater at the end of the first quarter that was ruled a three-pointer, giving the Storm an 11-10 lead.

     There was a stretch in the second quarter, however, that enabled the Panthers to seize control for good.

     Leading 14-12, the Panthers pulled down back-to-back offensive rebounds, the second one by Brea Stahlberg, who scored on a layup. Katie Roher followed with a three-point basket, and seconds later, Jaelyn Aitchison made a pass to Keziah McQuillen for a layup, getting much of the home crowd to its feet.

     Suddenly it was 21-12, and the Panthers went on to take a 24-15 lead into halftime.

     Monticello then outscored the Storm 28-9 in the second half to pull away.

     “It just took us some time to settle down and find the right defense that works,” Kremer said. “Once we made that adjustment, things went way better. They struggled to get good looks, and we were everywhere.

     “We just need to come out a little bit stronger, and make better decisions with the ball, but I thought after the second quarter we started doing that.”

     Stahlberg led the team in rebounds with eight, and six more girls had three or more. McQuillen led the team in assists with five. Hodge made four steals.

Nov. 23

Cam       11    4     5     4   – 24

Monti     10   14   14  14   – 52

     CAMANCHE (24) – Danika Dodson 3-6 0-0 6, Miley Duritza 1-2 0-0 3, Aubrey Carstensen 0-10 1-2 1, Emmerson Crigger 3-10 1-2 10, Bridgette Hundley 1-3 1-2 3, Ella Blinkinsop 0-1 1-2 1, Chloe Lafollette-Wills 0-0 0-0 0, Brooke Paasch 0-0 0-0 0, Zoie Vogel 0-0 0-0 0, Kennady Bigwood 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 8-32 4-8 24.

     MONTICELLO (52) – Lydia Recker 1-5 2-2 4, Jaelyn Aitchison 4-10 1-2 11, Bronwyn Hodge 0-5 0-0 0, Katie Roher 5-14 0-0 12, Jayden Kuper 1-3 0-0 3, Brea Stahlberg 3-9 4-7 10, Keziah McQuillen 1-4 0-0 2, Madison Butterworth 2-3 0-0 4, Issabella Mullen 2-2 0-0 4, Triniti Etzel 0-0 2-4 2, Marisa Kehoe 0-0 0-0 0, Sami McElmeel 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-55 9-15 52.

     Three-pointers – Crigger 3, Duritza; Aitchison 2, Roher 2, Kuper.

     Rebounds – Monticello 32 (Stahlberg 8, Recker 4, Hodge 4, Kuper 4, McQuillen 4), Camanche 21.

     Assists – Monticello 13 (McQuillen 5, Aitchison 4), Camanche 2.

     Steals – Monticello 21 (Hodge 4, Aitchison 3, Roher 3, McQuillen 3), Camanche 7.

     Blocks – Camanche 2, Monticello 1 (Stahlberg 1).

     Total fouls – Camanche 10, Monticello 10.

     Turnovers – Camanche 25, Monticello 18.