Panthers celebrate wild, wintry, winning season

Published by admin on Wed, 04/03/2019 - 1:30pm

The Monticello High School boys basketball team held its annual awards banquet March 26 in the MHS Commons. Academic all-conference award-winners, first row from left: Mason Kraus, Tyler Luensman, Gavin Cooper, Riley Manternach, Connor Lambert and Ty Kehoe. Second row: Jeff Carlson, Daltyn Kramer, Devin Kraus, Luke Lambert, Justin Recker, Grahm Schneiter and Brayden Cleeton. (Photos by Pete Temple)

Justin Recker was voted to the IPSWA all-state team, the Iowa Preps sophomore all-state team, the Prep Hoops Iowa all-state team, all sub-state, team most valuable player, and a team captain.
BOYS BASKETBALL
By: 
Pete Temple
Express Sports Editor

     A Monticello High School boys basketball season that included both better-than-expected performances but was also heavily impacted by the weather was celebrated during the Panthers’ annual awards banquet March 26 in the MHS Commons.

     The Panthers played just 17 games, owing to numerous postponements and cancellations from an uncharacteristically rough winter. But Monticello went 12-5 with a team that put primarily sophomores out on the court.

     “Most people picked us last or second-to-last in the River Valley Conference North Division,” Panther head coach Tim Lambert said. “I thing we surprised a lot of people by finishing second.”

     The junior varsity team went 10-6 under coach Steve Rucker, and the freshman-sophomore team went 9-1.

     Awards that were presented during the banquet are listed below.

 

IPSWA ALL-STATE

     Third team: Justin Recker, sophomore.

IOWA PREPS ALL-STATE

     Third team: Justin Recker.

IOWA PREPS SOPHOMORE ALL-STATE

     Connor Lambert, Luke Lambert, Justin Recker.

ALL-SUBSTATE

     Justin Recker.

ALL-CONFERENCE

     Elite: Justin Recker.

     North Division Team: Connor Lambert, Luke Lambert.

     Honorable Mention: Tyler Luensman, sophomore.

TEAM AWARDS

     Most Valuable: Justin Recker.

     Most Improved: Devin Kraus, junior.

     Defensive Player of the Year: Luke Lambert.

     Craig Welter Leadership Award: Gavin Cooper.

     Captains: Gavin Cooper, senior; Tyler Luensman.

     

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