Panthers come back from break with strong games

     Not all three Monticello girls basketball games were victories, but all three were strong performances, as the Panthers returned from the holiday break with three games in five days.

     The Panthers (6-3, 8-4) proved what a difference six weeks can make when they routed Bellevue 66-48 Jan. 2 in Bellevue, led by Taylor McDonald’s season-high 29 points.

     Monticello then rode a big second quarter to an 83-74 win at Wilton Jan. 5. On Saturday, Jan. 6, the Panthers rallied from a 20-point deficit against North Linn, the top-rated team in Class 2A, before falling 68-58.

     All three games were important for Monticello, particularly the 18-point win at Bellevue.

     “This was huge for the girls,” Monticello coach Donnie Kremer said. “We talked about coming out strong and not letting up. To go on the road and beat a very good team the way we did was tremendous for us.”

     The first time the teams met, in the Panthers’ season opener back on Nov. 21, Monticello rallied from a nine-point fourth quarter deficit to win 46-42.

     This time there was no such drama. The Panthers surged to a 37-24 halftime lead. At the end of the third quarter, Maddie Lambert was fouled. While the other players were at their respective benches, Lambert calmly sank two free throws, and the Panthers led 53-41 with a quarter to play.

     Up 55-45 with less than five minutes to go, the Panthers went on an 11-0 run, capped by a Taylor McDonald three-pointer with 1:18 left, and Monticello led 66-45.

     Defensively, the Panthers held the Comets to just 16-for-52 from the field (30.7 percent).

     “We were much more disciplined on defense,” Kremer said. “We made sure to get hands in their faces on shots. I also thought we did a very nice job of running the floor and getting easy looks at the basket.”

     Taylor McDonald shot a remarkable 10-for-12 from the field and 7-for-8 from the free throw line to collect her point total. Lauren Ries scored 16 points, and Jordan Kuper added 11. Taylor McDonald also had nine rebounds, while Kuper had eight, along with two blocked shots.

     Against Wilton, the Panthers outscored the Beavers 22-10 in the second quarter to take a 41-30 halftime lead. Ries and Taylor McDonald both had outstanding efforts; Ries scored 27 points, including 10-for-18 shooting from the field; and McDonald had 20 points.

     “I thought we did a great job of distributing the basketball,” Kremer said. “We made the extra pass which led to easy shots and layups. We also did a great job of taking turnovers and transitioning them into easy buckets.”

     The team had 27 total assists against Wilton, led by Fellinger with seven, Taylor McDonald with six, Carly Hayen and Kuper with four apiece. Ries made seven steals.

     On Saturday, North Linn rolled to a 41-19 halftime lead, but the Panthers outscored the top-ranked Lynx 39-27 in the second half.

     “It is a big confidence-builder for the girls,” Kremer said. “We talked at halftime, that we need to just go out and play our game, and try to win the second half. We continue to get better with each game.”

     Ries and Kuper both had double-doubles against North Linn. Ries had 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Kuper had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Lambert had four assists.

Jan. 2

Monti   15  22 16 13 – 66

Bellv.     8  16 17   7 – 48

     MONTICELLO (66) – Taylor McDonald 10-12 7-8 29, Maddie Fellinger 2-2 1-2 7, Lauren Ries 4-12 4-6 16, Maddie Lambert 0-3 2-2 2, Jordan Kuper 5-8 1-3 11, Carly Hayen 0-0 1-2 1, Caitlyn Cruise 0-0 0-0 0, Sydney Hansen 0-0 0-0 0, Savanah Kremer 0-1 0-0 0, Meredith Melchert 0-0 0-0 0, Tori McDonald 0-0 0-0 0, Aspen Gillmore 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-38 16-23 66.

     BELLEVUE (48) –Kailey Miller 0-0 0-0 0, Camryn Reeg 4-15 0-0 11, Rebecca Schroeder 1-6 1-5 3, Giana Michels 1-10 2-2 4, Emma Kelchen 8-16 3-4 22, Lindsey Banowetz 1-3 4-8 6, Teresa Paulsen 1-1 0-0 2, Tara Linden 0-1 0-0 0, Alyssa Rubel 0-0 0-0 0, Brianna Laughlin 0-0 0-0 0, Anna Dunne 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-52 10-19 48.

     Three-pointers: Ries 4, Ta. McDonald 2, Fellinger 2; Reeg 3, Kelchen 3.

     Rebounds: Monticello 33 (Ta. McDonald 9, Kuper 8), Bellevue 30.

     Total fouls: Monticello 17, Bellevue 17.

Jan. 5

Monti  19 22 22 20 – 83

Wilton 20 10 22 22 – 74

     MONTICELLO (83) – Taylor McDonald 6-10 5-7 20, Maddie Fellinger 2-3 3-4 7, Lauren Ries 10-18 3-3 27, Maddie Lambert 3-5 0-0 6, Jordan Kuper 7-14 0-0 14, Carly Hayen 2-4 0-0 4, Sydney Hansen 1-2 1-2 3, Caitlyn Cruise 1-3 0-0 2, Tori McDonald 0-0 0-0 0, Meredith Melchert 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 32-60 12-16 83.

     WILTON (74) – Kortney Drake 8-15 4-7 20, Lexi Maurer 2-4 1-1 5, Emily Lange 7-20 2-4 18, Aubrey Putman 8-14 6-7 24, Lindsey Ford 1-1 0-0 2, Kali Milder 2-4 1-1 5, Taylor Goldermann 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-57 13-19 74.

     Three-pointers: Ries 4, Ta. McDonald 3;

     Rebounds: Monticello 32 (Kuper 10, Ta. McDonald 6),

     Total fouls: Monticello 19,

Jan. 6

Monti       9 10 18 21 – 58

N. Linn  24 17 14 13 – 68

     MONTICELLO (66) – Taylor McDonald 2-10 3-3 8, Maddie Fellinger 2-3 1-2 7, Lauren Ries 8-15 2-3 23, Maddie Lambert 0-1 2-2 2, Jordan Kuper 7-14 1-2 15, Sydney Hansen 1-2 0-0 2, Carly Hayen 0-1 1-2 1, Caitlyn Cruise 0-0 0-1 0, Tori McDonald 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-47 10-15 58.

     Three-pointers: Ries 5, Fellinger 2, Ta. McDonald.

     Rebounds: Monticello 34 (Kuper 10, Ries 10).

     Total fouls: Monticello 16.