Panthers overcome Camanche, Anamosa to start season

     Monticello found itself with two tough challenges right out of the gate as the Panthers opened their girls’ basketball season last week, and they responded both times.

     Included were a road game at Camanche to open the season Nov. 20, which resulted in a 55-47 Monticello victory; and a Rivalry Saturday game at Coe College against Anamosa, a 47-43 Panther win Nov. 24.

     Both were River Valley Conference games, giving Monticello a 2-0 start both within the conference and overall.

     Jordan Kuper was a key to both wins. She posted double-doubles in both games, getting 14 points and 20 rebounds against Camanche, and 19 points and 19 rebounds in the Anamosa game.

     “I think Jordan is just asserting herself in the middle much more than last year,” Monticello coach Donnie Kremer said. “She is rebounding very well, and when she does that, she controls the paint.”

     Those totals contributed to huge rebounding advantages for Monticello in both games: 56-28 against Camanche, and 48-21 against Anamosa.

     The Panthers dominated the first half at Camanche, outscoring the Indians 17-9 in both quarters to take a 34-18 halftime lead.

     “I thought we ran our transition very well on missed shots that led to easy baskets,” Kremer said.

     Camanche came back in the third quarter, however, hitting a number of three-point shots – Hanna Nissen had four three-pointers and 16 points for the game – and outscoring the Panthers 20-9 to cut the margin to five.

     “Camanche went to a 2-3 (zone) and made us shoot some more outside shots,” Kremer said. “They also made a few more shots than they did in the first half.”

     Monticello made enough plays down the stretch, however, to pull out the win.

     “I thought we settled down and executed our zone offense very well,” the coach said.

     Two more Panthers scored in double figures: Tori McDonald shot 4-for-6 from the field and made all five of her free throw attempts to finish with 14 points, and Carly Hayen came off the bench to contribute 11 points and seven rebounds.

     Gabrielle Steiner had nine rebounds in the game, and Sydney Hansen had seven points and seven rebounds. Steiner also had four steals and three assists. McDonald had three assists as well. Kuper, Hayen and Steiner each had a block. Aspen Gillmore and Emily Schlarmann made two steals apiece.

     The Anamosa game – the first between the neighboring rivals since Anamosa joined the River Valley this season – was markedly different. The Blue Raiders jumped to a 14-8 first quarter led, and still held a 22-18 advantage at halftime.

     The Panthers gradually took over, however, outscoring Anamosa 29-21 in the second half to pull out the win.

     “We had to battle through some poor shooting to gain the lead in the fourth quarter,” Kremer said.

     Aside from Kuper’s big game, Hansen had eight points and nine rebounds. Maddie Fellinger and Steiner had six points apiece, and McDonald made seven assists.

     The Panthers also blocked three Anamosa shots, with one block each from Gabrielle Guilford, McDonald and Kuper.

     In all, the coach said the team responded well to playing at Coe.

     “I think they enjoyed playing in it,” he said. “It is just a great atmosphere for girls’ basketball.”

Nov. 20

Monti  17 17   9 12 – 55

Cam        9   9 20   9 – 47

     MONTICELLO (55) – Tori McDonald 0-4 1-2 1, Maddie Fellinger 2-6 1-1 5, Sydney Hansen 2-7 3-4 7, Aspen Gillmore 0-1 0-0 0, Jordan Kuper 7-18 0-3 14, Carly Hayen 5-14 1-3 11, Gabrielle Steiner 0-4 1-2 1, Gabrielle Guilford 1-2- 1-2 3, Emily Schlarmann 0-1 0-0 0, Karli Recker 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-59-12-20 55.

     CAMANCHE (47) – Camaryn Carstensen 1-5 0-0 3, Madi Parson 3-11 1-2 8, Tarah Wehde 0-2 2-2 2, Hanna Nissen 6-20 0-3 16, Kamryn Vogel 1-3 0-0 3, Emy Seeser 2-11 1-2 6, Lauren Snyder 2-4 0-0 6, Maddie Michels 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 16-58 4-9 47.

     Three-pointers: McDonald; Nissen 4, Snyder 2, Carstensen, Parson, Vogel, Michels, Seeser.

     Rebounds: Monticello 56 (Kuper 20, Hansen 7, Hayen 7), Camanche 28.

     Total fouls: Monticello 15, Camanche 15.

Nov. 24

(at Coe College)

Monti    8 10 13 16 – 47

Ana      14   8  11 10 – 43

     MONTICELLO (47) – Tori McDonald 0-8 1-2 1, Maddie Fellinger 2-7 2-2 6, Sydney Hansen 3-6 2-5 8, Aspen Gillmore 0-1 0-0 0, Jordan Kuper 8-18 2-4 19, Gabrielle Steiner 3-4 0-2 3, Karli Recker 1-1 0-0 3, Carly Hayen 1-2 2-3 4, Gabrielle Guilford 0-3 0-2 0. Totals 18-50 9-20 47.

     ANAMOSA (43) – Taylor Hinz 3-9 2-4 11, Taylor Zumbach 4-17 1-3 10, Michaela Meade 2-3 0-0 4, Alexa Jess 0-2 0-0 0, Madalyn Heims 4-7 1-2 9, Maggie McQuillen 3-7 3-5 9, Kara Hunt 0-0 0-0 0, Grace Lubben 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-45 7-14 43.

     Three-pointers: Kuper, K. Recker; Hinz 3, Zumbach.

     Rebounds: Monticello 48 (Kuper 19, Hansen 9, McDonald 6); Anamosa 21.

     Total fouls: Monticello 15.