Panthers step up in wins over Tipton, Midland

     A variety of players stepped up and helped the Monticello High School girls basketball team to a pair of wins on back-to-back days last week.

     Maddie Fellinger scored 23 points and made five steals as the Panthers survived an extremely physical River Valley Conference contest, beating Tipton 56-47 Dec. 14.

     Then, the Panther defense held Midland to five first half points, and Karli Recker came off the bench to lead all scorers in a 48-25 win over non-conference foe Midland Dec. 15.

     The wins left Monticello 6-2 overall, including 5-2 in the conference.

     “We have had different girls step up, and that is what a true team does,” Panther coach Donnie Kremer said.

     Against Tipton Friday, the Panthers had to rally from an early 10-2 deficit midway through the first quarter. Monticello outscored the Tigers 20-7 for the rest of the first half, however, to grab a 22-17 lead.

     Monticello led by as many as 12 in the third quarter, before Tipton trimmed the margin to six with eight minutes to play.

     The Panthers scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to build a 41-27 lead with 6:30 to play. Tori McDonald scored on an offensive rebound. Gabrielle Guilford, who came off the bench and made a big impact, scored on a floater and then on a layup after scooping up a loose ball. Guilford then passed to McDonald for another layup, and suddenly the Panthers were up by 14.

     “We switched from our 1-3-1 (defense) to full court man, and it really energized us as a whole,” Kremer said.

     The physical nature of the game turned the rest of the fourth quarter into a free throw shooting contest. The teams combined for 27 attempts at the line in the final period, with Monticello going 12-for-13 and Tipton going 10-for-14. Tipton never got closer than nine points the rest of the way.

     “I thought that Tipton would be very physical and aggressive,” Kramer said. “I thought we did a very nice job countering that.”

     Fellinger’s 23-point night included 5-for-11 shooting from the field, and 11-for-12 from the line. McDonald finished with nine points, while Gabrielle Steiner and Guilford each scored eight points. McDonald and Fellinger each had five of the team’s 17 steals; Guilford had three.

     “Whoever I put in played extremely well,” the coach said. “Maddie Fellinger had an outstanding night all around. I thought Gabrielle Guilford gave us a great spark as well.”

     Monticello gained control of Saturday’s game against Midland early, leading 11-4 after one quarter and outscoring the Eagles 15-1 in the second period for a 26-11 halftime edge.

     “I thought we defended very well and executed the offense really well,” coach Kremer said.

     After Karli Recker’s 14 points, Fellinger had 11 points, six rebounds and four assists. Guilford had six points, three assists and three steals. Carly Hayen scored five points; she and Sydney Hansen had four rebounds apiece.

Kuper status

     Junior Jordan Kuper is working to come back from the ankle injury she suffered Dec. 4 at West Liberty.

     “She will begin running this week, and we will see how things go,” coach Kramer said.

Dec. 14

Tipton 10   7 10 20 – 47

Monti     6 16 11 23 – 56

     MONTICELLO (56) – Tori McDonald 4-6 1-2 9, Maddie Fellinger 5-11 11-12 23, Sydney Hansen 1-5 0-0 2, Aspen Gillmore 0-1 0-0 2, Carly Hayen 2-6 0-2 4, Gabrielle Steiner 1-7 6-7 8, Gabrielle Guilford 4-5 0-0 8, Rebekah Prull 1-3 0-1 2, Emily Schlarmann 0-0 0-0 0, Karli Recker 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-44 18-24 56.

     Three-pointers: Fellinger 2.

     Rebounds: Monticello 26 (McDonald 4, Fellinger 3, Hayen 3).

     Total fouls: Monticello 21.

Dec. 15

Midland   4    1 13   7 – 25

Monti      11 15   8 14 – 48

     MONTICELLO (48) – Tori McDonald 0-4 0-0 0, Maddie Fellinger 5-15 0-0 11, Sydney Hansen 1-2 2-2 4, Aspen Gillmore 1-3 0-0 2, Carly Hayen 2-8 0-2 5, Karli Recker 4-7 2-2 14, Gabrielle Guilford 3-4 0-1 6, Gabrielle Steiner 2-4 0-0 4, Lydia Recker 1-2 0-0 2, Emily Schlarmann 0-0 0-0 0, Rebekah Prull 0-2 0-0 0, DeLainy Fellinger 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-51 4-7 48.

     Three-pointers: K. Recker 4, Fellinger, Hayen.

     Rebounds: Monticello 32 (Fellinger 6, Hansen 4, Hayen 4).

     Total fouls: Monticello 17.