Panthers survive, reach district final

     Monticello did what it needed to do on its home floor, defeating Northeast of Goose Lake in a Class 2A, District 8 boys basketball semifinal game Feb. 20 by a score of 38-34.

     But it wasn’t easy.

     The Panthers had defeated Northeast twice previously, by margins of 15 points in Goose Lake and 19 in Monticello, but knew this would be a tougher test.

     “I knew it would be a dogfight,” Monticello coach Tim Lambert said. “Their kids weren’t going to go quietly.

     “They play a lot of seniors. They’re long and athletic. We don’t match up with them very well. And they had been playing well.”

     Monticello prevailed, however, advancing to the district championship game against Cascade. That was set for Tuesday, Feb. 25, after this paper went to press. The Panthers headed into that game with a 19-2 overall record.

     Northeast started strong, taking an early 7-0 lead, but the Panthers responded with three consecutive three-point baskets, two by Luke Lambert and one by Ty Kehoe; and led 9-7 by the end of the first quarter.

     Monticello extended that lead in the second period, allowing just three Northeast points and taking an 18-10 lead.

     Monticello led by 12 points late in the third quarter, but a buzzer-beating three-point basket by the Rebels cut the lead to nine, 30-21.

     Northeast then pulled closer in the fourth quarter.

     The Rebels had the ball, trailing by one, in the final minute of regulation time, when Justin Recker blocked what appeared to be a layup opportunity. Luke Lambert ended up with the ball and was fouled with 20 seconds left. He made one of two free throws, giving Monticello a 36-34 lead.

     A foul was called on Monticello with eight seconds left, but the Rebels missed the front end of a one-and-one. Recker pulled down the rebound and was fouled with 4.7 seconds to play. He sank both free throws to make it a four-point lead, and the Rebels missed their final shot attempt.

     Connor Lambert led Monticello in scoring with 13 points, while Kehoe added eight. Luke Lambert and Recker scored seven apiece.

     Monticello outrebounded Northeast 25-17, led by Recker with nine, Luke Lambert and Connor Lambert with five apiece. Recker also had three blocks in the game.

Sub-state is Saturday

     The Monticello-Cascade winner will play either Dyersville Beckman or Crestwood in a sub-state game Saturday, Feb. 29, 7 p.m. at West Delaware in Manchester.

Feb. 20

N’east   7   3 11 13 – 34

Monti   9   9 12    8 – 38

     NORTHEAST (34) – Dakota Stevenson 3-7 0-0 6, Cade Hughes 2-4 4-4 10, Grant Rickertsen 2-6 1-3 6, Trey McAleer 2-6 0-1 4, Judd Swanton 1-6 4-4 6, Dawson Rickords 0-1 2-2 2, Riley Wolfe 0-0 0-0 0, Atzin Dondiego 0-0 0-0 0, Carter Pataska 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 10-30 11-14 34.

     MONTICELLO (38) – Justin Recker 2-7 3-4 7, Luke Lambert 2-5 1-2 7, Connor Lambert 4-9 2-2 13, Ty Kehoe 3-7 0-0 8, Tate Petersen 1-4 0-0 3, Devin Kraus 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 12-32 6-8 38.

     Three-pointers: Hughes 2, Rickertsen; C. Lambert 3, L. Lambert 2, Kehoe 2, Petersen.

     Rebounds: Monticello 25 (Recker 9, L. Lambert 5, C. Lambert 5), Northeast 17.

     Total fouls: Northeast 10, Monticello 10.