PREVIEW: Talented Panthers bid for elite status in state

      With 12 returning letter-winners from a 12-5 team, the expectations couldn’t be much higher for the Monticello High School boys basketball team this season.

     How high? One site, prephoops.com, went so far as to put the Panthers second, behind Camanche, in its preseason Class 2A state rankings.

     The Panthers have a unique way of dealing with those expectations, having adopted the slogan, “ignore the noise.”

     Part of the reason is that they realize nothing will come easy for Monticello.

     “It’s never easy, especially in our league,” 21^st-year head coach Tim Lambert said. “Our schedule will be arguably the toughest in 2A. That’s good; we need to play good competition.”

     Monticello will be a tough foe for any of those teams, as well. Among the returning letter-winners are 6-foot-5 junior Justin Recker, who by far led the team in scoring last year with an 18.5 per-game average, and was voted Elite All-Conference in the River Valley.

     Juniors Luke Lambert (11.5 points per game) and Connor Lambert (9.9) were both North Division All-Conference players, and junior Tyler Luensman was given Honorable Mention.

     Also back are seniors Devin Kraus, Jeff Carlson, Ethan Martensen and Cade Folken; and juniors Ty Kehoe, Brayden Cleeton, Riley Manternach and Grahm Schneiter. Freshman Tate Petersen started in the team’s first scrimmage, and juniors Jasper Nietert and Tyler McAtee could make an impact as well.

      “We have a lot coming back from last year,” Lambert said. “We were runner-up in the division (at 11-4, behind Camanche), and we hope to improve on that. I think we have all the pieces to do that.

     “We have a lot of people that can contribute, and we have very good size. We can put a really long, athletic group on the floor. And, we have a lot of kids who are gym rats, who have put in a lot of time in basketball.”

     Curt Tauke and Todd Lambert are the varsity assistant coaches, Kolby Harms coaches the junior varsity team, and Steve Rucker is the freshman-sophomore coach. Jarrett Easton and Chance Manternach will serve as volunteer assistants.