Monticello basketball in full swing

Girls basketball
After over three weeks off for the Christmas break, the Lady Bucks were back in action on Thursday, Jan. 10 when they traveled 20 miles east to play the Dove Creek Lady Bulldogs in Dove Creek, CO.
Monticello came into the matchup with a 2-5 record and was looking to sweep the Bulldogs (5-3), whom they defeated 56-44 in Monticello on Dec. 7.
Early on, the Lady Bucks looked like a team with a renewed focus. They jumped out to a 10-2 lead after one quarter of play. That lead held up through the first half and at the break MHS was up 20-13.
Dove Creek began to rally in the third quarter, and the Lady Bucks had a slim 27-24 advantage going into the final period of play. But a big 14-point quarter from the Lady Bulldogs doomed Monticello and sealed the 38-35 win for the home team.
Shooting woes plagued the ladies as only 25 percent of their field goal attempts fell during the game. They shot just 20 percent from the three-point arc. The team also shot less than 50 percent from the foul line in the game.
Tymbr Black led the team with 12 points and hit two of their four three-point baskets. Tristen Esplin scored seven points, with Journey Baird, Megan Black, and Rianna Shumway putting in four points apiece. Brooklyn Holt and Saydee Adams each scored a basket, and Kennedy Brewer added a foul shot.
Defensively, the Lady Bucks held the Bulldogs to 35.7 percent shooting and didn’t give up any three-point shot attempts. They also came away with 13 steals and converted those into 16 points. Tymbr Black and Brooklyn Holt were the main thieves with five and four steals respectfully.
With the first game of 2019 under their belts, the ladies boarded another bus the next afternoon to take on the Lady Cougars (6-1) in Monument Valley. It was the first Region 19 contest of the seson for both teams.
The game began with a flourish of scoring from the home team and the Lady Cougars built a 14-9 lead during the opening period. That lead grew to 30-15 for Monument Valley heading into half-time.
Despite Monticello’s best offensive effort of the game in the third quarter – 11 points – Monument Valley continued to increase their lead to 42-26 with one quarter to play. In the final period, the Lady Cougars converted MHS turnovers and fouls into 17 points and ultimately won the game 59-34.
The loss dropped Monticello to 2-7 overall and 0-1 in the Region 19 standings.
The Lady Buckaroos once again struggled to put the ball in the basket. Only 27.7 percent of their shot attempts fell and only 12.5 percent of their three-point shots found the mark. The ladies also shot less than 50 percent from the line for the second game in a row.
Tymbr Black had a nice game, hitting 50 percent of her shot attempts, including one of two from three, on her way to a game high 14 points.
Journey Baird and Brooklyn Holt both scored six points. Tristen Esplin scored three with Megan Black and Rianna Shumway both scoring a bucket. Jessica Slack ended the scoring by converting a foul shot.
Defensively, the ladies held the third-ranked 1A team to 45.9 percent shooting and a paltry 14.3 percent from beyond the arc.
The ladies also put pressure on the Cougars, forcing 25 turnovers with 15 coming via Monticello steals and four others via shot blocks.
Tymbr Black came away with four steals and two blocks. Brooklyn Holt also had two blocks.
The Lady Bucks (2-7, 0-1) were back in action on Tuesday, Jan. 15 when they hosted the Green River Pirates (2-8, 0-2).
On Saturday, Jan. 19 the ladies will host the fourth-ranked Wayne Badgers (7-4, 3-0) in Monticello with games at 2, 3:30, and 5 p.m. Come cheer on the Lady Buckaroos.
Boys basketball
It was a busy week of basketball for the boys team with three games in five days. They took on Green River at home, Monument Valley on the road, and Dove Creek at home.
On Tuesday, Jan. 8 the Bucks (4-5) hosted the Green River Pirates (2-6, 1-0) in Monticello’s first Region 19 game of the season.
Monticello came out shooting. They poured in 19 first quarter points to lead 19-12 after the first period of play. The Bucks lost the next quarter by a bucket but still held a 36-31 halftime lead.
The second half was a great offensive quarter for the Bucks. They outscored Green River 25-16 in the third quarter and 28-12 in the fourth to wrap up an 89-59 win.
The shots were falling for Monticello; 53.7 percent of their attempts found the bottom of the bucket. The Bucks shot a respectful 34.5 percent from three-point range and a decent 63.6 percent from the foul line in the win.
Lucas Hatch had a solid effort, leading the Bucks with 28 points on 10 of 15 shooting, including five of nine from three-point range.
Taylor Torgerson also had a nice game tossing in 19 points on eight of 14 shooting with three threes to go with ten rebounds and a block.
Weston Nebeker scored on eight of 11 point-blank shots to score 18. Spencer Knudsen added 14 points on six of 10 shooting.
Dylan Bird and Parker Walker scored three points apiece – both on three-point shots. Adam Bunker and Britton Brewer scored a bucket each to round out the scoring.
The win improved Monticello to .500 at 5-5 and 1-0 in Region 19 play.
Three nights later on Friday, Jan. 11 the boys traveled with the girls to Monument Valley to take on the Cougars (1-3) in their second Region 19 game of the year.
Monticello rolled offensively from the start, taking a 23-15 first quarter lead. Monument Valley battled back to make it 42-35 at the half. The third period saw less scoring from both teams but MHS was able to expand their lead to 59-48. The Bucks won the fourth quarter as well to close out a 77-59 victory and improve to 2-0 in Region 19.
The Bucks shot the ball well again, hitting 55.2 percent of their overall shots. This included a solid 40 percent from three-point range. The hot shooting was aided by 40 points in the paint and 14 points scored from turnovers that led to lay-ups.
Spencer Knudsen owned the top performance of the game, pouring in 22 points on nine of 14 shooting. Adam Bunker broke out of a slump with 20 points on nine of 13 shooting including two three-point shots.
Lucas Hatch was efficient on the night, hitting for 12 points on 50 percent shooting and two of three from the three-point arc.
Taylor Torgerson scored 11 and made two three-point shots. Weston Nebeker scored eight points and Dylan Bird had four points for the game.
Defensively the Bucks played well in many areas, forcing 16 turnovers on six steals and coming away with three blocks (Taylor Torgerson had two and Spencer Knudsen added another).
However, one area the team struggled was in defending the three-point shot – Monument Valley hit 11 of 26 treys for 42.3 percent.
The win improved the Bucks to 6-5 overall and 2-0 in Region play.
With no time to rest, Monticello was back in action hosting the Dove Creek Bulldogs (3-5) on Saturday, Jan. 12 in Monticello.
Against Dove Creek, Monticello’s hot shooting cooled significantly, and the team was only able to score around 10 points each quarter.
Monticello led 10-5 after one period and 28-11 at the half. In the second half, Monticello won the third quarter 11-6 and the fourth quarter 11-10 to secure the 50-27 win.
For the game, the Bucks hit 41.5 percent of their shot attempts and a weensy 7.1 percent from three-point range. Luckily, Monticello was able to score 29 points off 28 Bulldog turnovers and 36 points in the paint.
Adam Bunker scored 15 points and made the only Buckaroo three-point shot of the game. Weston Nebeker added 12 points.
Lucas Hatch and Taylor Torgerson scored six points apiece with Britton Brewer adding four. Dylan Bird, Spencer Knudsen, and Hyrum Johnson each scored two points and Aaron Christiansen added a free-throw.
On the flipside, the Bucks held Dove Creek to 22.9 percent shooting and 27.3 percent from three-point range and came away with 15 steals (Spencer Knudsen had five).
Monticello traveled to Blanding to close out their season series with the San Juan Broncos (9-4) on Tuesday, Jan. 15.
The Bucks (7-5, 2-0) will stay on the road for a key Region 19 matchup with the Wayne Badgers (4-8, 1-1) in Bicknell on Friday, Jan. 18. Listen to the game live on 103.9 KAAJ-LP FM starting at 6 p.m.