Monticello Buckaroo boys and girls basketball teams both go 1-1 at home as regular season winds down, state tournament approaches

by David Boyle
News Director
The Monticello Buckaroo boys basketball team defeated Dolores 51-49 in a close contest at home on February 3. The Bears jumped to a 22-15 lead after one quarter with halftime favoring the Bears 35-30.
In the locker room at halftime Coach Josh Keyes said after giving up 17 first half points to Dolores guard Koby McClellen he adjusted by giving Kooper Nielson an assignment to not leave his side.
Additionally Jackson Keyes was tasked with making 6’10” sophomore Lane Johnson work throughout the second half. The defensive adjustment paid off as the Bears offense slowed.
After three quarters Monticello took a 42-41 lead, the Bears scored first in the first quarter to take a one point lead with 6:30 left in the game Cache Young hit a turnaround three point shot to give Monticello the 45-43 lead.
One of five three point shots Cache made on the game, Coach Keyes called it a key to the game.
After a defensive stop Cache Young hit an eight foot jumper to give Monticello a 47-43 lead. While time ticked off the clock the Bears scored again with Kooper Nielson hitting a 12 foot jumper to push Monticello’s lead to 49-45.
The Bears pulled within two again with three minutes left in the game with Triston Felix adding the last Monticello layup of the game off a Kord Young assist. From there Monticello’s defense buckled down to secure the 51-49 win.
Monticello was led in the game by Cache Young who finished with 20 points. Jackon Keyes and Kord Young each scored nine in the game, while Triston Felix scored six, Kooper Nielson had four, and Brandt Mack scored three.
Cache Young led the team with eight rebounds, while Kord Young had five. Kooper Nielson led the team with five assists while Kord and Cache Young each had three. Triston Felix also had three steals in the game.
Coach Keyes added the team has developed a love of winning this season. “That’s a good team we beat right there. That’s a great team. The fact that we got them both times this year, it’s a reason to celebrate.
“I’m just so proud of the kids to go out and win a close game and to persevere in front of their home crowd. It just means the world to me. They work so hard in practice perfecting their defensive craft. I know they were upset with themselves giving up 35 in the first half. I certainly was upset about giving up 35, but the second half showed that resiliency.”
The Monticello girls meanwhile fell to the Dolores Bears 49-43 in another close contest on February 3, the final score favored Dolores 49-43.
Monticello was led in the game by Marlee Mack who scored 14 points, Shaydin Freestone scored seven, and Josie Mack had four.
Tessa Slade and Makenna Peterson scored four, Maron Freestone and Olivia Plemons had three while Nicole Francom scored two.
Josie Mack pulled down 14 rebounds for Monticello in a big showing on the glass. Marlee Mack and Annaleigh Nebeker each had six rebounds.
Shaydin Freestone had three assists, while Josie Mack, Plemons and Maron Freestone had two steals a piece and Josie Mack recorded a block.
The Lady Buckaroos followed up their close loss with a blowout win over Green River 73-20 at home on February 6.
Monticello was led in the game by Marlee Mack who scored 22 points while Maron Freestone scored 17 and Peterson had 14. Allie Carling scored six, and Lariah O’Harra had four points.
Five other Lady Bucks scored two points including Slade, Francom, Murryn Suttlemyer, Adri Lopez and Ayslee Whipple. Whipple and Marlee Mack both recorded eight rebounds in the game.
Maron Freestone led the team with three assists and Marlee Mack recorded nine steals including eight in the first quarter. With Whipple also recording a block.
Speaking after the game Marlee Mack said the steals were an emphasis from the coaching staff to play clean basketball.
“My biggest goal was just to remember to shuffle my feet and not get handsy or anything with them. So, I think that was just the biggest thing was to still play good defense so that I could put myself in position to steal and then make fast breaks.”
After grabbing steals Mack was off to the races. Winning championships in hurdle events and long jump last year she’s translated those sprinting skills to the basketball court.
“It’s pretty fun. I’m definitely glad that I’ve still got that speed a little bit from track.” 
While Mack is a track star she says she’s glad to be able to play basketball her senior year after joining the team late.
“I know I would have regretted not playing because basketball was my sport when I was younger. So, I was just glad I got to play this year and have gotten to be with all these girls and having Katie Nebeker as a coach and Brian Taylor and all of them. It’s been great.”
Also speaking after the game was senior Makenna Peterson who shared the team made sure to enjoy one of their last games on their home court.
“I think a big motivator is to just enjoy our last few games and part of that is coming in and scoring. So, that was fun.”
After coming back from injury the Buckaroos have enjoyed Peterson’s efforts particularly in driving to the basket, she says that motivation and drive comes from years of work.
“The coaches I had before were always telling me not to hesitate. When I was a freshman I really struggled with hesitating with everything I did. And then I just learned that if I don’t hesitate, I do a lot better.”
One of those coaches of her youth was Coach Katie Nebeker who coached Peterson in junior high and youth rec programs. 
“It’s just been fun to have her coach again and at a higher intensity and a higher level. But, I’ve really enjoyed it. She’s awesome.”
That confidence from coaches past helped spur an offensive output from the team with Peterson saying the girls spoke that confidence into existence before the game.
“Something we kind of agreed upon is if there’s an open shot, do not hesitate. Just take it. And I saw a lot of my teammates doing that and it was nice to see.”
In the other game on February 6 the Monticello boys fell to the Green River Pirates in the de facto Region 19 title game by a final score of 63-26 with the Pirates controlling the game the whole way.
Monticello was led by Cache Young who scored 12, Keyes with six, Kord Young with three, Felix with two, Seth Taylor with two and Nielson with one.
Monticello played Monument Valley after the print deadline on February 10. Senior night is February 13 against Pinnacle with games at 5:30 and 7. If you can’t make the action you can catch it on StreamUtah.Live and Redrock 92.7 FM.