Lady Trojans grind out a 45-34 win over Somerset, end regular season 16-11

Shannon Hutchinson, Sports Writer

Monticello — The Monticello Lady Trojans hosted 12th Region rival Somerset, last

Friday night at MHS gym, in the regular season finale for both teams.

Monticello entered on a two-game winning streak with a 15-11 record, which

included a 61-52 win at Clinton County earlier in the week. The Lady Jumpers

owned a 17-7 mark and entered on a two-game winning streak of their own,

which included a 53-27 home win over McCreary Central. The teams last met on

January 22nd in the championship game of the All ³A² 12th Region tournament,

with Somerset rolling to a 63-45 home win.

The Lady Trojans made ³Senior Night² a special one for Lacey Alley,

Brittney Crabtree, Maggie Hopper and Jackie Anderson as the four seniors

started with junior Courtney Morrow, as the hosts ended the game with a 9-0

run, en route to a 45-34 win.

³This was a typical Somerset-Monticello game, it was a dog fight and we

had to grind it out to win. We started all four seniors and I though they

played their hearts out, to show we are a much better team than we showed

the first time we played them. We wanted to send this special group out at

home the right way and this win is a real credit to our defensive effort. To

hold Somerset scoreless the final 7:35 of the ballgame, I¹m just so proud of

our effort. It wasn¹t pretty, but anytime we play them it¹s usually not,²

said Monticello head coach Marla Kelsch.

Monticello had the oddity of winning the game, without a single player

scoring in double-figures, as Lacey Alley and Brittney Crabtree paced the

winners with 8 points each. Alley finished 2 of 11 from the field and 2 of 4

from the charity-stripe, plus grabbed a game high 11 rebounds. Crabtree

connected on 3 of 5 field goal attempts and 1 of 2 free throws, with 3

boards, as the Lady Trojans claimed a 32-30 rebound edge.

³I can¹t remember ever winning a game without placing a scorer in double

figures, I know we¹ve lost some that way, but this was a credit to our total

team effort. Everyone contributed in a positive way,² said Kelsch.

Malesha Hughes came off the bench to post 7 points and 4 rebounds, while

younger sibling Mariah totaled 7 points, in just 11 minutes of action.

Maggie Hopper added 6 points with 5 boards, while Autumn Bell contributed 5

points and 4 rebounds. Cortney Morrow dished-out a game high 10 assists with

4 points, as seven different Monticello players scored in the win.

³This was the type of slow-down, grind it out game that usually happens

in the post-season, so hopefully we can learn from this quality win against

a very good Somerset team. They are very experienced and have beaten some of

the top teams in the region, so this was a very nice win,² said Kelsch.

Somerset, which dropped to 17-8, shot a dismal 16 percent from the field

and was led by the game high 14 points of Jessica Coffey. Laura Thomas added

7 points , as six different Lady Jumpers scored in the contest.

Four different Lady Trojans scored in the opening quarter, to offset the

6 points of Coffey, as Monticello battled to take an 11-8 lead.

Jessica Coffey led all players with 9 points in the first half as

Somerset used a 9-7 tilt, to close the hosts lead to 18-17, at intermission.

³We came out very tight and tense, maybe we wanted to play so well it

effected our shots but we did lead at half. Credit our defensive pressure

and effort,² said Kelsch.

Seven different Lady Trojans scored in the third frame, led by the 4

points of Brittney Crabtree, as the hosts used an 18-15 edge to push to a

36-32 edge, after 24 minutes.

Monticello turned up the defense and used two baskets by Maggie Hopper

to spark a 9-2 run, to move to a 45-34 win.

The Lady Jumpers finished 9 of 56 from the field for 16 percent, which

included a 5 of 28 effort from 3-point range for 18 percent. The squad made

6 of 9 free throws for 67 percent and totaled 14 turnovers, which the hosts

converted into 7 points.

The Lady Trojans shot 18 of 40 overall for 45 percent and tallied on 4

of 10 3-pointers for 40 percent. The winners made 5 of 10 from the

charity-stripe for 50 percent and totaled 14 assists, with 4 steals, against

19 turnovers.

Up next for Monticello is a Monday night match up with 7-22 McCreary

Central, in the opening round of the 48th District tournament. The Lady

Trojans are the number one seed for the first time in over a decade, but

face a Lady Raiders squad that earned a split in the regular season match

ups. Central won at home on December 17, 55-50 before Monticello returned

the favor on January 2, 48-41.

³We have to come out and play with confidence and avoid any jitters. A

big key for us is we must establish and dictate the tempo. We need to get up

and down the floor, make some shots and more than anything just play like

we¹re capable of. We know McCreary Central is very dangerous, but a positive

is we¹re coming off three straight solid efforts,² said Kelsch.

Details on the matchup in next week¹s edition of The Outlook.

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