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.
