Monticello girls basketball team opens 2021 and Region 16 play on the road January 8-9

With the arrival of a new year, the Monticello High School girls basketball team was hoping for a fresh new start as they commenced Region 16 play on Friday, January 8 in Duchesne.

Monticello struggled to find the bottom of the net from the start, and the Lady Eagles raced out to an 8-2 first quarter lead.

The second quarter wasn’t much kinder to the Lady Bucks as they only managed four points and fell behind 20-6 at halftime.

The third quarter was better for MHS as the team produced eight points. But Duchesne scored 12 to effectively put the game out of reach by swelling their lead to 32-14.

Monticello caught fire in the final period, pouring in 17 points, but it was too little too late as the Lady Eagles coasted to a 40-31 win.

The Lady Buckaroos shot 18 percent from the floor in the game and 14 percent from three-point range. They were 33 percent from the foul line. Avery Shumway led MHS with 10 points and added three rebounds and a block to her scoring effort.

Kylie Rogers and Olivia Chamberlain scored six points apiece with Rogers pulling down three rebounds and recording a block. Chamberlain had a nice effort with six boards and two steals.

Kennedy Brewer scored four points with five rebounds, an assist, and two steals. Ciara McCarthy hit one three-point basket for the Lady Bucks and Ali Barry and Amy Lewis closed out the scoring with two points apiece. Barry also contributed three rebounds and a steal.

On defense, the girls pulled down 19 defensive rebounds, had nine deflections, six steals, and a block while holding Duchesne to a measly four percent three-point shooting night. The Lady Eagles hit just one of their 24 attempts from long range.

The next day, the Lady Bucks jumped back on the bus and drove north to Coalville to take on 2A #5 North Summit. MHS knew they had a tall task taking on the Lady Braves and hoped to get off to a good start.

Any hope of that was quickly doused when North Summit shot out to a 32-0 first quarter lead.

Monticello bounced back somewhat in the second quarter to score 14 points, but they still faced a 38-14 halftime deficit.

The second half was also rough for Monticello. The Lady Braves used big winning quarters of 24-1 and 10-2 to close out a 72-17 win.

Avery Shumway led all Monticello scorers with seven points, and was closely followed by Kylie Rogers who ended the game with six. Rosy Beh had a good game with four points.

The loss drops Monticello to 1-6 overall and 0-2 in Region 16 play. The Lady Bucks hosted the North Sevier Lady Wolves Tuesday, January 12.

They’ll be back on the road this Thursday, January 14 for a trip to Gunnison to play the Lady Bulldogs in another Region 16 contest.

Boys basketball
After a long holiday layoff, the Monticello boys basketball team was back in action to tip off their Region 16 schedule against North Summit in Coalville Friday, January 8.

The Bucks seemed to have benefitted from the extended rest when they raced out to a solid 17-13 first quarter lead. But it was short-lived as the Braves got cranking with a 21-point second quarter to seize a 34-29 halftime lead.

In the third, Monticello was able to copy the 17 points they scored in the first quarter, but once again they struggled to stop North Summit, especially inside.

The Braves, enjoying a 55-46 lead to start the final quarter, outscored Monticello 24-7 to win the game going away 79-53.

Offensively, the Bucks were a little frigid from the floor, hitting only 35 percent of their shots despite dropping in a very respectable 47 percent from beyond the three-point line.

Monticello went 12 of 19 from the free-throw line for 63 percent. They scored 16 points in the paint and came away with 12 offensive rebounds. The Bucks committed 17 turnovers which led to 24 North Summit points.

Cedar English led the team with 23 points. He made four three-point shots and added three rebounds, two assists, and three steals.

Grant Nebeker had his best game of the season, scoring nine points with one three. He also had four rebounds and a steal. Back from injury, Devin Hatch scored eight points on the night. He hit a three-point shot and came away with four rebounds, an assist, and a steal.

Cory Bunker scored seven points with one rebound and a steal. Joe Boyle scored one three-point basket and added two rebounds, an assist, and two steals.

Boston Freestone scored two points, but had six rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Easton Young made one foul shot in the loss.

Defensively, the Bucks had no answer for North Summit’s inside game. The Braves poured in 50 points in the paint and out-rebounded MHS 14-12 on that end of the floor. North Summit shot 60 percent from the floor and 46 percent from three-point range.

With no time to pout, Monticello was back on the court the next day in Duchesne, facing the Eagles in an early-evening Region 16 matchup.

On the road it’s critical to get out to a good start and maintain that momentum throughout the game. But that didn’t happen on Saturday as the Bucks fell behind quickly and trailed 13-3 after one quarter of play.

The second quarter was played much more closely, but Monticello still trailed the Eagles 18-7 at the half.

The Buckaroos were much more competitive in the second half, dropping the third quarter 15-11 and winning the fourth quarter 20-19. But the more consistent play couldn’t overcome the poor start that ultimately doomed the Bucks to a 52-38 loss.

English once again led the team in scoring, pouring in 21 points. He hit two three-point shots in the game. Hatch added six points and Grant Nebeker scored five.

Cory Bunker and Joe Boyle both ended the game with three points, Boyle’s coming on a three-pointer.

Like the girls, the boys team sits at 1-6 overall and 0-2 in Region 16 after their first weekend of action. They’ll be busy this week with two more region contests.

Wednesday, January 13 the Bucks host the North Sevier Wolves. Listen to that matchup live on Redrock 92 Radio starting at 6:30 p.m.

Monticello concludes the week in Gunnison against the Bulldogs on Friday, January 15.

Football All-region
2020 Football All-Region teams were announced last week and several Buckaroos made the 2A North squad. Congratulations to senior RB/LB Brevin Olson, junior QB/DB Devin Hatch, and senior C/DE  Tuff Adair for making first team all-region.

Junior WR/DB Logan Draper, and senior WR/S Cedar English made the second team. Sophomores Easton Young (WR/DB/Special Teams) and Javlin Robison (LB) received honorable mentions.