Monticello Bucks split games with Dove Creek Bulldogs, beat Green River, head to state

The Monticello High School basketball teams went 3-1 in their last week of regular season play. The boys punched their ticket to the state tournament with the girls will compete in a play-in game on Saturday, February 26.

Monticello boys went 2-0 on the week, earning victories over Dove Creek and Green River to close out the regular season.

On February 17, the Bucks earned a 58-49 victory over the Bulldogs on Senior Night.

After splitting their first two matchups in December, Monticello earned the win over Dove Creek in their final match-up of the year in Monticello. 

The Buckaroos built a 16-8 lead after one quarter and extended the lead 28-14 at the half. In the third quarter, Monticello’s lead extended to 47-22. Dove Creek won the 4th quarter 27-11, but Monticello’s lead established in the first three-quarters of the game was too much to overcome as the Bucks walked away with the 58-49 victory.

Monticello was led in scoring on the game by senior guard Boston Freestone, who finished with 26 points on the night. Junior guard Easton Young added 14 for the Buckaroos.

Seeing his first minutes of the season, Senior Devin Hatch scored nine points for the Buckaroos on three deep three-point shots.

Hatch was limited in his return to action after missing most of his senior season with a leg injury he sustained as the quarterback in the second game of the football season.

The forward was a starter his sophomore and junior years and has been missed by the Bucks this season. 

During his final home game, Hatch came on the court in limited, yet effective, minutes. In addition to two three’s made well beyond the arc, Hatch also made a circus three-point shot while trying to draw contact beyond the arc.

Also scoring for Monticello was Landon Ewart with five points, with Tommy Sheeran and Curtis Bunker adding two points on the game.

The Bulldogs were led by Chorbin Cressler, who finished with 18 points, while Kade Hankins added ten points.

Logan Drummond scored seven for Dove Creek, with Ryan Jarmon adding six, three for Blane Johnson, two each for Kendall Gardener and Asher Nye, and one point for Cole Taber.

The Monticello boys also earned a 51-34 victory the following night in Green River. 

The Buckaroos faced a pesky foe in the Pirates. Monticello held an 11-9 lead after one quarter, extending the lead slightly to a 26-20 lead at the half. 

Monticello outscored Green River 13-5 in the third quarter and 12-9 in the final frame for a 51-34 win.

Monticello was led in scoring by senior guard Boston Freestone, who finished the night with 20 points.

In his second game of the season, Hatch finished with 13 points including three made triples. Easton Young added seven points, while Donavan Atwood scored six.

Tommy Sheeran scored four points on the night, while Landon Ewart scored three.

The Monticello Buckaroos finish the regular season with a record of 10-10, second in Region play with a record of 5-2. The Buckaroos are the nine seed in the 1A boys state basketball tournament.

The Buckaroos have a bye through the first round and open play in the Richefield Sevier Valley Center against eight seed Valley High school on Wednesday, March 2 at 2:30 p.m.

The Lady Buckaroos went 1-1 in their final week of regular-season play.

Monticello earned a 43-31 win on Tuesday when they hosted Green River.

The Lady Bucks took a 14-6 lead in the first quarter, expanding the lead to 24-15 at halftime. Monticello's lead grew again in the third quarter 34-21, while Green River won the fourth quarter by one point to make the final score 43-31.
Monticello was led on the game by Avery Shumway, who scored 10 points on the game. Jessi Slack and Kenlee Atwood added eight points for the Lady Buckaroos.
Jemma Robison scored four points for Monticello, while Kahryme Alvarado, Rosy Beh, and Kylie Rogers each added three. Ciara McCarthy and Taylor Thomason also added two points for the Lady Bucks.
After a region win on Tuesday, the Lady Bucks faced a tough foe in Dove Creek on Senior Night.
The Bulldogs proved too much for the Buckaroos, earning a 72-26 win.
Monticello was led by Atwood, who finished with 11 points, with Alvarado and Slack scoring four. Shumway scored three, with McCarthy and Nikki Gomez scoring two each for Monticello.
Dove Creek was led by Lexi Gray, who scored 20 points on the game, with Kylie Gatlin adding 15. Also finishing in double digits was Rylee Hickman with 11 and Tara Buffington with ten.
Kalie Gatlin scored seven, with Trista Barnett adding five on the evening. Shania Kibel and Kaylin Smith each scored two points for the Bulldogs.
The Monticello girls team finish the regular season with a 3-18 record, including third place in region play with a record of 3-5. The Lady Bucks are the 19 seed in the 1A girls state basketball tournament.
The Buckaroos begin postseason play at Milford High School on Saturday, February 26 at 11 a.m. 
If the Lady Bucks defeat the Tigers, they will play Monument Valley at the state tournament in Richfield on Wednesday, March 2.