Monticello girls come from behind to punch their ticket to the state tournament
The Monticello Buckaroos girls basketball team punched their ticket to the state tournament with a narrow come from behind 38-37 victory over the Pinnacle Panthers. The Monticello girls hosted the Panthers on February 22 in a battle between the #16 and #17 seeds in the 1A Utah girls state tournament.
In a rematch of a game played the week previous in Price the Bucks found themselves in a similar hole, down 33-22 with six minutes left in the game.
The Bucks went on a big run at that point with Mechaiyah Lansing scoring on an 17-foot two-point shot followed by a defensive stop and a baseline shot by Braylee Freestone off an assist from Maron Freestone. Maron added a steal on the next possession and a layup and after another stop Braylee hit a three point shot to pull the Bucks within two points with 3:20 left in the game.
The Panther responded with a three-point play on their next possession to make the score 36-31. After a couple of defensive stops Maron hit a three point shot to make the score 36-34 with two minutes left in the game.
Makenna Peterson’s defensive pressure on the inbound forced a travel call giving the Bucks the ball under their own basket where Braylee found herself under the basket to put the ball up and tie the game 36-36 with 1:55 left in the game.
The Monticello defense forced another travel to give themselves the ball back where Peterson found some space for a 17-foot shot to give Monticello the 38-36 lead with 1:45 left in the game.
The Bucks gave up one more point at the free throw line but held on to earn the 38-37 victory and advance to the state tournament.
Monticello was led by Braylee Freestone who finished with 15 points, while Peterson scored 14. Maron Freestone scored five while Lansing and Olivia Plemmons each scored two points.
Peterson led the team with six rebounds while Sam McDonald pulled down five and Lansing and Braylee each had three.
Peterson also led the team with seven assists, while Braylee and Maron had two assists.
Maron led the team with five steals while Shaydin Freestone recorded two steals.
The win put the Bucks record to 5-18 on the year, Monticello finished third in Region 19 and are on to the state tournament.