Monticello teams close out regular season

Region 19 teams wrapped up regular season play last week and are on to the state tournament. With Monticello boys and girls both earned the #14 seed in their respective tournaments. The boys host Dugway in a play-in game on Saturday at 1:00 pm, while the girls are in for the state tournament in Richfield.
If the boys win their play-in game both teams will play at 7:00 pm on February 28, with the games broadcast on 92.7 FM.
Monticello traveled to Monument Valley for a doubleheader on February 13.
The Monticello boys team earned a 64-50 win over Monument Valley.
The Buckaroos were led by Curtis Bunker who finished with 29 points in the win, while Traken Lee scored 14 for the Buckaroos.
Mason Atwood had 10 while JD McDonald scoured six and Kooper Nielson had five.
Monument Valley was led by Braxton Goodshield who scored 27 points in the contest. Melias Cly had 12 points with Joshua Hicks scoring six. Brice Goodshield and Akecheta Shortman each scored two points in the game.
In the girls game, Monument Valley defeated Monticello 70-35.
The Cougars saw four players score in the double digits led by Shikeeya Hudson who finished with 14 points. Shimequa Hudson scored 12 while Precious Bedonie and Malaya Blackmountain each scored 11 points. Shilah Williams scored seven points while Nevaeh Wilson scored six, Mariah Begaye had five, and Kaylisa Tome scored four points.
Monticello was led by Kenlee Atwood and Maren Freestone who both finished with nine points. Braylee Freestone scored five for Monticello with Jemma Robison scoring four, Mechaiyah Lansing and Makenna Peterson scoring three and Nicole Francom scoring two.
Monticello also played host to Whitehorse on February 13 for another double header.
The Raider boys overcame a halftime deficit to pull away from the Bucks in the opener and win 59-53. Raider senior Lyric Phillips was unstoppable on the night, pouring in 35 points from every spot on the court, including five three-point shots, five field goals, and draining ten of 12 free throws. Speaking postgame Phillips said he learned to score from his day. “He teaches me these things, it paid off tonight, all the basketball I’ve been playing.”
Asked about their goals moving forward Phillips says the team plans to “Keep the same energy every game, go into state and just ball out.”
Other Raiders on the scoring sheet include Lorenz Tsosie with 13, Dominic Dance with five, and Tristan Black and Kalin Tohonnie, each with three.
Monticello was led by Bunker and McDonald, who scored 20 and 12 points, respectively. Lee added eight, Kaden Pehrson seven, Nielson three, and Atwood two.
The Lady Raiders defeated their counterparts from Monticello by a score of 54-33.
Whitehorse was led by Shunbaah Begay with 11 and LaMyia Benally with nine. Heidi Clark and Harmony Thomas each scored seven, while Laila Etsitty and Kadence Lansing each scored six.
The Buckaroos were led by Robison and Braylee Freestone, who each scored nine. Maren Freestone added seven, Tessa Slade four, Atwood three, and Alyssa Sanchez two.