JUDA — Simply put, the Ponies pressured the Panthers into submission Dec. 9 in a Six Rivers East contest, winning 41-22.

“Defense was our key. It allowed us to get steals and push and go,” Monticello coach Lori Brokopp said. “Even though we didn’t execute every single offensive possession, our defense was a big part of a success tonight. We got some key stops and made them turn the ball over.”

Juda entered the game without guard Ciarrah Davis, who was injured in a practice leading up to the game. Given the full-court pressure Monticello put on, the veteran guard was greatly missed.

“Hopefully she will be back with us before the end of the month, but most of our underclassmen are stepping up,” Juda coach Austin Pax said.

Senior Anna Skoumal tried her best to help the Panthers get the ball across the timeline and control the offensive flow, but the continued onslaught of in-your-face pressure by the Ponies kept the entire Panthers lineup from getting into a regular offensive flow.

“It really killed us not keeping composure and not making the smartest of choices at certain times, which really let Monticello break loose and get hot,” Pax said.

Skoumal led Juda with nine points — seven of which came in the second half. Six other Panthers scored, but none more than three points.

“We struggle putting things together in the first half. The second half has usually been our strong suit,” Pax said.

Monticello led 20-8 at halftime. Ellie Gustafson led the team with 15 points, while Jaden Zuber added eight and Katelyn Eyler and Dalana Trumpy each tallying seven points. 

“Dalana is a hustler. Even tonight when she gets banged up or hurt, it’s hard to take her off the court — she wants to be out there,” Brokopp said. Trumpy, just a freshman, played tight on-ball coverage the full length of the court on nearly every possession. “She’s a key factor in our game, and just keeping our team energized. She has taken on such a great role as a freshman. She has a lot of learning to do, but boy she definitely has her head in a good place right now for a point guard.”

Monticello played the game with just seven healthy players. Monticello also has a relatively young team, so Brokopp used a few of her timeouts to settle her players down.

“We needed to just calm down and run the offense,” Brokopp said. “We also really needed the breaks and the water and the rest with only seven players. I knew I was going to be using all of our timeouts.”

 Brokopp has been pleased with the progress made so far this season.

“Even though it’s a young team, they still have pretty good basketball smarts. It’s still a work in progress, and I like where we’re at right now. We’re only going to get better,” Brokopp said.

Juda is also young. This is also Pax’s first year on the job — and the program’s third coach in three years. He said he’s been encouraged with how well the players have reacted and adapted to his system.

“Honestly, they’ve picked up very well from what they’ve had previously. I can’t argue their progression and the work they put in day in and day out,” Pax said.

Juda’s already won two games this year after going winless the previous season. 

“They are loving life right now. They are not afraid of anyone. They are not willing to back down,” Pax said.

Williams Bay 34, 

Juda 17

WILLIAMS BAY — The Panthers lost a nonconference game Dec. 11, falling behind 17-3 at halftime.

Juda was playing without Davis and Skoumal, the team’s leading scorer. Jackie Nusbaum was the team’s leading scorer with five points.