MONTICELLO - Tuesday's game between Belmont and Monticello saw nearly as many travelers on the court as the Badgers saw in Pasadena this past weekend.
The Braves and Ponies were called for over a dozen walking infractions in the opening half as each team inbounded their way to a 16-16 tie at the break.
"The tempo was so slow that even to catch the ball it was like the ball was coming to us and we were walking before we even caught it, it was so slow," Monticello coach Mark Olson said after his team's 55-42 win. "We kind of got caught up in it and made a conscious effort in the second half to push things at both ends."
With Belmont playing a zone defense and eyeing standout guard Tyler Ritschard like a hawk, senior Corey McGowan showed off his touch. McGowan erupted for 17 of his 19 points in the game, including five 3-pointers - four in the third quarter alone.
"Most of the time it was just right-place, right-time. I knew I had to get something going," McGowan said. "The first half we didn't shoot enough. But I knew I could shoot so I might as well let them fly."
Belmont's Jacob Loeffelholz hit a half-court shot at the buzzer to send the two teams into the locker room tied at the break, but that didn't phase the Ponies.
"(The half-courter) was one of those things that just showed how the first half was going. But it's just a 3-pointer, and it was not going to make or break the game and we knew that," said Ritschard, who tied McGowan with 19 points. "We had to come out with more tempo in the second half, and that's what changed the game. I love to drive the lane and find the hot hand. I loved watching him (Corey) drain them 3s."
McGowan hit a 3 to open the third quarter and hoops by Ritschard and Lukas Kolasch helped Monticello open a 23-18 lead on the Braves. But turnovers and Monticello fouls allowed Belmont to tie the game up at 25 with 3:34 left in the third. That's when McGowan went off, hitting three straight 3s and the Ponies opened the score to 36-27 with just over a minute to play.
"Corey is an incredible leader for our team. He brings heart and soul to our squad," Olson said. "We know that we have more than one scorer on our team and Corey is one of those guys that can do that."
The fourth quarter was dominated by free throws, as both teams were in the bonus. Ritschard and McGowan converted on 9 of 10 shots from the charity stripe and combined for 16 points in the frame. Austin Steffen also hit a 3 in the fourth for the Ponies.
"It's nice to be home. It's been a while since we played in our gym. We like to think we can shoot pretty well here and Corey thought so tonight, I guess," Olson said. "It's going to be busy for us here for a few weeks with two games a week. It's going to be go-go-go."
Monticello was playing in its first home game in 2 1/2 weeks. The Ponies (5-3) get right back to work, as they travel to Pecatonica on Thursday.
"We've got to take some momentum going into conference play. We've played some ugly games, but ugly or not we've got to figure out how to play solid defense every possession and get good shots every possession," McGowan said. "We're starting to get it together now. I have confidence in my guys."
The Braves and Ponies were called for over a dozen walking infractions in the opening half as each team inbounded their way to a 16-16 tie at the break.
"The tempo was so slow that even to catch the ball it was like the ball was coming to us and we were walking before we even caught it, it was so slow," Monticello coach Mark Olson said after his team's 55-42 win. "We kind of got caught up in it and made a conscious effort in the second half to push things at both ends."
With Belmont playing a zone defense and eyeing standout guard Tyler Ritschard like a hawk, senior Corey McGowan showed off his touch. McGowan erupted for 17 of his 19 points in the game, including five 3-pointers - four in the third quarter alone.
"Most of the time it was just right-place, right-time. I knew I had to get something going," McGowan said. "The first half we didn't shoot enough. But I knew I could shoot so I might as well let them fly."
Belmont's Jacob Loeffelholz hit a half-court shot at the buzzer to send the two teams into the locker room tied at the break, but that didn't phase the Ponies.
"(The half-courter) was one of those things that just showed how the first half was going. But it's just a 3-pointer, and it was not going to make or break the game and we knew that," said Ritschard, who tied McGowan with 19 points. "We had to come out with more tempo in the second half, and that's what changed the game. I love to drive the lane and find the hot hand. I loved watching him (Corey) drain them 3s."
McGowan hit a 3 to open the third quarter and hoops by Ritschard and Lukas Kolasch helped Monticello open a 23-18 lead on the Braves. But turnovers and Monticello fouls allowed Belmont to tie the game up at 25 with 3:34 left in the third. That's when McGowan went off, hitting three straight 3s and the Ponies opened the score to 36-27 with just over a minute to play.
"Corey is an incredible leader for our team. He brings heart and soul to our squad," Olson said. "We know that we have more than one scorer on our team and Corey is one of those guys that can do that."
The fourth quarter was dominated by free throws, as both teams were in the bonus. Ritschard and McGowan converted on 9 of 10 shots from the charity stripe and combined for 16 points in the frame. Austin Steffen also hit a 3 in the fourth for the Ponies.
"It's nice to be home. It's been a while since we played in our gym. We like to think we can shoot pretty well here and Corey thought so tonight, I guess," Olson said. "It's going to be busy for us here for a few weeks with two games a week. It's going to be go-go-go."
Monticello was playing in its first home game in 2 1/2 weeks. The Ponies (5-3) get right back to work, as they travel to Pecatonica on Thursday.
"We've got to take some momentum going into conference play. We've played some ugly games, but ugly or not we've got to figure out how to play solid defense every possession and get good shots every possession," McGowan said. "We're starting to get it together now. I have confidence in my guys."
