MONTICELLO - When the regional seeds and pairings came out, Monticello junior Alyssah Kubly remained focused on the moment, but she couldn't help but circle a potential tournament game that could come down the road.
Kubly scored a game-high 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds to propel Monticello to a 60-43 win over Argyle in a WIAA Division 5 regional semifinal Friday. With the win, Monticello (15-8) will play at Black Hawk in a regional championship game at 7 p.m. today.
"I have been looking forward to that game since we found out Black Hawk could be in the regional final," Kubly said. "It felt really good to beat them (Argyle). The last time we played they beat us. We needed the win. We want to beat Black Hawk."
The Ponies will get their chance after using a 1-3-1 halfcourt press and trapping defense to stymie the Orioles. The Orioles were plagued by turnovers committing 14 of their 20 turnovers in the first half. In the second half, the Orioles struggled shooting 24 percent (6 of 25) and had three players battling foul trouble including senior Jessica Treuthardt, junior Hannah Saalsaa and junior Jenna Langmeier. Treuthardt and Saalsaa were saddled to the bench in foul trouble most of the third quarter before fouling out in the fourth.
The Ponies went on a 7-2 run to end the second quarter to take a 26-19 lead at the half. Kubly scored 12 points in the first half and the Ponies were able to use their defense to create opportunities for their offense on the break.
"I think when Monticello went on that run at the end of the second quarter, it seemed like forever before we got a shot off," Argyle coach Kurt Ritschard. "We are a rhythm shooting team and they did a good job of taking our dribble drive away. It seemed like we never got into a flow on offense. That's a credit to Monticello and their discipline."
Monticello coach Lori Brokopp said that the Ponies have been working on their halfcourt press in practice.
"The halfcourt panic has worked well for us against teams who maybe don't have good ballhandlers," Brokopp said. "We have been working to make sure it works more against good and great teams. You could tell when Argyle started to struggle a little bit. That is when we had to put on the gas."
The Ponies broke the game open with a 9-2 run in the third quarter. Monticello senior Marissa Berg drilled a 3-pointer and junior Samantha DeVoe scored on a layup to give the Ponies a 33-21 lead about midway through the period. Treuthardt picked up her third foul with 6:28 left in the third. With Treuthardt and Saalsaa on the bench, the Ponies looked to attack inside. The Ponies had 16 offensive rebounds and had several second-chance scoring opportunities they were able to cash in on. The Ponies shot 18 of 31 from the free throw line.
"Hannah (Saalsaa) is so physical and she is one of the best at boxing out," Ritschard said. "Jess (Treuthardt) with her length and athleticism, we just need both of them on the floor not just because of their offense, but because they are defensive minded players."
Monticello junior Courtney Leuzinger scored nine points and juniors Paige Dilley and Jordan Garrison each added seven points. Berg scored five points and had 13 rebounds and DeVoe chipped in five points.
"That just goes to show how unselfish they are," Brokopp said of the balanced scoring. We just want to push the ball up to the first girl and the others run the floor."
Brokopp credited Kubly for being a playmaker.
"A lot of what Alyssah does sparks offense for her teammates," Brokopp said. "She has a great gift where she can take it inside and dish it out to teammates."
The key to the game for Kubly was simple, "I think our intensity and expecting the unexpected," she said. "They play a 1-2-2 zone, a man defense and a press. You don't know what they will throw at you. You have to be ready for everything."
Argyle junior Jozey Thoman scored a team-high 11 points and hit three 3-pointers. Senior teammate Katie Zwicker added seven points. Argyle freshman Kayla Butler-Paulson drilled a 3-pointer to cut the Ponies' lead to 42-31 with 5:45 left in the fourth quarter. The Ponies led by as many as 19 points. Thoman knocked down a 3-pointer with 2:22 to go, but that is as close as the Orioles would get.
"I have to give my girls credit for they effort they put out," Ritschard said. "There wasn't a game this year where they didn't play with the effort. That is all you can ask for as a coach."
Monticello has less than 24 hours to prepare as they look to knock No. 1 seed Black Hawk in the regional final tonight.
"I wouldn't want it any other way," Brokopp said of the rematch with Black Hawk. "I told them that they can enjoy this win tonight, but come tomorrow we have a new focus and goals. We were one of 64 teams left. Now we are one of 32. A win tomorrow and we would be one of 16."
Kubly scored a game-high 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds to propel Monticello to a 60-43 win over Argyle in a WIAA Division 5 regional semifinal Friday. With the win, Monticello (15-8) will play at Black Hawk in a regional championship game at 7 p.m. today.
"I have been looking forward to that game since we found out Black Hawk could be in the regional final," Kubly said. "It felt really good to beat them (Argyle). The last time we played they beat us. We needed the win. We want to beat Black Hawk."
The Ponies will get their chance after using a 1-3-1 halfcourt press and trapping defense to stymie the Orioles. The Orioles were plagued by turnovers committing 14 of their 20 turnovers in the first half. In the second half, the Orioles struggled shooting 24 percent (6 of 25) and had three players battling foul trouble including senior Jessica Treuthardt, junior Hannah Saalsaa and junior Jenna Langmeier. Treuthardt and Saalsaa were saddled to the bench in foul trouble most of the third quarter before fouling out in the fourth.
The Ponies went on a 7-2 run to end the second quarter to take a 26-19 lead at the half. Kubly scored 12 points in the first half and the Ponies were able to use their defense to create opportunities for their offense on the break.
"I think when Monticello went on that run at the end of the second quarter, it seemed like forever before we got a shot off," Argyle coach Kurt Ritschard. "We are a rhythm shooting team and they did a good job of taking our dribble drive away. It seemed like we never got into a flow on offense. That's a credit to Monticello and their discipline."
Monticello coach Lori Brokopp said that the Ponies have been working on their halfcourt press in practice.
"The halfcourt panic has worked well for us against teams who maybe don't have good ballhandlers," Brokopp said. "We have been working to make sure it works more against good and great teams. You could tell when Argyle started to struggle a little bit. That is when we had to put on the gas."
The Ponies broke the game open with a 9-2 run in the third quarter. Monticello senior Marissa Berg drilled a 3-pointer and junior Samantha DeVoe scored on a layup to give the Ponies a 33-21 lead about midway through the period. Treuthardt picked up her third foul with 6:28 left in the third. With Treuthardt and Saalsaa on the bench, the Ponies looked to attack inside. The Ponies had 16 offensive rebounds and had several second-chance scoring opportunities they were able to cash in on. The Ponies shot 18 of 31 from the free throw line.
"Hannah (Saalsaa) is so physical and she is one of the best at boxing out," Ritschard said. "Jess (Treuthardt) with her length and athleticism, we just need both of them on the floor not just because of their offense, but because they are defensive minded players."
Monticello junior Courtney Leuzinger scored nine points and juniors Paige Dilley and Jordan Garrison each added seven points. Berg scored five points and had 13 rebounds and DeVoe chipped in five points.
"That just goes to show how unselfish they are," Brokopp said of the balanced scoring. We just want to push the ball up to the first girl and the others run the floor."
Brokopp credited Kubly for being a playmaker.
"A lot of what Alyssah does sparks offense for her teammates," Brokopp said. "She has a great gift where she can take it inside and dish it out to teammates."
The key to the game for Kubly was simple, "I think our intensity and expecting the unexpected," she said. "They play a 1-2-2 zone, a man defense and a press. You don't know what they will throw at you. You have to be ready for everything."
Argyle junior Jozey Thoman scored a team-high 11 points and hit three 3-pointers. Senior teammate Katie Zwicker added seven points. Argyle freshman Kayla Butler-Paulson drilled a 3-pointer to cut the Ponies' lead to 42-31 with 5:45 left in the fourth quarter. The Ponies led by as many as 19 points. Thoman knocked down a 3-pointer with 2:22 to go, but that is as close as the Orioles would get.
"I have to give my girls credit for they effort they put out," Ritschard said. "There wasn't a game this year where they didn't play with the effort. That is all you can ask for as a coach."
Monticello has less than 24 hours to prepare as they look to knock No. 1 seed Black Hawk in the regional final tonight.
"I wouldn't want it any other way," Brokopp said of the rematch with Black Hawk. "I told them that they can enjoy this win tonight, but come tomorrow we have a new focus and goals. We were one of 64 teams left. Now we are one of 32. A win tomorrow and we would be one of 16."
