JUDA - The early tip-off time as part of a doubleheader didn't affect Juda senior Aly Pierce's shooting touch.
Pierce and junior Ellen Kiser combined to score 31 points to lead Juda to a 49-31 win over Monticello Thursday night. Pierce scored 12 points on four 3-pointers to ignite a 22-11 second quarter run by the Panthers.
"I felt like I had to step my game up because it was a big game," Pierce said. "I felt like I had to hit my 3s because I have been off lately."
Juda girls basketball coach Curt Brown had a feeling that Pierce would be the X-factor against the Ponies.
"We knew that Aly's shooting may have been the deciding factor," Brown said. "Even if we don't hit them they still have to respect that shot and it helps open up the lane. Aly has been working hard. Her shot was on tonight."
Kiser had a double-double (19 points, 12 rebounds) to go along with three blocks. The Panthers jumped out to an 8-2 lead behind Kiser and junior C.J. Dunwiddie. Juda (15-3, 6-2 Six Rivers East) grabbed eight of their 14 offensive rebounds in the first quarter.
"We need to make sure we get to the glass hard," Brown said. "Even though Ellen is taller than most girls, she goes to the glass hard. She boxes out. She is a technically sound rebounder. It was big for us to get those extra possessions in the first quarter."
Despite the offensive rebounding prowess, the Panthers led just 10-9 at the end of the first quarter. Monticello junior Tanya Smith hit a jumper with 7 minutes, 18 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Ponies a short lived 11-10 lead. Dunwiddie and Pierce answered with 3-pointers to give the Panthers an 18-13 lead. Pierce drilled a 3-pointer with 2:06 to go in the second quarter and sophomore Jessica Rackow scored on a putback at the end of the period to give the Panthers a 31-20 half-time lead.
"The second quarter just killed us," Monticello coach Tom Eveland said. "We were sliding in on Kiser, but we were not sliding out on the guard. Pierce, if she can get her feet set, can hit the 3-pointer with the best of them. Kiser is tough inside. If she can get the ball without having to put it on the floor she will make that right or left hook."
Monticello senior Taylor Klitzke, who scored a team-high 11 points, hit a jumper and senior Taylor Pfeuti scored down low to open the third quarter and sliced the Panthers' lead to 31-24. That's as close as the Ponies would get. The Panthers led by as many as 20 points late in the fourth quarter after Kiser scored down low.
"We just didn't hustle," Eveland said. "We didn't come to play basketball. When you do that against a team like Juda this is what happens."
Dunwiddie scored nine points for the Panthers. Monticello freshman Marissa Berg added seven for the Ponies.
Kiser said the team knows when to play with aggression and offensive rebounding was a key.
"I think the team just knows when to get out there and get it done, play together and keep our foot on the gas until the game is over," Kiser said.
Pierce and junior Ellen Kiser combined to score 31 points to lead Juda to a 49-31 win over Monticello Thursday night. Pierce scored 12 points on four 3-pointers to ignite a 22-11 second quarter run by the Panthers.
"I felt like I had to step my game up because it was a big game," Pierce said. "I felt like I had to hit my 3s because I have been off lately."
Juda girls basketball coach Curt Brown had a feeling that Pierce would be the X-factor against the Ponies.
"We knew that Aly's shooting may have been the deciding factor," Brown said. "Even if we don't hit them they still have to respect that shot and it helps open up the lane. Aly has been working hard. Her shot was on tonight."
Kiser had a double-double (19 points, 12 rebounds) to go along with three blocks. The Panthers jumped out to an 8-2 lead behind Kiser and junior C.J. Dunwiddie. Juda (15-3, 6-2 Six Rivers East) grabbed eight of their 14 offensive rebounds in the first quarter.
"We need to make sure we get to the glass hard," Brown said. "Even though Ellen is taller than most girls, she goes to the glass hard. She boxes out. She is a technically sound rebounder. It was big for us to get those extra possessions in the first quarter."
Despite the offensive rebounding prowess, the Panthers led just 10-9 at the end of the first quarter. Monticello junior Tanya Smith hit a jumper with 7 minutes, 18 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Ponies a short lived 11-10 lead. Dunwiddie and Pierce answered with 3-pointers to give the Panthers an 18-13 lead. Pierce drilled a 3-pointer with 2:06 to go in the second quarter and sophomore Jessica Rackow scored on a putback at the end of the period to give the Panthers a 31-20 half-time lead.
"The second quarter just killed us," Monticello coach Tom Eveland said. "We were sliding in on Kiser, but we were not sliding out on the guard. Pierce, if she can get her feet set, can hit the 3-pointer with the best of them. Kiser is tough inside. If she can get the ball without having to put it on the floor she will make that right or left hook."
Monticello senior Taylor Klitzke, who scored a team-high 11 points, hit a jumper and senior Taylor Pfeuti scored down low to open the third quarter and sliced the Panthers' lead to 31-24. That's as close as the Ponies would get. The Panthers led by as many as 20 points late in the fourth quarter after Kiser scored down low.
"We just didn't hustle," Eveland said. "We didn't come to play basketball. When you do that against a team like Juda this is what happens."
Dunwiddie scored nine points for the Panthers. Monticello freshman Marissa Berg added seven for the Ponies.
Kiser said the team knows when to play with aggression and offensive rebounding was a key.
"I think the team just knows when to get out there and get it done, play together and keep our foot on the gas until the game is over," Kiser said.
