MONTICELLO - In a game of clashing styles, the Monticello boys basketball team unleashed a fullcourt press to spark a 41-27 win over Argyle Friday night.
The Ponies went on a decisive 15-4 fourth-quarter run to seal the game.
"We knew if we could force the tempo a little bit, they would wear down," Monticello coach Brad Pickett said.
The Ponies started the fourth quarter with a 6-0 spurt highlighted by two baskets down low by senior Casey Klossner including one on an inbounds play to extend a three-point lead to a 32-23 edge.
"That was a huge basket with our inbounds play," Pickett said. "Casey did a great job of getting position and a seal. We talk about finishing around the basket and that is what he did."
Monticello (1-1, 1-0 Six Rivers East) hit 5-of-6 free throws in the last two minutes.
In a game of contrasting styles, Argyle wanted to slow the game down and the Ponies wanted to run.
"We are not dummies," Argyle coach Travis Erickson said about the Ponies' decision to press to force the tempo. "We knew it was going to happen. I think our second and third guards need to step up and want the ball."
Early on it looked like the game would go down to the wire. The Ponies took a 3-0 lead three minutes into the game on Brandon Holz's 3-pointer. Argyle (0-2, 0-1) went 6 minutes, 15 seconds without a field goal. Argyle senior Andy Bohlman snapped the scoring drought with a layup and drove coast-to-coast converting a Ponies' turnover into another layup late in the first quarter to give the Orioles a 4-3 lead.
The Orioles went on a 9-2 second quarter run by establishing senior Kevin Berg down low. Berg scored back-to-back baskets midway through the second quarter on assists from senior Taylor Saalsaa. Argyle senior Matt Cash drilled a 3-pointer to give the Orioles a 15-8 lead.
The Orioles behind a 2-3 zone limited the Ponies to 5-of-22 shooting in the first half.
"We can't play 32 minutes of man (defense)," Erickson said. "We have to sit in zone. We don't have the horses."
Pickett gave props to the Orioles in the first half for dictating the pace of the game.
"In the first half, we played right into their hands," Pickett said. "They controlled the tempo in the first half."
The Orioles committed seven third quarter turnovers and used a 9-2 spurt sparked by four points from Holz to regain the lead. Monticello junior Jacob Marty converted a three-point play at the free throw line after being fouled on a 3-pointer to give the Ponies a 21-17 lead.
"A lot of times we rely on that outside shot," Pickett said. "In that second half we were able to find some holes and get to the basket a little bit more."
Monticello sophomore Tyler Ritschard scored a game-high 13 points to lead the Ponies.
Holz, who scored 12 points, agreed with Pickett's assessment.
"We came out as cold as ice from the 3-point line," Holz said. "In the first half, we didn't have a lot of energy. In the second half, we came out with a lot of energy. We had to get the ball down low. The outside shots were falling."
The Orioles were led by Berg, who scored a team-high 10 points and Bohlman who added eight.
In a thrilling junior varsity game, Argyle pulled out a 38-33 overtime victory over Monticello.
Monticello freshman Brian Rufener hit a buzzer-beating shot to send the game to overtime. The Orioles outscored the Ponies 8-3 in overtime to seal the win.
The Ponies went on a decisive 15-4 fourth-quarter run to seal the game.
"We knew if we could force the tempo a little bit, they would wear down," Monticello coach Brad Pickett said.
The Ponies started the fourth quarter with a 6-0 spurt highlighted by two baskets down low by senior Casey Klossner including one on an inbounds play to extend a three-point lead to a 32-23 edge.
"That was a huge basket with our inbounds play," Pickett said. "Casey did a great job of getting position and a seal. We talk about finishing around the basket and that is what he did."
Monticello (1-1, 1-0 Six Rivers East) hit 5-of-6 free throws in the last two minutes.
In a game of contrasting styles, Argyle wanted to slow the game down and the Ponies wanted to run.
"We are not dummies," Argyle coach Travis Erickson said about the Ponies' decision to press to force the tempo. "We knew it was going to happen. I think our second and third guards need to step up and want the ball."
Early on it looked like the game would go down to the wire. The Ponies took a 3-0 lead three minutes into the game on Brandon Holz's 3-pointer. Argyle (0-2, 0-1) went 6 minutes, 15 seconds without a field goal. Argyle senior Andy Bohlman snapped the scoring drought with a layup and drove coast-to-coast converting a Ponies' turnover into another layup late in the first quarter to give the Orioles a 4-3 lead.
The Orioles went on a 9-2 second quarter run by establishing senior Kevin Berg down low. Berg scored back-to-back baskets midway through the second quarter on assists from senior Taylor Saalsaa. Argyle senior Matt Cash drilled a 3-pointer to give the Orioles a 15-8 lead.
The Orioles behind a 2-3 zone limited the Ponies to 5-of-22 shooting in the first half.
"We can't play 32 minutes of man (defense)," Erickson said. "We have to sit in zone. We don't have the horses."
Pickett gave props to the Orioles in the first half for dictating the pace of the game.
"In the first half, we played right into their hands," Pickett said. "They controlled the tempo in the first half."
The Orioles committed seven third quarter turnovers and used a 9-2 spurt sparked by four points from Holz to regain the lead. Monticello junior Jacob Marty converted a three-point play at the free throw line after being fouled on a 3-pointer to give the Ponies a 21-17 lead.
"A lot of times we rely on that outside shot," Pickett said. "In that second half we were able to find some holes and get to the basket a little bit more."
Monticello sophomore Tyler Ritschard scored a game-high 13 points to lead the Ponies.
Holz, who scored 12 points, agreed with Pickett's assessment.
"We came out as cold as ice from the 3-point line," Holz said. "In the first half, we didn't have a lot of energy. In the second half, we came out with a lot of energy. We had to get the ball down low. The outside shots were falling."
The Orioles were led by Berg, who scored a team-high 10 points and Bohlman who added eight.
In a thrilling junior varsity game, Argyle pulled out a 38-33 overtime victory over Monticello.
Monticello freshman Brian Rufener hit a buzzer-beating shot to send the game to overtime. The Orioles outscored the Ponies 8-3 in overtime to seal the win.
