MONTICELLO - Lucas Marty assured the race for the Six Rivers East Conference championship would be wide open after he led Monticello to a 67-55 win over Albany.
Marty, a Monticello senior, scored a game-high 26 points and junior Ben May scored 17 points and had nine rebounds to propel the Ponies to the win Saturday, Feb. 1. The jumbled conference became a little more crowded with the Ponies' win. Monticello (9-5, 5-2 Six Rivers East) is tied with Black Hawk atop the conference. Albany (10-6, 4-2) and Barneveld (4-2) are one half game back and Pecatonica (4-3) is one game back.
"It's a huge win for us," Marty said. "It ties everyone up. It gives everyone a chance again. It will be interesting."
May and Monticello junior Ryan Smith each drilled 3-pointers late in the second quarter to help the Ponies take a 29-24 lead at the half. The two 3-pointers helped kick-start a 10-0 run by the Ponies that stretched from late in the second quarter into the third. Marty scored to start the third quarter and senior Logan Crooks made two free throws to give the Ponies a 33-24 lead.
"It gave us a lot of momentum," Marty said. "That definitely got us going. Ben always comes up with big shots when we need them. Ben and Crooksy (Logan Crooks) hit their free throws."
The Ponies continued their hot shooting in the second half. Marty drilled a 3-pointer with 2 minutes, 46 seconds to go in the third quarter to give the Ponies a 43-30 lead they wouldn't relinquish.
"It was a must-win game," May said. "Coming off the loss to Shullsburg, we had to make our free throws and shots."
The Ponies shot 60 percent in the second half (12-for-20) and had an answer for every run the Comets made.
"I'm not worried about the standings," Albany coach Derik Doescher said. "If we don't get better and play better it won't matter. Monticello worked their tail off. They had several players who were out there on the court the whole game. They were the better basketball team tonight."
Doescher was disappointed in the team's defense and the 60 percent shooting the Ponies had in the second half.
"We can shoot lights-out the whole game and if we don't play defense it won't matter," Doescher said. "We weren't moving our feet on defense. We were reaching. We have to be able to get defensive stops. Unless you get stops, you won't beat a team like Monticello."
Albany senior Isaiah Shell scored a team-high 20 points and senior Mitchell Kauk scored 16 points and nine rebounds.
The Ponies were patient on offense and made some clutch shots in the second half. Crooks scored 11 points with two 3-pointers and made 5 of 6 free throws in the second half. Marty scored 11 points in the third quarter to spark the Ponies.
Monticello senior Forrest Havens scored six points and Logan Marty scored just two points, but had six rebounds.
"We got the shots we wanted, we took care of the ball and made plays," Monticello coach Mark Olson said. "We had guys step up and make shots."
Monticello plays eight games in 20 days including five conference games. The Ponies still have games at Albany Friday, Feb. 7, at Black Hawk Thursday, Feb. 13 and at Barneveld Tuesday, Feb. 18.
"It seems like every one of them is on the road," Olson said. "We have to win the home games and compete on the road."
Marty, a Monticello senior, scored a game-high 26 points and junior Ben May scored 17 points and had nine rebounds to propel the Ponies to the win Saturday, Feb. 1. The jumbled conference became a little more crowded with the Ponies' win. Monticello (9-5, 5-2 Six Rivers East) is tied with Black Hawk atop the conference. Albany (10-6, 4-2) and Barneveld (4-2) are one half game back and Pecatonica (4-3) is one game back.
"It's a huge win for us," Marty said. "It ties everyone up. It gives everyone a chance again. It will be interesting."
May and Monticello junior Ryan Smith each drilled 3-pointers late in the second quarter to help the Ponies take a 29-24 lead at the half. The two 3-pointers helped kick-start a 10-0 run by the Ponies that stretched from late in the second quarter into the third. Marty scored to start the third quarter and senior Logan Crooks made two free throws to give the Ponies a 33-24 lead.
"It gave us a lot of momentum," Marty said. "That definitely got us going. Ben always comes up with big shots when we need them. Ben and Crooksy (Logan Crooks) hit their free throws."
The Ponies continued their hot shooting in the second half. Marty drilled a 3-pointer with 2 minutes, 46 seconds to go in the third quarter to give the Ponies a 43-30 lead they wouldn't relinquish.
"It was a must-win game," May said. "Coming off the loss to Shullsburg, we had to make our free throws and shots."
The Ponies shot 60 percent in the second half (12-for-20) and had an answer for every run the Comets made.
"I'm not worried about the standings," Albany coach Derik Doescher said. "If we don't get better and play better it won't matter. Monticello worked their tail off. They had several players who were out there on the court the whole game. They were the better basketball team tonight."
Doescher was disappointed in the team's defense and the 60 percent shooting the Ponies had in the second half.
"We can shoot lights-out the whole game and if we don't play defense it won't matter," Doescher said. "We weren't moving our feet on defense. We were reaching. We have to be able to get defensive stops. Unless you get stops, you won't beat a team like Monticello."
Albany senior Isaiah Shell scored a team-high 20 points and senior Mitchell Kauk scored 16 points and nine rebounds.
The Ponies were patient on offense and made some clutch shots in the second half. Crooks scored 11 points with two 3-pointers and made 5 of 6 free throws in the second half. Marty scored 11 points in the third quarter to spark the Ponies.
Monticello senior Forrest Havens scored six points and Logan Marty scored just two points, but had six rebounds.
"We got the shots we wanted, we took care of the ball and made plays," Monticello coach Mark Olson said. "We had guys step up and make shots."
Monticello plays eight games in 20 days including five conference games. The Ponies still have games at Albany Friday, Feb. 7, at Black Hawk Thursday, Feb. 13 and at Barneveld Tuesday, Feb. 18.
"It seems like every one of them is on the road," Olson said. "We have to win the home games and compete on the road."
