MONTICELLO - The Monticello girls basketball team was playing its third game in five days, and Ponies coach Lori Brokopp didn't know what to expect against Orfordville Parkview Monday night.
"I didn't know where our legs would be," Brokopp said. "We didn't know what to expect from Parkview. I just told them 'come out and take it to them and don't hold back.'"
Monticello (3-1) got the message, and raced out to a 12-point first quarter lead en route to a 49-27 win over Parkview. Monticello sophomore Jordan Garrison scored on a couple of layups and the Ponies bottled up the Vikings on defense to take a 18-6 first quarter lead. Monticello junior Marissa Berg scored a team-high 13 points.
"We came out and played with intensity and played great," Berg said. "It was our first home game, and it was exciting to get the win."
Senior Amy Silver scored eight points, Garrison added seven points, sophomore Alyssah Kubly had six points and sophomore Courtney Leuzinger chipped in five.
"Whenever you can get nine people to score, you know they are sharing the ball well and looking for each other," Brokopp said. "They are unselfish. They just want to come out here win the game and get it done."
The Ponies closed the second quarter with an 8-0 run. Silver scored on a putback about midway through the second quarter to give the Ponies an insurmountable 24-13 lead. Leuzinger scored down low and senior Katie Nelson scored on a layup late in the second to give the Ponies a 28-13 halftime lead. Brokopp was pleased to see her team limit the Vikings to just 27 points.
"We stepped up on defense," she said. "It's something we will pride ourselves on this season and allow our defense to create some offense."
The Ponies went on a 10-2 run in the third quarter to seal the victory. Garrison scored on a drive to the basket, and Paige Dilley scored on a layup to help the Ponies take a 34-16 lead. Leuzinger knocked down a jumper to extend the Ponies' lead to 36-16 about midway through the third.
The Vikings switched to a 2-3 zone to try to slow down the Ponies. Parkview junior Taytum Markee drilled a jumper with 5:18 to go, to slice the Ponies' lead to 38-25, but that is as close as they would get.
After a couple of empty possessions in the fourth quarter, the Ponies attacked the zone and Berg hit a jumper, and Kubly added two free throws to extend the lead to 22 points.
"We had a few turnovers, but I think we adjusted to how they were playing us," Brokopp said. "They moved really well. They found the openings, and we converted."
Brokopp praised Berg for her ability to play a team game.
"I think she knows what it is like to get to the basket," Brokopp said of Berg. "She moves really well away from the ball. She's a good leader. You don't get a lot of emotion from her, whether she is up or down. She just has that game face all the time. I think it helps the rest of the girls too."
Berg is looking forward to the conference part of the schedule.
"I think we are doing a great job of playing as a team," Berg said. "As far as conference goes, it will be pretty intense. There are a lot of good teams in our conference. We should do well if we keep playing like we have been playing. We have to keep playing with intensity from the beginning throughout the game in every game we play."
"I didn't know where our legs would be," Brokopp said. "We didn't know what to expect from Parkview. I just told them 'come out and take it to them and don't hold back.'"
Monticello (3-1) got the message, and raced out to a 12-point first quarter lead en route to a 49-27 win over Parkview. Monticello sophomore Jordan Garrison scored on a couple of layups and the Ponies bottled up the Vikings on defense to take a 18-6 first quarter lead. Monticello junior Marissa Berg scored a team-high 13 points.
"We came out and played with intensity and played great," Berg said. "It was our first home game, and it was exciting to get the win."
Senior Amy Silver scored eight points, Garrison added seven points, sophomore Alyssah Kubly had six points and sophomore Courtney Leuzinger chipped in five.
"Whenever you can get nine people to score, you know they are sharing the ball well and looking for each other," Brokopp said. "They are unselfish. They just want to come out here win the game and get it done."
The Ponies closed the second quarter with an 8-0 run. Silver scored on a putback about midway through the second quarter to give the Ponies an insurmountable 24-13 lead. Leuzinger scored down low and senior Katie Nelson scored on a layup late in the second to give the Ponies a 28-13 halftime lead. Brokopp was pleased to see her team limit the Vikings to just 27 points.
"We stepped up on defense," she said. "It's something we will pride ourselves on this season and allow our defense to create some offense."
The Ponies went on a 10-2 run in the third quarter to seal the victory. Garrison scored on a drive to the basket, and Paige Dilley scored on a layup to help the Ponies take a 34-16 lead. Leuzinger knocked down a jumper to extend the Ponies' lead to 36-16 about midway through the third.
The Vikings switched to a 2-3 zone to try to slow down the Ponies. Parkview junior Taytum Markee drilled a jumper with 5:18 to go, to slice the Ponies' lead to 38-25, but that is as close as they would get.
After a couple of empty possessions in the fourth quarter, the Ponies attacked the zone and Berg hit a jumper, and Kubly added two free throws to extend the lead to 22 points.
"We had a few turnovers, but I think we adjusted to how they were playing us," Brokopp said. "They moved really well. They found the openings, and we converted."
Brokopp praised Berg for her ability to play a team game.
"I think she knows what it is like to get to the basket," Brokopp said of Berg. "She moves really well away from the ball. She's a good leader. You don't get a lot of emotion from her, whether she is up or down. She just has that game face all the time. I think it helps the rest of the girls too."
Berg is looking forward to the conference part of the schedule.
"I think we are doing a great job of playing as a team," Berg said. "As far as conference goes, it will be pretty intense. There are a lot of good teams in our conference. We should do well if we keep playing like we have been playing. We have to keep playing with intensity from the beginning throughout the game in every game we play."
