CAMBRIDGE - Monticello senior Bryce Klitzke delivered in the clutch leading the Ponies to a 63-61 overtime win over Clinton in the championship game of the Cambridge tournament Saturday.
Klitzke scored 24 points and hit a fallaway 3-pointer with 0.2 seconds to go in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 58 to send it to overtime. Klitzke then ended up making the game-winning shot with 7 seconds left in the extra session. Klitzke, who averaged 23 points in the tournament, was named the MVP.
"Those MVP votes were in by halftime of our game," Monticello coach Mark Olson said. "He earned that MVP for his play throughout the tournament. It just shows how valuable he was with those clutch shots he made at the end."
Monticello (10-1, 3-1 Six Rivers East) may develop even more momentum as a team after the win.
"I don't know if it was the biggest win," Olson said. "It was certainly was good for our confidence and seeding purposes."
Monticello senior Jesse Halvorsen was named the defensive player of the tournament. Halvorsen had the challenge of guarding Clinton's Cody Risseeuw, who scored 21 points.
"It was nice for him to get recognized," Olson said of Halvorsen. "He made him (Risseeuw) work hard for every point he got."
Monticello sophomore Ben May scored a game-high 26 points and junior Lucas Marty added 10.
The Cougars jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first quarter and led by 12 points in the second before the Ponies found their rhythm.
"We gave up 23 points in the first quarter," Olson said. "Their size was something we were not used to. After the first quarter we adjusted to their size."
The Ponies went on a 7-0 run late in the second quarter to cut the Cougars' lead to 31-26.
The Ponies went on a 12-2 run in the third quarter before the Cougars stormed back.
"It was good to see us fight back and find a way to win," he said.
Albany 45, Orangeville 44
ALBANY - The Comets survived a scare in the final seconds to knock off Orangeville 45-44.
Albany junior Isaiah Shell made 1 of 2 free throws with 7 seconds to go in the fourth quarter to give the Comets a one-point lead. Orangeville's Tanner Kleckler pushed the ball up the court and a pas went off Albany junior Mitchell Kauk's hands and hit the backboard. The Broncos had a layup that curled out. The Broncos scored on a putback; referees waved off the basket since time had expired.
The Comets only had six players since Tyler Van Dusen is still overcoming a dislocated knee and another player was on vacation.
With the win, Albany improves to 2-7, 0-4 Six Rivers East.
"It was a good win," Albany coach Derik Doescher said. "We talked before the game about how it's a new year and season. We had to get to 1-0. Then we will worry about 2-0."
Shell scored a team-high 18 points for the Comets and freshman Tyler Dahl scored 13 points. Dahl scored nine of his points in the second half and hit a clutch 3-pointer.
"We needed someone to step up," Doescher said. "For a freshman to do that in a tight game, it was really good. Tyler took it upon himself."
Klitzke scored 24 points and hit a fallaway 3-pointer with 0.2 seconds to go in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 58 to send it to overtime. Klitzke then ended up making the game-winning shot with 7 seconds left in the extra session. Klitzke, who averaged 23 points in the tournament, was named the MVP.
"Those MVP votes were in by halftime of our game," Monticello coach Mark Olson said. "He earned that MVP for his play throughout the tournament. It just shows how valuable he was with those clutch shots he made at the end."
Monticello (10-1, 3-1 Six Rivers East) may develop even more momentum as a team after the win.
"I don't know if it was the biggest win," Olson said. "It was certainly was good for our confidence and seeding purposes."
Monticello senior Jesse Halvorsen was named the defensive player of the tournament. Halvorsen had the challenge of guarding Clinton's Cody Risseeuw, who scored 21 points.
"It was nice for him to get recognized," Olson said of Halvorsen. "He made him (Risseeuw) work hard for every point he got."
Monticello sophomore Ben May scored a game-high 26 points and junior Lucas Marty added 10.
The Cougars jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first quarter and led by 12 points in the second before the Ponies found their rhythm.
"We gave up 23 points in the first quarter," Olson said. "Their size was something we were not used to. After the first quarter we adjusted to their size."
The Ponies went on a 7-0 run late in the second quarter to cut the Cougars' lead to 31-26.
The Ponies went on a 12-2 run in the third quarter before the Cougars stormed back.
"It was good to see us fight back and find a way to win," he said.
Albany 45, Orangeville 44
ALBANY - The Comets survived a scare in the final seconds to knock off Orangeville 45-44.
Albany junior Isaiah Shell made 1 of 2 free throws with 7 seconds to go in the fourth quarter to give the Comets a one-point lead. Orangeville's Tanner Kleckler pushed the ball up the court and a pas went off Albany junior Mitchell Kauk's hands and hit the backboard. The Broncos had a layup that curled out. The Broncos scored on a putback; referees waved off the basket since time had expired.
The Comets only had six players since Tyler Van Dusen is still overcoming a dislocated knee and another player was on vacation.
With the win, Albany improves to 2-7, 0-4 Six Rivers East.
"It was a good win," Albany coach Derik Doescher said. "We talked before the game about how it's a new year and season. We had to get to 1-0. Then we will worry about 2-0."
Shell scored a team-high 18 points for the Comets and freshman Tyler Dahl scored 13 points. Dahl scored nine of his points in the second half and hit a clutch 3-pointer.
"We needed someone to step up," Doescher said. "For a freshman to do that in a tight game, it was really good. Tyler took it upon himself."
