MONTICELLO - There weren't many die-hard basketball fans that predicted the Monticello boys basketball team would be a contender in the Six Rivers East Conference before the season tipped off.
Monticello senior Lucas Marty scored 15 points and had eight rebounds and junior Ben May added 15 points to power the Ponies to a 59-43 win over No. 6 ranked Black Hawk Friday.
"We definitely used no one giving us a chance to win the conference as motivation," Marty said. "We are playing with a chip on our shoulder this year. It feels great especially after we lost to Pec and people started doubting us."
It was by far more than just a two-man show for the Ponies, which improved to 5-3, 2-1 Six Rivers East. The Ponies went on a 12-0 run late in the third quarter. Monticello senior Brent Klitzke drilled a 3-pointer and Marty came up with a steal and layup to give the Ponies a 34-29 lead. May then knocked down a 3-pointer to extend the Ponies' lead to 37-29. May then converted a conventional three-point play with 3:36 to go in the third quarter to give the Ponies a 10-point lead.
Every time it appeared the Warriors (7-2, 3-1) would make a run, the Ponies responded. Monticello senior Logan Crooks hit a 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter. Marty hit a jumper and Klitzke scored on a layup to give the Ponies a 52-39 lead with 6:32 left in the fourth quarter. Crooks scored 12 points and Klitzke and Logan Marty each added seven points.
"It's a wake-up call and a reality check," Black Hawk coach Corey Manlick said. "They wanted it more than we did. We have to find out if we are conference contenders or pretenders."
Monticello coach Mark Olson liked the way his team competed against one of the top teams in the conference.
"I feel like we have been building towards being a tough and competitive team," Olson said. "Tonight we played with some toughness. We knew that is what it would take because they (Black Hawk) are a really strong and physical team."
Despite a much bigger team featuring the 6-foot-4 Heath Butler and 6-6 Bret Paulson, the Warriors struggled to take advantage of their size. Manlick could tell the Warriors were falling in love with the 3-point shot.
"We relied on the 3-ball way too much," he said. "In the second half when we got the ball into Shawn Woodruff a couple of times he scored. In the second half, we were forcing the 3 and it's not something we can be doing."
Heath Butler scored a team-high 13 points and his brother, Seth Butler added 10 points. Black Hawk senior Brady Meythaler chipped in eight points.
Early on, the game had the makings of one that could go down to the wire. Black Hawk senior Seth Butler drilled a 3-pointer in the first quarter to help the Warriors jump out to a 9-5 lead. Marty scored on a putback at the end of the period to slice the Warriors' lead to 12-9.
Black Hawk senior Tyler Peterson scored on a layup with 5:06 left in the second quarter to give the Warriors' an 18-11. The largest lead for the Warriors didn't last long. Crooks knocked down a 3-pointer and May hit a 3-pointer at the end of the second quarter to tie the game at 23 at the half. The Ponies made seven 3-pointers led by May who hit three.
"We know we have to beat Black Hawk and Albany on our home court," May said. "I think this game showed that as long as we put our heart into it we can compete with anyone in the conference."
The first part of the third quarter was back and forth as each team tried to wrestle away some momentum. May and Marty each scored on layups to start the period to give the Ponies a 27-23 lead. The Warriors answered with Heath Butler hitting two 3-pointers to give the Warriors a 29-27 lead. That is when the Ponies seized control with a 12-0 surge in a three-minute span.
"Crooks is quick, but our defense broke down," Manlick said. "I'm not taking anything away from Monticello. We are much better defensively than we played tonight."
Monticello will host Barneveld on Tuesday, Jan. 14 and Black Hawk will host Albany.
"We will have to play at the same level of intensity as we did tonight," Olson said. "They are a good team. It will always be a battle the next time we step on the court. I think our conference is competitive top to bottom. It will never be easy."
Monticello senior Lucas Marty scored 15 points and had eight rebounds and junior Ben May added 15 points to power the Ponies to a 59-43 win over No. 6 ranked Black Hawk Friday.
"We definitely used no one giving us a chance to win the conference as motivation," Marty said. "We are playing with a chip on our shoulder this year. It feels great especially after we lost to Pec and people started doubting us."
It was by far more than just a two-man show for the Ponies, which improved to 5-3, 2-1 Six Rivers East. The Ponies went on a 12-0 run late in the third quarter. Monticello senior Brent Klitzke drilled a 3-pointer and Marty came up with a steal and layup to give the Ponies a 34-29 lead. May then knocked down a 3-pointer to extend the Ponies' lead to 37-29. May then converted a conventional three-point play with 3:36 to go in the third quarter to give the Ponies a 10-point lead.
Every time it appeared the Warriors (7-2, 3-1) would make a run, the Ponies responded. Monticello senior Logan Crooks hit a 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter. Marty hit a jumper and Klitzke scored on a layup to give the Ponies a 52-39 lead with 6:32 left in the fourth quarter. Crooks scored 12 points and Klitzke and Logan Marty each added seven points.
"It's a wake-up call and a reality check," Black Hawk coach Corey Manlick said. "They wanted it more than we did. We have to find out if we are conference contenders or pretenders."
Monticello coach Mark Olson liked the way his team competed against one of the top teams in the conference.
"I feel like we have been building towards being a tough and competitive team," Olson said. "Tonight we played with some toughness. We knew that is what it would take because they (Black Hawk) are a really strong and physical team."
Despite a much bigger team featuring the 6-foot-4 Heath Butler and 6-6 Bret Paulson, the Warriors struggled to take advantage of their size. Manlick could tell the Warriors were falling in love with the 3-point shot.
"We relied on the 3-ball way too much," he said. "In the second half when we got the ball into Shawn Woodruff a couple of times he scored. In the second half, we were forcing the 3 and it's not something we can be doing."
Heath Butler scored a team-high 13 points and his brother, Seth Butler added 10 points. Black Hawk senior Brady Meythaler chipped in eight points.
Early on, the game had the makings of one that could go down to the wire. Black Hawk senior Seth Butler drilled a 3-pointer in the first quarter to help the Warriors jump out to a 9-5 lead. Marty scored on a putback at the end of the period to slice the Warriors' lead to 12-9.
Black Hawk senior Tyler Peterson scored on a layup with 5:06 left in the second quarter to give the Warriors' an 18-11. The largest lead for the Warriors didn't last long. Crooks knocked down a 3-pointer and May hit a 3-pointer at the end of the second quarter to tie the game at 23 at the half. The Ponies made seven 3-pointers led by May who hit three.
"We know we have to beat Black Hawk and Albany on our home court," May said. "I think this game showed that as long as we put our heart into it we can compete with anyone in the conference."
The first part of the third quarter was back and forth as each team tried to wrestle away some momentum. May and Marty each scored on layups to start the period to give the Ponies a 27-23 lead. The Warriors answered with Heath Butler hitting two 3-pointers to give the Warriors a 29-27 lead. That is when the Ponies seized control with a 12-0 surge in a three-minute span.
"Crooks is quick, but our defense broke down," Manlick said. "I'm not taking anything away from Monticello. We are much better defensively than we played tonight."
Monticello will host Barneveld on Tuesday, Jan. 14 and Black Hawk will host Albany.
"We will have to play at the same level of intensity as we did tonight," Olson said. "They are a good team. It will always be a battle the next time we step on the court. I think our conference is competitive top to bottom. It will never be easy."
