JUDA - Monticello senior Tyler Ritschard isn't a stranger to late game heroics.
The Juda boys basketball team shut down Ritschard for most of their Six Rivers Conference showdown Thursday night. The Panthers limited Ritschard to just two field goals in the first three quarters. However, Ritschard scored 11 of his game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Ponies to a hard fought 42-34 win over the Panthers.
"This game was a huge game for seeding," Juda coach Kyle Krueger said. "We at least came into the game with a shot at a No. 2. There was a lot on the line for them. I think we know Ritschard is a heck of a player. He's a special player. He makes excellent decisions with the ball."
Ritschard came up with a steal and scored on a layup at the end of the third quarter to give the Ponies (12-5, 7-1 Six Rivers East) a 27-22 lead.
"Juda was very patient on the offensive end," Monticello coach Mark Olson said. "They had long possessions burning the clock. Being able to get that steal and go up by five points took them out of that a little bit. That's why Tyler was able to score in the fourth quarter."
Olson understands that it was a critical win for the Ponies.
"It was a big game all around," Olson said. "With our regional being a conference tournament, the conference standings will probably decide the seeds. There was plenty on the line because of our place in the standings."
Juda junior Brandon Bauman scored 18 points to lead the Panthers (10-7, 6-3). Bauman hit a jumper late in the first quarter to give the Panthers an 8-6 lead. Monticello junior Lukas Kolasch, who scored 10 points, drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Ponies a 9-8 lead heading into the second quarter.
The second quarter was a see-saw affair with Juda sophomore Cody Suiter knocking down a 3-pointer with 5 minutes, 2 seconds left in the period to give the Ponies a 13-12 lead. Bauman then hit a couple of jumpers to give the Panthers a 17-14 lead.
"In the first half we were cold," Krueger said. "We shot about 35 percent. We didn't shoot the ball very well."
Bauman buried a 3-pointer with 5:34 left in the third quarter to give the Panthers a 22-18 lead. However, the Panthers couldn't make the lead stand. Ritschard was fouled shooting a 3-pointer and made three throws to cut the Panthers' lead to 22-21. Monticello senior Corey McGowan hit a clutch 3-pointer to give the Ponies a 25-22 lead.
"I think this was our best defensive game this year," Olson said. "It is our defense that kept us in the game."
The Juda boys basketball team shut down Ritschard for most of their Six Rivers Conference showdown Thursday night. The Panthers limited Ritschard to just two field goals in the first three quarters. However, Ritschard scored 11 of his game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Ponies to a hard fought 42-34 win over the Panthers.
"This game was a huge game for seeding," Juda coach Kyle Krueger said. "We at least came into the game with a shot at a No. 2. There was a lot on the line for them. I think we know Ritschard is a heck of a player. He's a special player. He makes excellent decisions with the ball."
Ritschard came up with a steal and scored on a layup at the end of the third quarter to give the Ponies (12-5, 7-1 Six Rivers East) a 27-22 lead.
"Juda was very patient on the offensive end," Monticello coach Mark Olson said. "They had long possessions burning the clock. Being able to get that steal and go up by five points took them out of that a little bit. That's why Tyler was able to score in the fourth quarter."
Olson understands that it was a critical win for the Ponies.
"It was a big game all around," Olson said. "With our regional being a conference tournament, the conference standings will probably decide the seeds. There was plenty on the line because of our place in the standings."
Juda junior Brandon Bauman scored 18 points to lead the Panthers (10-7, 6-3). Bauman hit a jumper late in the first quarter to give the Panthers an 8-6 lead. Monticello junior Lukas Kolasch, who scored 10 points, drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Ponies a 9-8 lead heading into the second quarter.
The second quarter was a see-saw affair with Juda sophomore Cody Suiter knocking down a 3-pointer with 5 minutes, 2 seconds left in the period to give the Ponies a 13-12 lead. Bauman then hit a couple of jumpers to give the Panthers a 17-14 lead.
"In the first half we were cold," Krueger said. "We shot about 35 percent. We didn't shoot the ball very well."
Bauman buried a 3-pointer with 5:34 left in the third quarter to give the Panthers a 22-18 lead. However, the Panthers couldn't make the lead stand. Ritschard was fouled shooting a 3-pointer and made three throws to cut the Panthers' lead to 22-21. Monticello senior Corey McGowan hit a clutch 3-pointer to give the Ponies a 25-22 lead.
"I think this was our best defensive game this year," Olson said. "It is our defense that kept us in the game."
