MONTICELLO - The Ponies picked a good time to put together a strong second half.
After losing to Division 3 New Glarus and Division 2 Brodhead by a combined 14 points, Division 4 Monticello upset undefeated Wisconsin Heights (D-3) Monday, 62-52.
"(Wisconsin Heights) came in undefeated and we knew we had to make some noise in non-conference for seeding," head coach Mark Olson said.
Monticello's defensive pressure helped early in the game, leading to transition points. By the end of the half, the defense was spread out and players started reaching, putting the Ponies into foul trouble. At halftime, trailing 27-22, Olson had his players tighten up the defense.
"I was not real happy with our halfcourt defense in the first half," Olson said. "We were doing things that we normally don't do. I told the guys that we needed to work harder and they did."
The Vanguards (4-1) couldn't get back into the game offensively in the first few minutes of the third, after the Ponies jumped out to a 33-31 lead. In the second half, Monticello outscored the Vanguards 40-25, thanks in large part to the 3-pointer.
The Ponies knocked down three 3s in the third, sparking the offense. In the fourth, Monticello took over at the free throw line, using a belated Christmas gift from Wisconsin Heights - 21 trips to the charity stripe. The Ponies knocked down 17 to seal the win.
"The 3 is definitely a part of our game. We don't want to shoot it too much, but it is there when we need it," Olson said.
The game was far different in the first half. Monticello got it going early, jumping out to a 12-7 lead off of three team assists and a 3 by Corey McGowan. However, by the end of the first, Wisconsin Heights pulled itself back into the game and trailed just 14-13.
"We realized that (Wisconsin Heights) is not as quick as us, so we wanted to spread them out and drive the lane," Jacob Marty said, who scored a game-high 19 points. Marty also was 5 of 6 from the free throw line in the fourth.
In the second, the Vanguards took control of the game. Over the course of the first five minutes of the frame, Wisconsin Heights outscored Monticello 10-2. The Ponies' defense was spreading out, and loose coverage on the ball allowed for easy baskets by Wisconsin Heights.
Foul trouble may have had a part in how tight Monticello played defense.
"I looked up at the scoreboard and was kind of scared because there were some really key players that were getting in foul trouble and had to sit. But a lot of guys stepped up tonight," Marty said.
One of those players was junior guard Tyler Ritschard.
"Those fouls actually helped me. Sometimes I get too greedy and I reach. When I get two fouls I lay back a little bit and play better defense," he said after picking up two early fouls. Ritschard finished with 17 points. He was 9-for-12 from the free throw line.
Tyler Meier scored seven points before fouling out and Lukas Kolasch added six points. There were 48 fouls called in the game, 20 of which came in the fourth quarter.
Monticello (5-2) next plays at Belmont Jan. 5.
After losing to Division 3 New Glarus and Division 2 Brodhead by a combined 14 points, Division 4 Monticello upset undefeated Wisconsin Heights (D-3) Monday, 62-52.
"(Wisconsin Heights) came in undefeated and we knew we had to make some noise in non-conference for seeding," head coach Mark Olson said.
Monticello's defensive pressure helped early in the game, leading to transition points. By the end of the half, the defense was spread out and players started reaching, putting the Ponies into foul trouble. At halftime, trailing 27-22, Olson had his players tighten up the defense.
"I was not real happy with our halfcourt defense in the first half," Olson said. "We were doing things that we normally don't do. I told the guys that we needed to work harder and they did."
The Vanguards (4-1) couldn't get back into the game offensively in the first few minutes of the third, after the Ponies jumped out to a 33-31 lead. In the second half, Monticello outscored the Vanguards 40-25, thanks in large part to the 3-pointer.
The Ponies knocked down three 3s in the third, sparking the offense. In the fourth, Monticello took over at the free throw line, using a belated Christmas gift from Wisconsin Heights - 21 trips to the charity stripe. The Ponies knocked down 17 to seal the win.
"The 3 is definitely a part of our game. We don't want to shoot it too much, but it is there when we need it," Olson said.
The game was far different in the first half. Monticello got it going early, jumping out to a 12-7 lead off of three team assists and a 3 by Corey McGowan. However, by the end of the first, Wisconsin Heights pulled itself back into the game and trailed just 14-13.
"We realized that (Wisconsin Heights) is not as quick as us, so we wanted to spread them out and drive the lane," Jacob Marty said, who scored a game-high 19 points. Marty also was 5 of 6 from the free throw line in the fourth.
In the second, the Vanguards took control of the game. Over the course of the first five minutes of the frame, Wisconsin Heights outscored Monticello 10-2. The Ponies' defense was spreading out, and loose coverage on the ball allowed for easy baskets by Wisconsin Heights.
Foul trouble may have had a part in how tight Monticello played defense.
"I looked up at the scoreboard and was kind of scared because there were some really key players that were getting in foul trouble and had to sit. But a lot of guys stepped up tonight," Marty said.
One of those players was junior guard Tyler Ritschard.
"Those fouls actually helped me. Sometimes I get too greedy and I reach. When I get two fouls I lay back a little bit and play better defense," he said after picking up two early fouls. Ritschard finished with 17 points. He was 9-for-12 from the free throw line.
Tyler Meier scored seven points before fouling out and Lukas Kolasch added six points. There were 48 fouls called in the game, 20 of which came in the fourth quarter.
Monticello (5-2) next plays at Belmont Jan. 5.
