MONTICELLO –– Right after Monticello’s wrestling meet their basketball team hosted Middletown for a boys basketball game. With the stands packed with fans from both sides the game was intense and the crowd was lively. The young Monticello team had their work cut out for them against an experienced Middletown team. Middletown took an early 14 point lead and only widened it as the game went on. They were able to put up 79 points to Monticello’s 53 to take an on the road win. 

Middletown drew first blood with an early layup but Monticello fired back with two baskets of their own. Monticello was able to get consistent offensive rebounds allowing them multiple attempts at the basket but Middletown countered this with steals and forced turnovers. 

Using that in their favor Middletown was able to go on an 11 point run before Monticello answered with 3 minutes left in the first quarter. The Panthers were struggling to respond to Middletown’s pace and superb defense and the score reflected that. Middletown ended the quarter with a massive dunk to put them up 23-9.

Monticello started to build some momentum early in the second quarter with 2 back to back baskets. But Middletown swiftly shut that down and answered with 2 shots of their own. Middletown started a full court press halfway through the second quarter that Coach Russo acknowledged “really threw us off our game and they were great at taking a turnover and converting it into points.” What followed was an intense back and forth with aggressive play and hustle from both teams. However Middletown was able to find the basket more consistently. Monticello didn’t give up and went on a 10 point run to end the quarter down 38-25. 

Middletown really turned up the heat in the third quarter and opened with a 14 point run and held the Panthers to only three points.  It was the beginning of the end for Monticello as Middletown pulled definitively ahead with the score at 64-38 going into the final quarter. 

In the final quarter both teams struggled to sink a shot early on and Middletown picked up 4 early fouls. Middletown started to find a rhythm with a short 6 point run before Monticello answered with 2 baskets of their own. By the final two minutes Middletown had a +20 point lead over Monticello but even with hope dwindling Monticello still finished the game strong but Middletown would close out the game with a huge win over the Panthers. 

Monticello Coach Chris Russo commented after the game, “it was a rough game but there were some bright spots. We did a few things well on both sides of the court but we were a little overmatched.    

It was a tough way to start the season but you have to play good teams to be a good team. We want to continue to improve since we are a young team with only 4 returning players. We have a lot to learn and mesh together still but I’m excited for the rest of the season.