Post Messenger Recorder -

The Monticello Ponies hosted the Belmont Braves on December 15th. Monticello went into halftime with an 11-point lead and did not let up on their intensity in the second half. The Ponies won the game, 62-41.

The Ponies jumped out to a 15-3 lead in the first 6 minutes of the game. With less than 10 minutes left in the second half, and leading 41-33, Monticello went on a 14-2 run to put the win out of reach for Belmont.

Coach Mark Olson said, “Belmont was a physical team with length.”

Leading Monticello with 24 points and 8 rebounds was Peter Gustafson, while Tristin Flanagan scored 16 points and had 7 rebounds, Owen Ace scored 6 points and Lucas Heiser pulled down 8 rebounds.

On December 17th, Monticello played at Argyle. With a double digit lead over the Orioles at the half, the Ponies went on to win the game. The final score was Monticello 54, Argyle 35.

The game was tied early on when the Ponies went on a 23-9 run to close out the first half. Monticello led by 26 points at one point in the second half and the closest the Orioles could get for the rest of the game was 14 points.

“Argyle did a nice job of slowing down our transition game,” commented Coach Olson.

With 23 points and 9 rebounds, Peter Gustafson led the Ponies in scoring. Owen Ace scored 13 points and had 8 rebounds and Tristin Flanagan scored 6 points and had 10 rebounds.

On December 21st, Monticello hosted Randolph. They will play at Deerfield on December 29th and host Barneveld on January 5th.