Post Messenger Recorder -

On January 25th, the Monticello Ponies boys varsity basketball team played at Cambridge. Only trailing by 5 at the halftime break, 23-28, Monticello lost some steam in the second half and ultimately lost. The final score was Cambridge 71, Monticello 43.

In the first 4 minutes of the game, Cambridge jumped out to a 9-0 lead, but Monticello went on a 12-2 run to take the lead with less than 10 minutes left in the first half. Cambridge closed out the half with a 17-11 run to take over the lead. Cambridge came out to start the second half with a 9-3 run to take the lead and Monticello could get no closer than 9 points for the rest of the game. Cambridge finished the game with a 29-12 run to win it.

Leading the Ponies with 13 points was Jackson Eyler, who also had 7 rebounds. Evan Guenther scored 9 points, and Logan Bauman and Brayden Ryan each scored 5 points. Ryer Indergand and Seth Culberson both pulled down 5 rebounds.

On January 27th, the Ponies hosted the Black Hawk Warriors. Monticello led by 7 at the half, and the Ponies went on a scoring frenzy in the second half, putting 42 points on the board, to win the game, 70-49.

Neither team held more than a 5-point lead in the first half until Black Hawk took over the lead with less than 5 minutes left in the half. Monticello then went on a 12-4 run to close out the half with the lead.

Monticello led early on in the second half, and then went on a 12-0 run to go up by 21 with 8 minutes left in the game. Black Hawk tried to mount a comeback, but the Ponies went 9 for 18 from beyond the arc and made 25 out of 43 free throw shots.

Evan Guenther led the Ponies with 23 points, while Ryer Indergand scored 17 points, Jackson Eyler put 12 points on the board and pulled down 7 rebounds, Kade Ace scored 8 points and had 6 rebounds, and Brayden Ryan had 3 rebounds.

The Ponies played at Pecatonica on February 1st. Down by 4 at the half, the Ponies stepped up on offense in the second half to win the game. The final score was Monticello 58, Pecatonica 52.

Monticello’s only lead in the first half was by 2 points, and the Vikings took the lead early on. The Ponies were never down by more than 6 points, however, and with 10 minutes left in the second half, they tied it up and then had a 1-point lead with 1 minute left. The Vikings were forced to foul and the Ponies made 5 free throws to win it, with Evan Guenther making 4 out of his 6 free throw attempts in the last minute of the game.

Jackson Eyler led the Ponies with 15 points and he had 9 rebounds. Ryer Indergand scored 13 points and had 5 rebounds, and Seth Culberson scored 12 points. Brayden Ryan pulled down 8 rebounds, while Kade Ace had 5.

On February 4th, Monticello played River Ridge at Patch Grove in a Six Rivers Conference Crossover Challenge. Down 22-36 at the half, the Ponies went on to lose this game. The final score was River Ridge 75, Monticello 50.

River Ridge scored the first 12 points in the game and the Ponies outscored the Timberwolves 19-16 to bring the deficit to 14 at the half. Despite Monticello’s 8-0 run in the middle of the second half, River Ridge had 7 players score to maintain their lead and win the game.

Brayden Ryan and Kade Ace both scored 9 points to lead the Ponies, with Ace pulling down 8 rebounds. Ryer Indergand and Evan Guenther each scored 8 points and Jackson Eyler had 7 points. Eyler also had 7 rebounds and Logan Bauman had 4.

Monticello plays at Argyle on February 10th, hosts Barneveld on February 15th and will play at Juda on February 18th.