Monticello Boys Have Winning Week

The Monticello Ponies boys basketball team played at Belmont on December 19th, beating the home team 72-38.
The Ponies were down in the first half until Reece Rufer scored and then Braden Gafner went on an 8-2 run which included two 3-point shots and a 2-pointer, to give Monticello a 14-7 lead. In the last six minutes of the first, the Ponies went on a 12-0 run and were ahead by 19 at halftime.
The Ponies kept up the pressure in the second and everyone on the roster got a chance to play. Monticello outscored Belmont in the second 39-24 to win the game.
“We did a nice job of using our height advantage and used that to get our shooters open,” commented Coach Mark Olson.
Reece Rufer poured in 17 points to lead the Ponies and had 10 rebounds. Jon Errthum put 13 points on the board and pulled down seven rebounds. Braden Gafner scored 12 points, while Simon Blohowiak pulled down five rebounds.
On December 21st, the Ponies hosted Palmyra-Eagle. After a second half scare when Palmyra-Eagle took the lead for a short time, the Ponies came back after Jeffery Ace sunk a 3-pointer to tie the game and the Ponies then added three more baskets and a free throw to go up 55-48 with less than 2 minutes to go. Monticello stretched the lead to 61-50 in the last minute and a half putting up six free throws and won the game. The final score was Monticello, 61, Palmyra-Eagle 52.
Travis McCoy led the Ponies with 15 points. Reece Rufer had 14 points and five rebounds, Jeffery Ace scored 12 points and Simon Blohowiak scored 10 points, while Jon Errthum pulled down 11 rebounds. The Ponies were 22 for 37 from the free throw line.
“Against a very physical Palmyra-Eagle team, I was very happy with how we handled their pressure and finished late in a close game,” said Olson.
The Ponies head to the Holiday Tournament at Cambridge on December 28th. Monticello will play Cambridge in the first game, with Dousman and Milwaukee Salam playing in the second game. The winners will play for the tournament championship while the losing teams will play for the consolation championship. The Ponies play at Barneveld on January 5th.