By Liz Keller / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
PALMYRA — Patience is a virtue and with that purpose in mind, the Monticello girls basketball team set out on a diligent quest Thursday night against Fluvanna County and consistently played to its strengths.
The visiting Mustangs made adept passes, timely stops on defense and used their size to their advantage and conquered the Flucos 59-50.
“When we’re patient and work the ball on the offensive end and get it inside then we can really use that size,” Monticello coach Josh McEhleny said. “We have to find a good balance of being able to defend on one end and use them on offense on the other. It’s something we’ve talked about and worked on. Every once in a while we look pretty good at it.”
Monticello (15-2) was able to work the ball inside to its senior post players throughout the game. Molly Shephard was especially effective in the first half, helping the visitors extend their lead to 38-22 by halftime. Shephard scored 14 of her game-high 18 in the first half with the help of crisp passes from her teammates Kiana Scott and Regan Roberts.
The Flucos (9-10) came out in the third quarter with a renewed intensity, trimming the lead to single digits as they went on a 7-0 scoring run. Fluvanna, playing with a much smaller lineup, got a boost from Kate Stutz, who scored a pair of baskets during the stretch. The Flucos were also able to take advantage of several Monticello turnovers and get to the free-throw line.
“We told them they had to make some adjustments with our energy and things like that,” Fluvanna coach Chad White said. “[We wanted them to] really push the ball and try to get some easy buckets. It’s hard — [Monticello is] too long, they’re too big — so we had to get some easy buckets from our press or in transition and they did a good job of that in the third quarter.”
The Flucos cut the deficit to six early in the fourth on a 3-pointer by Tamara Lewis, but the Mustangs responded quickly. Meghan Comer immediately made an easy layup and was fouled on the other end. The senior sharpshooter made the ensuing free throw to convert a three-point play of her own and Monticello never looked back.
Roberts was equally efficient underneath the basket, finishing with 16 points, many of which came on dishes from Shephard.
“[Molly] and Regan work really well together so it makes so you can’t focus on one or the other,” added McElheny. “When you try to stop one, they give it to the other one. They like to share the ball and it opens things up with Meghan …. When we’re doing it right, we’re pretty good because we’re tough to guard with all of them.”
Shephard tallied nine rebounds and four assists and Roberts had four assists. Comer added a quiet 11 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, Kiana Scott finished with eight points and four assists.
Kiana Childress contributed a team-high 14 points for Fluvanna and Stutz added eight.
Fluvanna travels to Western Albemarle Friday, while Monticello visits Powhatan.
