After 14 years, it’s finally banner time for Monticello High’s girls basketball team.
The Mustangs rallied from an 9-point deficit at halftime to storm back and knock off Charlottesville in the Jefferson District final 57-54 Friday night, earning the school’s first ever district championship, and, in turn a banner for the school’s gym representing the program.
“It’s great seeing how each team we got better and we got close,” said Monticello’s Bridget Holleran. “This year we wanted it so bad — we wanted a banner.”
The program’s transformation from a low-point just a few years back came to a head in the second half against the Black Knights, with the Mustangs calmly chipping away at the lead without getting out of the offensive system or panicking. Instead, Monticello stepped up the defensive pressure with a press that gave Charlottesville’s guards fits.
“We kept battling and I told them at halftime get it close because we know we can finish,” said Monticello coach Josh McElheny.
They did just that.
Holleran exploded for 24 points to lead the Mustangs, overcoming a second quarter lull by attacking the basket relentlessly and, in turn, getting to the free-throw line. She finished 10-for-13 from the charity stripe and scored 11 points in the fourth quarter alone.
Holleran hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 50-50 late in the fourth, but Charlottesville refused to go away easily and eventually had a shot to tie the game with the Mustangs up 56-54.
But a Meghan Comer steal on a CHS drive all but sealed the victory. The freshman has shown uncommon poise during key situations over the last two games, never getting rattled in the closing minutes and coming up with key plays on the defensive end.
“She had a tough shooting night but down the stretch, she got loose balls, she got rebounds, she got the late steal,” McElheny said. “She’s just a freshman doing what she has to do to win.”
Charlottesville’s brilliant first half that gave them the 9-point edge at the break gave way to a disjointed second half. The Black Knights couldn’t find much of an offensive rhythm especially as the game tightened up during the fourth quarter.
“We were really impatient on offense … it looked like it was one or two passes and then a jack-up,” said Charlottesville coach Dee Mitchelson. “We didn’t attack the basket like we did in the first half.”
Monique Perkins finished with 18 for the Black Knights while Nia Johnson had 10 on the night.
Molly Shepherd had 10 for the Mustangs — she was the only Monticello scorer outside Holleran to reach double digits.
Monticello will host a Region II playoff quarterfinal as the tournament’s third seed Tuesday night against John Handley. Charlottesville also advances to Region II play, opponent and game time was unavailable Friday night.
