Boys' prep basketball notebook: unbeaten Monticello looks for more success

MONTICELLO - This is Tim Lambert's 13th year at Monticello. His team's next win will be its 13th.

"Don't jinx us," Lambert said, probably only half kidding.

You can't blame the coach for not wanting anything to screw up what has been a special season for his team. Monticello is 12-0, atop the Tri-Rivers Conference and ranked ninth in Class 2A.

That's the first time the Panthers have been rated in Lambert's tenure. He's not certain, but it might be the first time ever for the school.

"This team plays like a team," Lambert said. "Every practice, every game. They have totally bought into the team concept. They don't care who's scoring. They just want to win."

Which they have been doing. Their last five games have provided some impressive wins: over Tri-Rivers powers North Linn and Cascade, and 56-48 over Maquoketa a couple of weeks ago.

That's the only loss in their last seven games for the 3A Cardinals.

"It's good to be able to prove yourself like that," Lambert said.

Monti succeeds despite no real size. There's only one player listed at over 6-foot-2 on the roster, but Lambert said forward T.J. Rienets (who's listed at 6-3) is more like 6-2, and that's on a good day.

He leads the club with a 15.0 scoring average, shooting 59 percent from the field. Guard Isaac Wolf is next at 11.4 points per game, with guards Chance Manternach (9.0) and sophomore Sawyer Herman (8.0) close to double figures.

Monticello gives up just 36.8 points a game, so defense also is a strength.

"Total team," Lambert reiterated. "In today's world, you just don't see that very much anymore."

Around the hoop

- Mount Vernon suffered a signficant blow late last week when leading scorer Jake Timm had to undergo an emergency appendectomy. The son of head coach Ed Timm is expected to miss at least another couple of weeks before there's a possibility of getting back onto the floor.

Coach Timm said the family believed Jake simply had a bad case of the flu before deciding to take him to the hospital overnight last Thursday. His appendix was removed via laporoscopy, which gives him a chance to play again this season.

Jake Timm is averaging 15.3 points. Mount Vernon (10-3) has lost its two games in his absence, to Western Dubuque and Maquoketa.

"You can use this as a negative or a positive," Ed Timm said.