Monticello hands Anamosa a loss in its River Valley Conference debut

CEDAR RAPIDS — They're not just neighborhood rivals anymore. Now, there's more at stake.

'There sure is,' Monticello Coach Donnie Kremer said. 'It's even bigger now.'

Jordan Kuper scored 19 points, and Monticello spoiled Anamosa's River Valley Conference girls' basketball debut, 47-43, as part of Rivalry Saturday at Kohawk Arena.

'After losing 80 percent of our scoring (from a state-semfinalist team in 2018), I'd say we're doing pretty well,' said Kremer, whose Panthers moved to 2-0 overall, 2-0 in the RVC.

Same-size schools separated by about 10 miles on Highway 151 in Jones County, Monticello and Anamosa are long-time rivals. They were former mates in the Wamac, Big Bend and Tri-Rivers conferences, and are now reacquainted in the RVC after Anamosa moved over from the Wamac.

The Raiders (0-1, 0-1) were Wamac East Division champions last year.

A back-and-forth contest turned Monticello's way in the fourth quarter. The Panthers held Anamosa to one field goal in the final 6:50, and the Raiders missed 5 of 9 free throws in that ending stretch.

Maddie Fellinger's basket with 4:10 remaining put Monticello ahead for good, 43-41. It was still a one-possession game when Gabrielle Steiner got loose back door for the clinching layup.

Taylor Hinz led Anamosa with 11 points. Taylor Zumbach added 10. 

MONTICELLO 47, ANAMOSA 43

At Kohawk Arena

MONTICELLO (47): Tori McDonald 0 1-2 1, Maddie Fellinger 2 2-2 6, Sydney Hansen 3 2-5 8, Aspen Gillmore 0 0-0 0, Jordan Kuper 8 2-4 19, Gabrielle Steiner 3 0-2 6, Gabrielle Guilford 0 0-2 0, Karli Recker 1 0-0 3, Carly Hayen 1 2-3 4. Totals 18 9-20 47.

ANAMOSA (43): Taylor Hinz 3 2-4 11, Maggie McQuillen 3 3-5 9, Michaela Meade 2 0-0 4, Madalyn Heims 4 1-2 9, Taylor Zumbach 4 1-3 10, Alexa Jess 0 0-0 0, Kara Hunt 0 0-0 0, Grace Lubben 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 7-14 43.

Halftime: Anamosa 22, Monticello 18. 3-point goals: Monticello 2 (Recker, Kuper), Anamosa 4 (Hinz 3, Zumbach). Team fouls: Monticello 15, Anamosa 16. Fouled out: Hinz, Zumbach.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com