Rivalry Saturday 2024: Williamsburg 53, Monticello 47

CEDAR RAPIDS — With most of a 20-point lead evaporated, Class 3A 10th-ranked Williamsburg needed an answer.

Carly Rich provided it. Twice.

Rich drained a pair of much-needed 3-pointers within a half-minute in the fourth quarter to keep No. 4 Monticello at bay, and the Raiders held on, 53-47, in the Rivalry Saturday lid-lifter at Johnson Hall.

“If anybody was going to take that shot, I wanted it to be me,” said Rich, who led the Raiders (1-0) with 20 points. “I’m a senior now, and I don’t want to have any fear.”

With a 9 a.m. tip, Williamsburg was earliest to rise. The Raiders scored the first eight points, enjoyed a 42-22 advantage midway through the third quarter, then held on for dear life.

Monticello (0-2) got within 43-41 on Kennedy Hermsen’s basket with 4:00 to go.

But Rich struck from outside to make it 46-41, then hit another to send the advantage to 49-43. Her steal and two free throws with 0:03 remaining sealed the outcome.

“We practiced at 8 a.m. (Friday), and it was what you’d expect the day after practice,” Williamsburg Coach Stephanie Dacey said. “But we came out strong today, and I was super happy with our press.”

Zoe Allen added 19 points for the Raiders, 15 in the first half.

Jayden Kuper led Monticello with 25 points and 10 rebounds.

“Ava (Hocker) did a great job on her,” Dacey said. “(Kuper) got her numbers, but she had to work for them.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com