February 17, 2012

The Monticello Girls Basketball team finished the regular season winners of their last seven Jefferson District games.

The Mustangs continued that momentum into the District Tournament and walked away champions, edging out Charlottesville, 57-54, Friday night.

Junior Bridget Holleran paced the Mustangs with 23 points.

'We just wanted it," Holleran said. 'We knew we had to come in and win these games. It's a close district, teams are competitive and we just came out on top."

The two teams traded baskets for much of the first quarter with Charlottesville holding a 12-11 lead. The Black Knights then seperated themselves in the second, outscoring Monticello 19-11 to take a nine-point lead into the locker room.

The Mustangs responded in the third and got to within three but the Black Knights held steady and owned a 43-38 lead into the final quarter.

Charlottesville led 50-47 with just under three minutes to play when Holleran sunk a big three to knot things up but Monique Perkins hit a lay-in on the other end to put the Knights back on top.

Monticello then took a two-point lead with just over a minute to play when Meghan Comer drove the lane and found Cierra Hall open on the other side for a basket.

After a couple Mustang free throws, Charlottesville had a chance to tie the game but London Todd lost the ball on the way to the hoop and the Mustangs picked up the loose ball and held on for the win.

Monticello will now host a Regional Playoff as the Jefferson District Champion.