The Monticello Billies tipped off the 2023-24 Basketball season over the Thanksgiving Holiday with a return trip to the annual Dermott Thanksgiving Tournament held at Dermott High School for a pair of games.Things would start slow for the Billies in their first round contest against the England Lions.
England would jump out to a double-digit lead over the Billies in the first quarter after outscoring Monticello 23-6 in the first quarter.
Monticello would cut into the Lion lead in the second quarter, outscoring England 15-8 in the quarter behind four points from Jax Rawls and four points from Tejon Tensley but the Lions would still hold a 10-point, 31-21, lead at the half.
Quay Rhodes would help Monticello cut the lead to five points in the third quarter.
Monticello would score 18 points in the quarter to England’s 13 with Quay Rhodes scoring 14 of those 18 points with England holding on to a 44-39 heading into the fourth quarter.
Each team would score in double-digits in the fourth quarter, but it would be England that pull away to take an 11-point victory.
In the quarter, England would outscore Monticello 20-14 to take a 64-53 win.
Quay Rhodes would lead the Billies in scoring with 19 points followed by Freshman Jax Rawls with nine.
Freshman Joseph Accelus would add six, Peyton Strickland, Tejon Tensley, and Gavin Trotter with four.
Jayden Rhodes and Chris Goodman rounded out the scoring with two each.
The Billies would return on Saturday night to face Crossett in the consolation contest of the tournament in Dermott.
The Billies would come away with their first win of the season over the Crossett Eagles by a score of 45-32
The Billies and Lady Billies will return to action on the road on Friday, December 1, traveling to Dumas for a 5:30 pm tip for the Lady Billies and Lady Bobcats with the Billies to tip off after.
