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The Monticello Billies’ 2025-26 Basketball season is officially underway with the Billies picking up their first win of the season in their opening contest of the Beth Maxwell Classic on Friday.
The Billies entered the Beth Maxwell Classic with an 0-5 record having lost their first five games of the season.
The Billies opened the season with a loss to Stuttgart, 60-53. on November 18 and followed with losses to Morrilton, 57-45, Bauxite, 50-49, Mountain Home, 45-42, and Sheridan, 79-54.
The Billies would play the final game of the night on Friday, December 5, of the Beth Maxwell Classic, hosting the McGehee Owls at the Billie Arena.
McGehee would enter the contest with an 0-2 record having lost their season opening game to Dermott, 55-37, and their next contest to Star City, 67-45.
McGehee would take the opening tip and would get the first points of the contest after Ja’corrian Love was fouled going to the basket and sent to the free throw line where he connected on one of two.
McGehee added a second free throw shot a minute later after Ja’quis Hughes hit one of two for the two point lead.
Monticello would go on an 8-0 run with Peyton Strickland scoring six of the eight.
Monticello would close the quarter leading the Owls 14-5.
The Billies would continue to lead the Owls throughout the second quarter but McGehee would outscore the Billies 13-11 in the quarter with Monticello holding a 25-18 lead at the half.
Both teams would match their point totals from the second quarter to the third with McGehee scoring 13 and Monticello scoring 11 with Monticello leading 36-31 heading into the fourth quarter.
Monticello would have their best quarter of the contest in the fourth, outscoring McGehee 18-9 to get their first win of the season 55-40.
The Billies would return on Saturday to drop their final game of the classic to Nashville, 76-51.
Monticello will host McGehee at the Billie Arena on Friday with games beginning at 5:30 pm.
