The Monticello Lady Billies begin conference play in the 8-4A on Wednesday, January 3, hosting the Warren Lady Lumberjacks in a game that was originally scheduled for a road contest in Warren that was rescheduled for a special Wednesday contest at Dan Coston Fieldhouse on the campus of Monticello High School.
Warren would control the opening tip, but it would take three minutes before a basket would be put on the scoreboard, a two pointer by Warren at the 4:53 mark.
Monticello would answer the score at 4:05 with a two by Shakyra Binns.
Aunesti Jackson would score the final points of the quarter for the Lady Billies on a three with 1:28 remaining in the quarter to tie the contest at five, but the Lady Lumberjacks would get the final basket of the quarter to take a 7-5 lead.
Zaniyah Thompson would get the Lady Billies going in the second quarter with a shot under the basket, followed by a two by Gemma Walker.
The Lady Billies would hold the Lady Lumberjacks to four points in the second quarter, outscoring their opponent 12-4 in the quarter to take a 17-11 lead into the halftime break.
The Lady Billies offense would continue to surge after the break with the team beginning the second half of play going on a 12-0 run to increase their lead to 18 points, 29-11, with 5:07 remaining in the quarter.
In the quarter, Monticello would get three pointers from Zariyah Gaston and Aunesti Jackson with Gaston scoring five points in the quarter to give the Lady Billies a 33-18 lead heading into the fourth and final quarter.
Warren would score first to begin the fourth quarter, but the Lady Billies would go on to outscore Warren for the third consecutive quarter, taking the quarter 18-14, to secure the 51-32 victory to open 8-4A Conference play with a win.
In the contest both teams would struggle from the freethrow line with Warren going 3 for 16 and Monticello connecting on 6 of 21 shots from the charity stripe.
Leading the way for the Lady Billies was Shakyra Binns and Zariyah Gaston in double figures. Each scored 12 points.
Genesis Freeman scored eight points, Gemma Walker and Aunesti Jackson with six, Zaniyah Thompson scoring four, Ca’Myhiah Lewis with two, and Ryah Ridgell rounding out the scoring with one point.
The Lady Billies returned to
Dan Coston Field house on Friday, January 5, hosting the Star City Lady Bulldogs in their second conference contest.
Star City would outscore Monticello in all four quarters to take a 20-point victory, 59-39.
Zariyah Gaston led the way for the Lady Billies with 16 points followed by Shakyra Binns with eight, Aunesti Jackson with six, Zaniyah Thompson and Ryah Ridgell with two, and Genesis Freeman and Saniyah Harrell with one.
Monticello travels to Watson Chapel on Friday for a 5:30 pm tip.
