By Michael Lindsay
There’s a new name atop the Monterey girls basketball all-time scoring list as Lindsey Wright moved to #1 during her team’s 76-34 victory over Bledsoe County Thursday evening. Wright’s historic moment was followed by the Wildcat boys defeating the Warriors, 69-62.
GIRLS
The Monterey Lady Wildcats (13-13, 4-2) picked up a key District 5AA victory Thursday evening as they defeated Bledsoe County, 76-34.
The win was only part of Thursday’s celebration as senior Lindsey Wright moved to #1 on the program’s all-time scoring list, passing former #1 Rachel Miller with 1,422 career points. Wright entered Thursday’s game needing 16 points to pass Miller for #1.
“It was really amazing; I thought it was a big milestone for me and also for Monterey, so other people can try to break my record,” Wright said. “It was definitely going through my head. I don’t like to keep up with points, but coach was like ‘you only have so many more.’ I just try to play through the offense. I let it go however it went.”
Wright led the Lady Wildcats in scoring with 20 points, followed by Lydia Phillips with 16 and Haylee Trevathan with 14.
Monterey never trailed as they opened the game on a 14-0 run. The Lady ‘Cats led 28-4 after the first quarter.
Wright’s milestone basket came with 4:46 remaining in the second period as she buried a three-pointer from the left wing to officially move to #1 all-time in Lady Wildcat history.
“That’s a big feat for her and she’s been dreaming about that her whole life,” said Monterey head coach Michelle Farley. “She’s a great leader and sets the bar for the younger ones. We knew she could do it; we’d been prepping for it for a few weeks now and were counting down the days.”
Following a ceremony at mid-court to honor Wright, the Lady Wildcats cruised through the second period to lead 46-16 at halftime.
Monterey cruised through the second half to win by a 76-34 final score.
The Lady ‘Cats are in action Friday evening as they travel to district foe Sequatchie County (11-13, 4-2).
Monterey (76): Lindsey Wright 20, Lydia Phillips 16, Haylee Trevathan 14, Abbie Sasser 8, Kelsi Flanigan 5, Zoey Gore 5, Carly Wright 5, Lissy Soberanis 3
BOYS
Monterey (17-11, 3-3) finished their season sweep of Bledsoe County (8-12, 2-5) Thursday evening as they defeated the Warriors, 69-62.
The victory was vital for Monterey in District 5AA play as it locked in a Region 3AA tournament berth for the Wildcats.
“If we won, we were automatically third,” said Monterey head coach Lynus Martin. “It was big to get that off of us. We’re better at what we’re doing now than we were 10 games ago.”
The win follows up Monterey’s 80-69 victory at Bledsoe County on Jan. 5.
“I thought it was physical and there was a lot of contact throughout the game,” Martin said. “Just play through it; that’s all you can do. Be physical and be tougher.”
Monterey was led by 31 points from guard Tre Monette, who went 10-12 from the free-throw line in the win.
Also scoring double figures for the Wildcats was Weston Clough, who posted 14 points.
Monterey held a 20-15 lead after one period before a 12-2 run gave the Warriors a 27-22 advantage with 3 minutes left until halftime.
Monterey withstood the Warrior run and answered with a quick run of their own to retake a 29-27 lead via an Aiden Roberson transition layup.
Monterey led 32-27 at halftime.
The Wildcats pushed their lead out to 10 points early in the third before Bledsoe County trimmed it back to one point (37-36) with 4:30 remaining in the third period.
Monterey kept their lead intact and held a 48-42 advantage going to the final period.
The Wildcats made the most of their free chances in the fourth quarter as they went 12-15 from the free-throw line to seal a 69-62 victory.
District 5AA play isn’t over this week for Monterey as they travel to Sequatchie County (4-19, 0-6) on Friday.
Monterey (69): Tre Monette 31, Weston Clough 14, Byron Borjas 9, Collin Fowler 8, Aiden Roberson 4, Will McCrary 2, Luke Tyson 1
