MONTICELLO – It was a lot closer than expected, but the Monticello Panthers clinched a sectional berth with their dicey 41-36 victory over the Minisink Valley Warriors. The Montis had already beaten the 2-17 Warriors by 23 points on the road, but they needed either this win or a triumph over Port Jervis to assure at least a .500 record overall and as it turned out, in the division as well. 

After a slow start in which they trailed 8-5 in the first quarter, they came alive with 15 points in the second to marshal a 20-15 lead at the half. That lead burgeoned to 12 before a spate of Panther turnovers allowed Minisink to climb back in and cut the deficit to two. 

A free throw and a clutch three by Daevion Sandoval pushed the margin back up to six and the Panthers held on down the stretch for the 41-36 victory. The win advanced the Panthers’ record to 10-9 (5-4). 

If they beat Port Jervis they could be seeded as high as sixth in the eight-team field. A loss would put them at either seventh or eighth. In either case they’ll be on the road. 

Sandoval led the Panthers with 16 points. Joe Russo and Dylan Hardy posted seven apiece. It was Monticello’s eighth win in the past ten games. 

“We didn’t make it easy on ourselves. They’re a scrappy team. It took us a little while to get going. The bottom line is we got the win and did what we needed to do. We got some key stops when we needed them,” Monticello Coach Chris Russo noted. 

Russo singled out Hardy for his defensive verve and Sandoval’s timely assertiveness. Minisink fell to 2-18. Other teams in sectionals include Goshen, New Paltz, Our Lady of Lourdes, Beacon, Wallkill, Port Jervis and FDR. 

The seeding meeting will take place on February 23 and sectionals will begin on Saturday, February 25.