5 Takeaways: Lebanon @ Monrovia

On Friday night, the Lebanon Tigers traveled to Monrovia to take on the Bulldogs as we near the end of the season. This was the first-ever meeting between these schools, and it did not disappoint. The game was tightly contested the entire way, and each team had their chance to pull away. However, in the fourth quarter, Monrovia’s <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josh-smith/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josh-smith/">Josh Smith</a></a> went off for 15 points to keep the Bulldogs in the game and eventually send it to overtime after Lebanon missed a three at the buzzer. In the second overtime, both teams went cold from the field and only scored four points each during the four minutes. This time, Monrovia had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but Smith’s fadeaway jumper was partially blocked by Lebanon’s <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kobe-ottinger/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kobe-ottinger/">Kobe Ottinger</a></a> to send the game into double overtime. In the second overtime, both teams heated up from deep as there were 5 made threes in the second overtime. However, Lebanon hit their free throws late and Monrovia did not as Lebanon came away with a hard-fought 65-61 victory on the road. Now, let’s take a look at five takeaways from Friday night’s action...   1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josh-smith/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josh-smith/">Josh Smith</a></a> is the real deal Monrovia’s senior forward, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josh-smith/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josh-smith/">Josh Smith</a></a>, has been excellent this entire season. Coming into this game, he had been averaging 21 points and 12 rebounds per game, and he outdid himself last night. He came away with a whopping 36 points on 12 of 19 from the floor. He also was able to get to the charity stripe 15 times and pull down 12 rebounds for his 16th double-double in 21 games this year. Smith committed to Stetson University earlier this month, and he showed in this performance that he has the potential to play at a high-level in the years to come.   2. Lebanon needs to look towards the future Lebanon’s squad is full of young talent all over the place, specifically their trio of Reese Jones, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kobe-ottinger/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kobe-ottinger/">Kobe Ottinger</a></a>, and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/hunter-crew/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/hunter-crew/">Hunter Crew</a></a>. The three of these players combined for 17 points and came up with some big buckets down the stretch. With Lebanon leading by 2 late in the second overtime, Reese Jones stepped to the line and drilled two of the biggest free throws of his young career. In the coming seasons, these three players will have the ability to improve for the future.   3. Monrovia can only go as far as <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josh-smith/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josh-smith/">Josh Smith</a></a> will take them Monrovia entered the fourth quarter down by 5, and then, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josh-smith/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josh-smith/">Josh Smith</a></a> took over the game. Smith dominated in the fourth quarter and overtime with 24 of the Bulldogs 31 points. He was the reason that Monrovia had a chance to win this game. The downside of this when it comes to Monrovia’s season is that Monrovia can only go as far as Smith will take them. He was their entire offense on Friday, and if an opponent can find a way to shut him down, their season will come to an end.   4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/carson-burtron/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/carson-burtron/">Carson Burtron</a></a> has improved quite a bit After watching <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/carson-burtron/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/carson-burtron/">Carson Burtron</a></a> play Friday night, it is easy to say that he has improved quite a bit from last season. He has been their leading scorer this season, and he was the star on Friday night. He totaled 20 points in the victory including 14 in the fourth quarter and overtime. He came up big down the stretch for the Tigers with a couple of big triples. He is the key to Lebanon’s success in March.   5. Sectional Outlook Neither Monrovia or Lebanon is their Sectional favorite, but they both have a shot. Monrovia is in the same Sectional as Danville who is number 2 in the state, but with <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josh-smith/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josh-smith/">Josh Smith</a></a>, Monrovia always has a chance to win a game. Lebanon has a tough Sectional, but if they can play how they have played at times this season, they will be able to pull it off.