They say the third time is a charm, and the Monticello Sages boys basketball team certainly hopes the old adage holds true.

The Sages head into a regional semi-final match up Wednesday night against the Tolono-Unity Rockets, a team they will see for the third time this season. The first two match-ups were a tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

In the first meeting earlier this month at the Okaw Valley Conference Tournament Championship, the Sages came into the game as the #7 seed in the tournament and Unity, as they are tonight, were the #1 seed. The Sages competed from start to finish. To some, the halftime score of 28-all was a surprise, and perhaps the wake up call for the Unity Rockets that as a #7 seed, the Sages meant business. Despite a 14-point deficit late in the third, the Sages were able to cut it to eight heading to the fourth, but could not get any closer than three points of the Rockets in the final period, and was a 65-60 final, and an Okaw Valley Conference Tournament Championship for the Rockets.

The two would meet almost exactly 72 hours later, and the Sages were simply not the team that had won three consecutive games, two upsets of the #2 and #3 seeds in the tournament, and took the unanimous best team in the Conference to the wire just days earlier. The Sages smallest deficit was three, when it was 12-9 in the first quarter, and from there it was all Unity. All five Unity starters would score in double-figures, led by 6-foot-6 Aaron Larson's 19 points and 11 rebounds. Larson was honored prior to the varsity game for scoring 1,000 career points.

The Sages received 18 points from Nick Stokowski and Kendall King, including 14 boards for Stokowski, and little else from the rest of the team. Monticello shot just 30% from the floor to Unity's  staggering 57%.

The Rockets received the #1 seed in the Tuscola regional and were idle Monday and Tuesday while the rest of the teams in the regional played for a semi-final game Wednesday. Many Unity players were on hand Monday night for the Sages 54-49 victory over Prairie Central. The Sages led 27-20 at the half, and used a 5-0 run out of the break to grab their biggest lead of the game at 32-20, however, they went nearly 6 minutes after a Matt Kruse 3-point play without a field goal, and the only points during that stretch was two Stokowski free throws. Prairie Central woud tie the game with just under a minute in regulation to play, but on the ensuing possession, Stokowski was fouled and made two crucial free throws to give the Sages the lead for good. Stokowski would add two more free throws to put the game out of reach at 54-49 with 2-seconds remaining.

Sages head coach Kevin Roy was relieved to come away with a victory, sloppy or otherwise.

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Coach Roy is excited about the opportunity to see the Rockets for the third time this year. He says there should be no doubt in his players minds they can play with the Unity. He says he's looking forward to the opportunity and says his players better be as well.

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The balance scoring attack for the Rockets will make things a defensive challenge for the Sages. The trio of Larson inside, playmaker Taylor Black and sharp shooting Alex Thorson make defending Unity very tough. Coach Roy may be forced to go away from his traditional man-to-man defense and turn to a zone at points.

Offensively for Monticello, balance will be key. Getting 18 points from two players, and little else from the rest of the team will not be enough. Junior Ryan Donahue was held in check the second match up with just four points. A contribution of at least 10 points will be key for the Sages. Senior point guard Daly O'Brien has been playing arguably the best basketball of his varsity career at Monticello in the past two to three weeks.

Tuscola High School is the sight for the Regional Semi-Final game. Game time is 6 pm Wednesday. You can hear the action live on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.