The Monticello Sages used another lockdown defensive effort to defeat Paxton-Buckley-Loda for the second time this month 55-23 Saturday night at the Monticello Holiday Hoopla tournament and take third place.
After suffering a tough loss to Ridgeview Friday afternoon, the Sages played intense defense and PBL didn’t get their first point until Andrew Swanson made a free throw with 17 seconds left in the third and didn’t record their first field goal until the 5:33 mark of the second quarter.
The Sages led 16-1 after the first quarter and 36-12 at the intermission.
Calvin Fisher paced another balanced Monticello attack with 14 points, 12 came in the first half. Ben Singleton added 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists after recording his first career double-double Friday against Ridgeview.
The Sages made 21 field goals from 14 assists and shot 57% from the floor.
Senior point guard Johnny Dawson did not play Saturday with a bad ankle. He is expected to return to the lineup next Saturday when the Sages host Olympia.
Devin Graham started in Dawson’s absence and scored six points. Cam Dyson added six points for Monticello as well.
The Sages host Olympia next Saturday at 2:30 pm at Miller Gymnasium at Monticello High School. Though the two are a part of the new Illini Prairie Conference, the game will not count towards their conference records.
Hear the action next week on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.
