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In a game heard on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com Friday night, Calvin Fisher banked in a three-point shot from the right wing to tie the game at 32 with 1:10 to play in the game and then the Sages shut out Paxton-Buckley-Loda in overtime to win their first Sectional Championship since 2007 with a 41-32 win at the Monticello Sectional in 2A boys basketball action.
With the game tied at 32, a backcourt turnover by the Panthers with 10.4 seconds gave Monticello the basketball. Then with Colton Kleinert fouled on a lose-ball with three-seconds but Monticello turned the ball over with 0.2 seconds to play, giving PBL a chance at the win.
A full court pass from the opposite baseline sailed out of bounce without being touched, giving Monticello a chance with a ball on their end of the floor, however, a pass for an intended tip-in went too high and the game went to overtime.
In overtime, the Sages forced three PBL turnovers and the Sages came up with big stops on defense to close out the victory, 41-32.
Fisher led the way for the Sages with 23 points and six rebounds. He says PBL's offense is a handful and their defense was even more disruptive.
Junior point guard Johnny Dawson did not score but pulled down eight rebounds and dished out five assists. He says he's doing whatever gets the team to a win.
Head coach of the Sages, Kevin Roy says he has told his team all year, felt they could play with anyone in the state.
Junior forward Luke Stokowski finished with 11 points and nine rebounds and came away with a crucial steal on a post-feed which sent him to the free throw line, where he made one-of-two attempts and increased the Sages advantage to 37-32 which was followed by a Fisher steal and layup fora 39-32 advantage.
Stokowski says they had run the play to feed Andrew Zenner in the post several times in the game, and he recognized it and stepped in the passing lane for the takeaway.
Isiah Florey scored seven points in the second half, five in the fourth quarter and overtime, as Monticello overcame a seven point third quarter deficit.
The Sages advance to Tuesday night's Super Sectional matchup opposite Quincy Notre Dame in Springfield. Hear all the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com. Game time is 7 pm.
