The Riverton Hawks flipped an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit into a 57-51 overtime win over Monticello in a high school boys basketball 2A regional semifinal game from Riverton High School Wednesday night.

 

Monticello contained the 25-win Hawks nearly the entire game but Riverton rallied in the fourth quarter down eight at the start and tied the game at 41 when Travis Hogan made two free throws with 2:36 to play and Hogan tied the score again at 43 with 1:45 after Ryan Reeder made two free throws. 

 

A Garrett Kepley three as regulation expired came up short sending the game to overtime, where the Hawks opened a 47-43 lead and Monticello never got closer than 3 when a Dylan Ginalick free throw made 47-44 with 1:48 left.

 

Monticello started the game on a 6-0 run thanks to back-to-back three-pointers by Ethan Miller and his third and final three of the night with 3:09 to play in the second quarter gave Monticello a 24-15 lead and on the following possession, a Briggs Fultz layup gave the Sages their biggest lead 26-15. The Hawks would close out the half on a 5-0 run to make 26-21 Monticello at the break.

 

Riverton opened the second half on a quick 6-2 start to cut the deficit to 28-27 with 4:52 to play in the third but Monticello was able to stretch it out to a 35-27 advantage at the 1:02 mark of the third. 

 

The Hawks never led in regulation and took their first lead of the game in overtime when sophomore Zach Hinds and Hogan had baskets on back-to-back possessions. 

 

They had four players score in double-figures as Spencer Yoggerst scored 14 points, Hogand and Dayton Durham each scored 13 points and Hinds added 11 points.

 

Kepley scored a game-high 16 points, Miller scored 11 points all in the first half, and Fultz added 10 points. 

 

Riverton outrebounded Monticello 28-24 and scored 11 points on 12 offensive rebounds. 

 

The Sages dished out ten assists on their 18 field goals made and turned the ball over only six times. 

 

Riverton went 18-for-21 from the free-throw line and shot just 36-percent from the floor as Monticello dropped into a zone defense for the first time this season that seemed to throw Riverton off and forced them into 27 three-point attempts. 

 

The Sages shot 42-percent from the floor and made 9 of 12 free-throw attempts. 

 

Monticello ends their season 19-12 overall and the Hawks improve to 26-5 and will take on Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin for a regional title Friday night.

 

Hear Monticello spring sports on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com in March.

 

Scores is 2A boys basketball Regional semifinal action Wednesday

 

At Chillicothe

 

Illinois Valley Central 51

Fieldcrest 63

 

At Coal City

 

Pontiac 64

Kankakee McNamara 63

 

At Flora

 

Salem 61

Shelbyville 45

 

At Mackinaw 

 

Normal U-High 57

Tri-Valley 38

 

At Manteno

 

Prairie Central 48

Joliet Catholic Academy 59

 

At Paxton-Buckley-Loda

 

Tuscola 45

G.C.M.S. 38

 

At St. Joseph-Ogden

 

St. Joseph-Ogden 56

Broadlands-Heritage 40

 

At Winnebago

 

El Paso-Gridley 74

Spring Valley Hall 55

 

Class 1A boys basketball regional semifinal action Wednesday

 

At Catlin

 

Decatur St. Teresa 64

Decatur LSA 58

 

At Gilman

 

Ridgeview 58

Tri-Point 38

 

Cissna Park 73

Fisher 64

 

At Havana

 

Delavan 72 F

Havana 43

 

At Lexington

 

Roanoke-Benson 67

Heyworth 43

 

St. Anne 36

LeRoy 51

 

At Macon

 

Central A & M 61

Stewardson-Strasburg 33

 

Nokomis 71

Meridian 51

 

At Mt. Pulaski

 

Champaign Judah Christian 58

Warrensburg-Latham 62

 

Hartsburg-Emden 38

Mt. Pulaski 53

 

At Princeville

 

Peoria Christian 62

Peoria Heights 47