After a slow start, Monticello rallied past Riverton 56-40 in non-conference high school boy's basketball action from Riverton High School.

The Sages fell behind 8-0 early but scored seven unanswered and trailed 12-10 after the first quarter. 

The Sages turned up the defensive intensity and led 22-20 at the intermission fueled by ten points in the paint, six points off turnovers and four fast-break points in the second quarter. 

After Riverton scored a quick basket right out of the intermission to tie the score at 22, the Sages scored ten unanswered as Dylan Ginalick scored six points in the stretch.

Riverton got within 42-33 with 6:37 to play but that would be all the closer the Hawks would get the rest of the way as Monticello closed the game out going 12 for 14 from the line in the fourth quarter. 

Ben Cresap led the Sages with 20 points. Tanner Buehnerkemper was the Piatt/DeWitt County ServPro Player of the Game and scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half. He also grabbed a team-high six rebounds.

Cresap grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists. Ginalick finished with nine points. 

The Sages shot 47-percent from the floor and Riverton to 34-percent shooting and the Hawks only went 7-for-26 from distance. 

As a team, Monticello shot 17-for-22 from the free throw line and the home team only shot two free throws. 

Monticello improves to 2-0 and Riverton drops to 0-3. 

The Sages host Salt Fork for its home opener on Friday night at 7pm.

Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.