The Monticello Sages used tenacious defense to dominate Salt Fork in a 59-20 victory Friday night in non-conference high school boy's basketball action from the Sievers Center at Monticello High School.

Monticello jumped out to a 9-2 lead with 3:43 left in the first and never looked back. The Sages forced the Storm into 15 first-half turnovers that led to 18 points. Ben Cresap had five first-half steals and led all scorers with 12 points at the intermission. 

Monticello opened up a 46-16 lead after Cresap buried a corner three with 1:42 to play in the third and outscored the Storm 20-6 and 48-20 after three and held Salt Fork scoreless in the fourth quarter.

Cresap led all scorers with 20 points. 

Joey Sprinkle was the only other Sage to get to double figures with 10 points, a game-high seven rebounds and dished out three assists. More impressively, he led a charge to limit the Storm's leading scorer, Garrett Taylor to just four points and five rebounds. Sprinkle was the Piatt/DeWitt County ServPro player of the game.

In total, Monticello turned the Storm over 25 times for 34 points. They shot 57-percent from the floor for the game. The Sages dished out 17 assists on 24 field goals and committed only 10 turnovers. 

Monticello moves to 3-0 and will host Marshall Saturday afternoon for a 3:30 pm tip. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.