Monticello used a strong defensive effort and overcame foul trouble to down Neoga 51-37 in Holiday Hoopla boy's basketball action Monday from the Sievers Center at Monticello High School.

Neoga didn't record a field goal in the first quarter and scored all five of its points at the free-throw line. The Indians finished 14-for-17 from the foul line, a large reason they were able to be competitive throughout. 

They came alive from three-point range in the second half shooting 2-for-3 from three in the third quarter and 3-for-6 in the fourth quarter but it was too-little-too-late for Neoga. 

The Sages still outscored the Indians 15-12 in the third quarter and 12-even in the fourth quarter. 

Ben Cresap paced the Sages once again with 24 points, six rebounds, and two steals and was the ServPro of Piatt/DeWitt County Player of the Game.

Tanner Buehnerkemper scored 10 points for Monticello.

With his 12 points, Neoga senior Paci McClure went over 1,000 career points. 

Neoga takes on GCMS tonight at 6 pm and Monticello will play Clinton at 7:30 pm.

Hear tonights' Sages action on both WHOW and WEZC as well as the online platforms of dewittdailynews.com, the WHOW mobile app and at Amazon Alexa.