In a game heard on WEZC and at dewittdailynews.com Wednesday night, Paxton-Buckley-Loda did not score for the first 10 minutes and 17 seconds of the game and Monticello used suffocating defense to roll to a 53-30 win in Class 2A Regional semifinal high school boy's basketball action from GCMS High School. 

In that stretch, the Sages built a 17-0 lead and after Mason Bruns' layup at the 5:43 mark of the second quarter, Monticello answered with an 8-0 run to open a 25-2 lead with a 1:12 left in the first half and Garrett Sanders corner three-pointer with 53 seconds to play was the only other basket for the Panthers in the first half. 

The Sages led 27-5 at the intermission.

Out of the break, PBL started the third quarter on a 12-2 run, getting within 29-17 after Kayden Snelling hit a three-pointer with 4:45 to play in the third quarter, but the Sages answered with at 9-3 finish to the period. 

The Sages led by as many as 28 late in the fourth quarter.

Monticello's defense held the Panthers to 26-percent shooting, going 10-for-38 for the game. The Sages dominated the glass 35-21 and scored ten points off 14 offensive rebounds. 

Monticello turned over PBL 20 times for 23 points and scored 28 of its 53 points in the paint, 12 coming in transition.

The Sages shot 50-percent for the first half, a slow start to the second half had the Sages finish at a 45-percent clip, 21-for-47. Monticello went just 4-for-16 beyond the arc.

The Sages dished out 16 assists on its 21 baskets, committing 12 turnovers. 

The win is the eighth straight for Monticello who will battle Prairie Central Friday night for the Regional Championship. The Sages are 28-3 on the season. PBL finishes its season 16-13. 

Game time Friday is 7 pm. Hear all the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.