Dating back to last Tuesday's loss to Pleasant Plains where Monticello was shut out in the fourth quarter, the Sages were nearly in jeopardy of a second straight quarter of not scoring until the 19 second mark of the first quarter.

Monticello recovered from the slow start to beat Riverton 48-35 Tuesday night in non-conference high school boy's basketball action from the Sievers Center at Monticello High School.

Tyler Blythe's three-pointer with 19 seconds left in the first quarter brought Monticello within 4-3 of the Hawks and the Sages trailed 6-3 after one. 

Eli Craft converted a three-point play to start the second quarter for Monticello sparking the Sages in the second quarter as they took a 16-15 lead into the half.

A Cameron Sutton three-pointer for Riverton brought the Hawks within 21-20 at 4:57 in the third.

Monticello responded with 13-2 run in the next 3:26 highlighted by three-pointers from sophomores Craft and Matt Swartz as well as a three-point play from senior Drew Sheppard. 

Riverton cut the deficit to seven a couple of times in the fourth but could not come back.

The Hawks committed 20 turnovers for the game and shot just 33-percent. 

Monticello was led by Craft's 15 points and he was the ServPro of Piatt/DeWitt Counties Player of the Game.

Trey Welter added eight points for Monticello and Sheppard scored seven points, all in the third quarter.

Ethen Bates led Riverton with ten points and Isaac Crumrine grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

Monticello moves to 1-1 overall while Riverton drops to 0-4. 

The Sages travel to Marshall Saturday afternoon for a 3:30 game. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.