In a special simulcast broadcast on WHOW, WEZC, at dewittdailynews.com, and the WHOW online digital platforms, Monticello overcame a fast start by Clinton to advance to its second straight Holiday Hoopla Championship with a 65-43 win in Holiday Hoopla action from the Sievers Center at Monticello High School Tuesday afternoon.

Brooks Cluver and Dawson Graves made back-to-back threes to start the game and the Maroons opened a 13-5 lead after the first quarter but Monticello chipped away at the deficit and tied it at 20-20 going into the half.

From there, Monticello overcame Clinton's physicality and aggressive defense to gradually pull away in the second half. After shooting just 1-for-12 in the first quarter, the Sages shot 19-for-28 the rest of the way and shot 50 percent for the game.

Monticello used good ball movement to score 28 points in the paint and assist 13 times on 20 field goals. 

Trey Welter went 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter on his way to a game-high 20 points. Drew Sheppard added 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds. 

Sheppards ability to play through the physicality and aggressiveness on offense earned him the Monticello Sages ServPro of Piatt/DeWitt County Player of the Game.

A day after setting a Sievers Center scoring record, Dawson Graves was limited to 15 points and Brooks Cluver added 11 for Clinton. 

Cluver's consistency for the Maroons on both ends of the floor earned him the Clinton ServPro of Piatt/DeWitt County Player of the Game.

Clinton's loss drops them to 12-2 overall. They will play for third place tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon at 3:30 pm. Hear the action on WHOW and the many online digital platforms.

Monticello will go for its second straight Hoopla title at 7:30 pm. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.