Local Sports

HS BBBall: Pontiac Holds Off Monticello

In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Riley Weber scored 14 of his team-high 23 points in the fourth quarter to lead Pontiac passed Monticello 73-61 in Illini Prairie Conference high school boy's basketball action from the Sievers Center at Monticello High School Tuesday night.

 

Four players scored in double-figures as the Indians held off the pesky Sages on senior night for the winter sports programs. Cheerleading, boy's basketball, and girl's basketball senior players were recognized between a varsity double dip that saw the girl's fall to Williamsville before the boy's varsity game.

 

Pontiac's balanced scoring was too much for Monticello who stayed with one of the Illini Prairie Conference favorites throughout the game. The Sages even led 36-33 at the half. 

 

Trey Welter scored 16 of his game-high 28 points in the first half and Monticello was very physical in the first half as they outrebounded the much longer and taller Indians 17-12.

 

But in the second half, Pontiac upped the defensive intensity and was much more crisp on offense. After senior Will Ross hit a three to open the second half for the Sages, Michael Kuska hit back-to-back corner threes to tie the game at 39-39. 

 

With the score tied at 45, Henry Brummel got free in transition off a turnover and put Pontiac ahead for good, 47-45. 

 

Raiden Colbert scored 12 points for Monticello while Ross finished nine points and seven rebounds.

 

Kuska finished with 15 points for Pontiac. Kerr Baumann scored 14 points and Brummel finished with 13 for the Indians.

 

Pontiac outrebounded Monticello 17-8 in the second half. The Indians finished shooting 51-percent from the floor and went 17-for-19 at the foul line. 

 

Pontiac had 12 assists on its 23 field goals and only had seven turnovers for the game.

 

The Sages also turned the ball over just seven times with 11 assists on its 23 field goals. Monticello shot 43 percent from the floor and finished just 4-for-4 from the foul line.

 

Monticello also shot an uncharacteristic 25 three pointers, making 11. Six came off the hand of Welter who was the ServPro of Piatt/DeWitt County Player of the Game. Colbert made four threes for Monticello.

 

The Indians remain in the thick of the battle for the regular season Illini Prairie Conference title, going to 6-1 in league action and 20-6 overall.

 

Monticello drops its fourth in five games, falling to 14-11 and going to 3-4 in the Illini Prairie.

 

The Sages hit the road Friday night, finishing its regular season slate with three straight road games. It starts at Champaign St. Thomas More at 7 pm. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.

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