In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, four players scored in double figures and Monticello used a balanced offensive attack to hold off IVC 77-64 in the Illini Prairie Conference opener from the Sievers Center in Monticello Friday night.

After IVC and Monticello traded runs to a 13-all tie with 2:05 left in the first quarter, the Sages finished the frame on a 6-2 run and never looked back.

Gatsby Grant would score 11 of his team-best 16 points in the second quarter helping stake the Sages to 39-28 halftime lead. 

Jack Weidner scored seven of his ten points in the third quarter, Trey Welter and Rai Colbert each sank a pair of third quarter three's as the Sages lead reached 24 points with under a minute left in the third quarter.

IVC got back within 12 in the fourth quarter with most of the Sages regulars on the bench but Monticello made enough plays and free throws down the stretch to hold off the Grey Ghosts.

Welter finished with 12 points for Monticello, Weidner and Colbert each added ten. Tyler Blythe finished with nine points, six assists and four rebounds. 

Welter added seven steals and the Sages had 15 steals as a team. 

Stephen Braun scored a game-best 18 points for the Grey Ghosts.

The Sages turned 24 Grey Ghosts turnovers into 22 points and scored 24 points in the paint. 

The Sages shot exactly 50 percent from the floor and went 12-for-27 from distance and 11-for-15 points. 

The Grey Ghosts shot 55 percent for the game but ultimately turnover did in IVC as Monticello got a hand in on numerous passes.

The Grey Ghosts drop to 8-7 overall and 0-1 in the Illini Prairie.

Monticello is 7-8 and starts 1-0 in the Illini Prairie Conference.

Monticello travels to St. Joseph tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon for the St. Joe-Ogden Christie Clinic Shootout with a matchup opposite New Berlin at 2 pm.