In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Monticello battled back from a ten point halftime deficit but could not put away St. Joseph-Ogden in a 42-39 defeat Friday night in Illini Prairie Conference high school boys basketball action from the Sievers Center in Monticello. 

With Trey Welter sitting for all of the second quarter, Monticello fell behind 24-14 at the intermission with only a single free throw for its only point in the second.

But with Welter back in the second half, the tenor for the Sages completely flipped. Welter scored six of his team-best 12 points in the third quarter and as Monticello outscored St. Joe 15-7 for the frame, highlighted by a 7-2 run in the last 3:21 of the third.

Welter tied the game to start the fourth quarter with a pair of free throws then a Matt Swartz layup put Monticello up 33-31, the only lead the Sages would hold on the night.

St. Joe finished the fourth quarter outscoring Monticello 11-6. The Sages had plenty of opportunities in the fourth quarter but could not cash in and were done in by rebounds.

The Spartans outrebounded the Sages 39-21, grabbing 19 offensive boards. St. Joe only converted those 19 boards into seven second-chance points. 

Despite shooting 25.6 percent from the floor for the game - including 2-for-15 from distance, the Spartans made 18-of-26 free throws. 

Monticello shot 40 percent from the floor and 2-for-14 from three. 

Luke Landrus scored 12 of his game-high 19 points in the second half for the Spartans.

Welter led the Sages with 12 points and Tyler Blythe finished with 11.

Welter's presence during the Sages' comeback earned him the ServPro of Piatt/DeWitt Counties player of the game.

St. Joe improves to 18-4 overall and 5-0 in the Illini Prairie Conference.

Monticello drops to 11-10 and 3-1 in conference play. The Sages stay at home for another pair of games next week, starting with an Illini Prairie Conference tilt with Rantoul on Tuesday at 7 pm. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.

Join us Monday night for the final girl's basketball broadcast of 2024 when the Lady Sages host Pontiac at the Sievers Center. Hear the action on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com starting at 7 pm.