In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, three players scored in double figures and Monticello knocked off Warrensburg-Latham 58-45 in non-conference high school boy's basketball action from the Sievers Center in Monticello Friday night.
The Cardinals jumped out to a 10-4 lead but Monticello closed out the first quarter on 13-2 run and never relinquished its lead.
Gatsby Grant helped fuel a strong finish to the first quarter and propelled Monticello to a 35-24 lead at the half with 16 of his game-high 21 points in the first half.
Ike Young scored 17 points with five rebounds. He went 8-for-8 at the foul line, including 4-for-4 in the fourth quarter to help put the game away.
A four-point play by Grant with 1:42 left in the first half put Monticello up 31-22. Grant then hit a three-pointer from the right wing off the backboard to cap off a first half with five three-point shots made. Monticello went 7-of-12 from distance in the first half.
The Cardinals clawed their way back into the game by outscoring Monticello 12-4 in the third quarter. Sophomore Brennon Bonds tied the game at 39-30 with a three to start the fourth quarter but Young cam back and hit a three on the next Monticello possession and the Sages did not look back after that.
Tyler Blythe scored 11 points off the bench for Monticello.
Young's performance earned him the ServPro of Piatt/DeWitt Counties player of the game.
The Sages shot 48.7 percent from the floor and went 8-of-17 from three for the game. Monticello dished out 14 assists on its 19 field goals made and committed just 10 turnovers.
The Cardinals scored 28 points in the paint to Monticello's 22. Warrensburg-Latham scored 17 second-chance points on 10 offensive rebounds. Monticello held the rebounding edge 25-24.
The Sages scored 16 second-chance points off seven offensive rebounds.
Kaiden Gardner led Warrensburg-Latham with 13 points. Nathan Southern and Bonds added 11 points apiece.
The Cardinals drop to 14-2 overall.
Monticello goes to 6-6 overall. They will host Teutopolis on Tuesday night at 7 pm. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.
