In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, four players scored in double figures and Monticello used an efficient offensive performance to roll Olympia 74-40 in non-conference high school boy’s basketball action from the Sievers Center on Tuesday.
Ike Young scored 20 points in three quarters. The senior scored all 20 points close to the basket as the Sages scored 50 points in the paint.
Gatsby Grant added 13 points while Nolan Buehnerkemper and Matthias Rudolph added ten points.
Monticello led 30-15 after the first quarter. Up 35-20, Olympia went on an 8-0 run to get within 35-28 but Monticello scored the final ten points of the quarter to lead 45-28 at the half.
The Sages never looked back. Young scored ten third-quarter points to put the Sages up 61-36 after three.
Monticello shot 60 percent from the floor and had 21 assists on 33 field goals.
Ian Tackett led the Spartans with 12 points.
Young earned the ServPro of Piatt/DeWitt Counties Player of the Game.
Tuesday’s win was a milestone for Monticello.
It was the 1,750th win in Monticello High School history. Going into this season, MHS's total wins were ranked 25th in the State of Illinois in Boy's Basketball wins.
In the program's history since the 1916-17 school year, the Sages have appeared twice in the State Final Tournament, finishing 4th in 2016-17 and 2nd in 21-22. However, it should be noted that the 1932-33 team, which finished at 27-2, would have qualified to play in the Sweet Sixteen at the then-new Huff Gym, but the IHSA that year limited the field to 8 due to the ravages of the ongoing Great
Depression.
In the 70 seasons since Tom Young took over the program, Monticello High School has had four boys' basketball coaches who have combined to win 1,262 of the 1,750. They have been Young 336, Bob Trimble 383, Randy Moss 198, and Kevin Roy 355.
Monticello travels to P-B-L Friday night for an Illini Prairie Conference tilt. Game time is 7 pm. Hear it all on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.
