In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, St. Joseph-Ogden scored 14 unanswered points to start the second half and held off Monticello in a 55-45 win in Illini Prairie Conference action Friday night at the Sievers Center in Monticello.
Parker Fitch scored a quick six with back-to-back three pointers, and Nolan Franzen had back-to-back layups, giving St. Joseph-Ogden a 42-26 lead, the biggest of the night, and the Spartans held off Monticello the rest of the way.
The Sages would get within six points in the fourth quarter, but Monticello finished 0-for-16 from three-point range and shot just 34.7 percent from the floor.
Monticello stayed close thanks to shooting 11-of-14 from the foul line.
St. Joe shot 52 percent from the floor while going 4-of-18 from distance and just 3-of-10 at the foul line.
Fitch led all scorers with 18 points. Franzen finished with 14 points, and Kaden Wedig added 11.
The Sages were outrebounded 33-27. They turned 12 Spartans turnovers into 14 points.
Matthias Rudolph had 13 points and eight rebounds to lead the Sages. Nolan Buehnerkemper finished with nine points and eight rebounds.
Monticello has a quick turnaround on Saturday when they visit Warrensburg-Latham. Game time has been moved to 2:15 pm due to weather coming into the area. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.
