The Monticello Lady Sages took the floor against GCMS with a third-place finish on the line at the Holiday Hoopla, and from the opening tip it felt like a continuation of the tournament’s intense competition. What unfolded was a tale of two halves, highlighted by a spirited second-half comeback that ultimately came up just short.
The first quarter was tightly contested, with both teams trading baskets in a back-and-forth opening frame. Despite the competitive start, Monticello found itself trailing by six at the end of the quarter. Momentum then swung heavily in favor of GCMS in the second period, as the Falcons surged on both ends of the floor. GCMS outscored the Lady Sages 23–8 in the quarter, building a commanding 21-point halftime lead behind a dominant performance from Lily Sizemore, who finished with 22 points and six rebounds.
Facing a steep deficit, Monticello responded with urgency after the break. The Lady Sages turned up the defensive pressure in the third quarter, holding the Falcons to just three points. That defensive effort fueled a comeback, as Monticello chipped away at the lead and cut the margin down to seven entering the fourth quarter.
Just as the Sages appeared poised to complete the rally, GCMS answered with back-to-back three-pointers to halt the momentum. Monticello continued to battle down the stretch, but the early hole proved too deep to overcome. The Lady Sages ultimately fell 55–47.
Ali Weidner led Monticello with an impressive 21-point performance, including 14 points in the second half during the comeback push. Her strong tournament showing earned her a spot on the Girls All-Tournament Team.
Despite the loss, the Lady Sages exit the Holiday Hoopla with a 10–5 record and little time to dwell, as a challenging week lies ahead. Monticello returns to action Monday with a regional final rematch at Paris (10–2), followed by a tough home matchup against Normal West (12–5) on Tuesday. After a brief break, the Sages will open Illini Prairie Conference play at home Friday against Prairie Central (5–9).
Kiara Grace Scores
Sarah Cresap banks a 3-pointer in for the Sages
