WESTVILLE — Offensive rebounds and second-chance points proved to be the difference in Wednesday’s regional semifinal contest between Monticello and Westville.
The Sages (17-13) turned 13 offensive rebounds in 18 second-chance points on their way to a 60-52 victory over the Tigers at the IHSA Class 2A Westville Regional.
Senior Ike Young, who has signed to play baseball at Illinois, and Nolan Buehnerkemper combined for 27 points and 15 rebounds — six offensive for Monticello. Tyler Blythe also had 15 points and Matthias Rudolph came off the bench to score 11.
Westville, which made an impressive 9 of 18 3-pointers in the game, was led by freshman forward Kiptyn Appl with 19 points. Senior Preston Wright was next with 15 points and junior Matt Darling contributed 12 for the Tigers, who finish the year at 26-6.
Monticello will play Unity for the regional title on Friday night.
At Westville
IHSA Class 2A regional semifinal
Monticello 60, Westville 52
Westville (52) — Kiptyn Appl 7-16 3-5 19, Preston Wright 6-8 0-0 15, Aiden White 0-4 1-2 1, Easton Barney 0-0 5-6 5, Matt Darling 4-9 0-0 12, Ja’den Whorrall 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-37 9-13 52.
Monticello (60) — Ike Young 6-11 2-4 15, Tyler Blythe 5-7 2-2 15, Gatsby Grant 1-7 2-2 4, Carter Foran 1-3 0-0 3, Nolan Buehnerkemper 5-7 1-2 12, Jake Motsegood 0-0 0-0 0, Matthias Rudolph 4-8 1-2 11, Colton Vance 0-0 0-0 0, Mason High 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 22-44 8-12 60.
Westville 16 9 16 11 — 52
Monticello 17 16 12 15 — 60
3-pointers — Westville 9-18 (Darling 4-7, Wright 3-4, Appl 2-7). Monticello 8-22 (Blythe 3-4, Rudolph 2-6, Young 1-3, Foran 1-3, Buehnerkemper 1-2, Grant 0-4). Rebounds — Westville 21 (White 8), Monticello 30 (Young 9). Assists — Westville 10 (Barney 5), Monticello 14 (Young 5). Turnovers — Westville 10, Monticello 10. Total fouls — Westville 11, Monticello 18. Fouled out — none.
Records — Monticello 17-13 overall, Westville 25-7 overall.