The Shelbyville freshmen were down 28-15 in the third quarter, but then charged back to within four points late in the fourth, only to lose to Monticello, 44-36.

The Rams started in the hole, getting thumped with a 14-4 run in the first period. It got worse as they fell behind by 13 at the half. But, the Rams kept coming and the Sage defense cracked some in the second half. The Rams cut the margin to just four points with 1:25 left, but having to foul, the Rams were not able to get any closer.

Monty sank six field goals, one a trey in the first quarter, and made 1-of-2 at the line. Shelby got just two field goals, one from Trent Shuff and one from Connor Biehler and trailed by ten, 14-4.

The Rams scored more in the second, but the Sages still out-paced the Rams. Monty scored twice inside the arc and once beyond it. They also got to the line twice and made 3-of-4. Shelby got two more scores from Biehler, who led the Rams at the half with six points. Shuff scored again and Ethan Turner went to the line, making 1-of-2. However, the Rams were down 13 at the break, 24-11.

Early in the third, Monty scored twice from the floor, while Shuff scored a two and Tucker Schwengel buried two free throws. The Rams still trailed by 13, but they were about to chip away. Shuff drove to the land and was hammered, but got no call. The Rams got the ball back and, this time down the floor, Neil Yockey stopped an popped for two.

The Sages answered with a put back, then, with a minute left in the third, Shuff passed to a cutting Schwengel inside for two, 30-19. The Rams forced another Sage turnover and brought it to the Ram end. They missed two offerings, but Turner fought for a rebound and kicked it out. That shot missed, but Yockey crashed the boards, grabbed the miss and put it up and in at the buzzer, getting the Monty lead under ten, 30-21.

The fourth quarter started with Turner blocking a Sage shot. The Sages reset and scored, but the Ram defense was still intense. Yockey forced a tie-up and got possession. England saved a ball and got it Yockey in transition. Yockey hit Turner underneath and he took a hit and scored, 32-23 with 5:00 to play. Monty called time-out.

On the next possession, Shuff blocked a shot and the Rams caused a turnover. Shuff drove to the free throw

line and knocked down a jumper, 32-25. The Rams trapped, trapped and trapped, again, almost getting turnovers, but the Sages escaped and scored.

The Rams came right back, as Zack England drove and dished to Turner for two, 34-27. Monty missed the next shot and the Rams got the board, Yockey got the ball to Turner again in transition for two, 34-29 with 2:10 to play. The Sages made 1-of-2 free throws, but the Rams got possession on the miss and Yockey brought the ball and never was stopped, taking it coast to coast for two, cutting the lead to just four points, 35-31 with 1:25 to play. Monty called time-out.

From that point, free throws came into play. The Ram fouled and the Sage's leading scorer, McCall (12 points) made both shots. Shuff made 1-of-2 free throws, then McCall missed the front end of a 1-and-1. The Rams had the ball with a minute left, down five and the Sage defense stiffened.

Monty knocked the ball out of bounds three times, before the Rams missed and the Sages got possession. McCall was fouled again and made both ends of the 1-and-1, 39-32 with 38 seconds left. Yockey drove and scored inside, 39-34. The Rams fouled Monty again, but with 18 seconds left, they made both shots, 41-34.

On the inbound, Tucker Schwengel, quarterback on the freshman football team, threw a court-length pass to a streaking Yockey. He caught the ball in the land and scored, 41-36, with 11 seconds left. Another foul sent Bales to the line and he split a pair, 42-36.

Schwengel triedanother long bomb to Yockey, but this time there were three defenders streaking back with him and the ball went out. Monty was fouled and Bidner made the last two free throws to cap the score, 44-36.

The Ram freshmen play at Mattoon on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Freshmen

Monticello 44, Shelbyville 36

Monty 14-10-6-14--44

Shelby 4-7-10-15--36

Ram stats: Neil Yockey 10 (5 FGs), Trent Shuff 9 (4 FGs, 1/2 FTs), Ethan Turner 7 (2 FGs, 3/5 FTs), Connor Biehler 6 (3 FGs), Zack England (0/1 FTs). Team FGs 15. Team FTs 6-of-10.

Monty stats: McCall 12 (4 FGs, 4/5 FTs), Bales 10 (3 FGs, 4/6 pt FGs), Trice 10 (2-2s, 2-3 pt FGs), Bidner 4 (4/8 FTs), Donohue 4 (2 FGs), Scott 4 (FG, 2/2 FTs). Team FGs 14 (2-3 pt: Trice 2). Team FTs 14-of-21.

(Late reported box scores from Argenta and St. Teresa games)

Freshmen

Argenta 33, Shelbyville 32

AO 7-10-6-10--33

Shelby 12-10-2-8--32

Ram stats: Darin Breeden 14 (6 FGs, 2/2 FTs), Shuff 8 (4 FGs), Turner 4 (FG, 2/2 FTs), England 2 (FG), Biehler 2 (FG), Yockey 2 (FG). Team FGs14. Team FTs 4-of-7.

AO stats: Sanderlin 12 9 (6 FGs), Hollis 7 (2-2s, 1-3 pt FGs), Jess 6 (3 FGs), D. Turner 4 (2 FGs), Long 2 (FG), Traponi 2 (FG) . Team FGs 16 (1-3 pt: Hollis). Team FTs 0

St. Teresa 44, Shelbyville 31

St T 11-11-10-10--44

Shelby 4-8-10-9--31

Ram stats: Turner 11 (4-2s, 1-3 pt FGs), Biehler 10 (5 FGs), Yockey 6 (2-2s, 2/2 FTs), Shuff 4 (2 FGs, 0/2 FTs). Team FGs 14 (1-3 pt: Turner). Team FTs 2-of-5.

St T stats: Houran 12 (6 FGs), Anderson 12 (4-2s, 1-3 pt FGs, 1/1 FTs), Less 9 (4 FGs, 1/2 FTs), Perrelle 7 (1-2, 1-3 pt FGs, 2/2 FTs), Althoff 2 (FG), Warrick 2 (FG). Team FGs 19 (1-3 pt: Perrelle). Team FTs 4-of-5.