HOT SPRINGS -- Monticello finally got to celebrate again in the state championship game.
The Billies defeated Subiaco Academy 57-42 Friday in the Class 4A boys state championship game at Bank of the Ozarks Arena to earn the school's first basketball state championship since 1976 and its third overall.
This one was particularly gratifying for Coach Wayne Sherrer after watching Monticello (27-1) lose to Brookland in the semifinals last season and to Pottsville in the quarterfinals in the 2013.
"I take a lot of gratification from seeing the growth of our young guys," said Sherrer, who is in his 28th season at the Drew County school. "It's not about me. It's about them becoming young men and becoming better men, better athletes, and growing.
"That's what I take my gratification from, seeing that."
Junior guard Tyree Nolen led the Billies with 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting. Junior guard D.J. Franklin had 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks, and senior forward Randy Stanley added 12 points.
The Billies shot 22 of 46 (47.8 percent) from the floor and outrebounded the Trojans 39-26.
Subiaco Academy (22-10) cut the lead to 38-35 with 4:19 remaining, but Monticello pulled away for good with a 12-0 run that extended its lead to 50-35 with 1:33 remaining.
"We had better ball security," said Sherrer, whose team's only loss came against 4A-8 Conference rival Hamburg. "We were able to turn up our defense a little bit and take care of the basketball. We had some guys step up and make some shots that were just momentum-type plays."
The Trojans simply had no answer for the Billies down the stretch,.
"Bottom line, we shot 14 of 50 from the floor," Coach Tony Tencleve said. "You're not going to beat good teams like that."
Senior guard Cash Krueger led Subiaco Academy with 15 points. Senior forwards Evan Strobel and Jonathan Vines added seven points each for the Trojans, who committed 19 turnovers.
Monticello used a 9-0 run to take an 11-4 lead midway through the first quarter, but Subiaco used a 10-2 run of its own to take a 14-13 lead on Kelly Hollis' jumper.
With the game tied at 15-15 entering the second quarter, the Billies scored the first five points of the quarter for a 20-15 lead. Krueger's three-pointer pulled the Trojans to within 22-21 with 1:32 left in the half, but he missed the ensuing free throw.
The Billies led 22-21 going into halftime and shot 37 percent (10 of 27) from the floor, but they were 0 of 6 from behind the three-point line. Subiaco shot 7 of 21 (33.3 percent) in the first half.
Monticello went on a 12-2 run in the third quarter to open a 34-23 lead with 37 seconds left. The Billies held the Trojans to five points in the third quarter and led 34-26 going into the fourth quarter.
It was Subiaco Academy's first state championship game appearance.
"It's very special," said Tencleve, who is in his 30th season at the Logan County school. "They don't feel that way right now, but nobody has done this at [Subiaco].
"When you play this caliber of team, everything has to go well."
Sherrer praised Monticello's five seniors -- Stanley, Sadaeyes Miller, JaRoderick Scruggs, Dontavia Clary, Braelin Daniel -- for their unselfish play.
"They're the foundation of everything," Sherrer said. "They're one of the best senior classes you can hope to be around. They came to work every day. You didn't have to wonder who was going to be there.
"They took leadership and they took ownership of this team from the very beginning."
Sports on 03/14/2015