Monroe City Escapes Linn to Seal Second Straight Quarterfinal Appearance

The Monroe City boys outlasted Linn 50-46 in the Class 3 sectionals at Linn Tuesday. Linn trailed 48-46 with possession inside 30 seconds.

Eric Duick with the call of Deion White’s layup on Glory 97 and centralmoinfo.com. The Wildcats previously drilled a deep 3-pointer, and the Panthers missed the ensuing one-and-one free throw ahead of their clinching defensive stop. Monroe City held a 30-24 advantage at half, but after a quick Linn bucket, the lead hovered between one and five the rest of the way. Up one in the middle of the fourth, the 25-2 Panthers turned to standout guard Joshua Talton.

Talton delivered 14 points, and fellow junior Blake Hays offered a team-high 15. Monroe City head coach Brock Edris analyzed the narrow victory.

Edris praised Hays’ clutch performance.

Monroe City hosts O’Fallon Christian in the quarterfinals Friday. The Panthers lost to the Eagles in the 2018 sectionals.

Monroe City head coach Brock Edris: