Caleb Przykopanski is fouled under the basket in the Toppers Friday night home game versus the Cerro Gordo-Bement Broncos. Pryzkopanski finished with 8 points as the Toppers defeated the Broncos 55-46.
 

Toppers conquer the Broncos in Friday night basketball action

[December 05, 2015]   MOUNT PULASKI - The Toppers never trailed in a home game contest against the Cerro Gordo-Bement Broncos after Peyton Taylor broke a 5-5 tie with his basket with 4:09 remaining in the first quarter, winning 55 - 46.

Dalton Litterly's baseline jumper gave Mount Pulaski an 11-8 lead minutes later and G Oliver ended the first quarter with a three from the corner that gave the Toppers a 16-10 lead.

Litterly came out shooting in the second quarter from the corner again and Mount Pulaski was about to go on a tear. Oliver's steal at half court seconds later resulted in the sophomore making a nice move. Upon quickly darting towards the basket, he paused to let traffic pass by and then smoothly tossed the ball in from about six feet and nothing but net allowed Mount Pulaski to go on top 20-10.

The Toppers continued to play great team ball during this run as Litterly found Przykopanski running through the lane and the 6'4" senior took the pass and promptly threw up a floater that was good for two more points for the home team.

Next it was senior Will Stewart with his nice move in the paint as he soared above the defenders and laid it in for a 24 - 10 lead.

Finally Oliver hit another three from long range and the Toppers had put together a 11 - 0 run on the Broncos and the lead was now 27-10.

With 5:13 on the clock the Broncos called a timeout to try to regroup. It worked momentarily as the Broncos finally got on the scoreboard in the second quarter at the 4:36 mark with a couple threes and a few free throws but Mount Pulaski was able to keep pace and maintain a comfortable lead.

Oliver and teammate Lukas Aylesworth each scored 4 points in the final minutes before the half to give Mount Pulaski a 35-18 lead going into the locker room.

The last nice play of the half was a center court steal by Stewart, who then dished it off to a speeding Aylesworth. Aylesworth's layup right before the buzzer sounded was perfect and the crowd appreciated the Toppers outstanding play in the first half.

Following a fabulous performance by the MPHS Pep Band at halftime, the Toppers picked up right where they left off with Aylesworth getting the first basket for the purple and gold in the third quarter. Aylesworth and Przykopanski would both lead the Toppers with 6 points apiece in the third quarter and Mount Pulaski held on to a 47-32 lead.

Brett Huff led the Toppers fourth quarter charge as the boys jumped out to a 52-32 lead. However, Cerro Gordo-Bement still had some hot hands and it was the Broncos who went on a 9-0 run that forced Mount Pulaski to call a timeout to regroup as the gap was quickly closing, 52-41 now, the Toppers lead.

Thankfully at the 3:03 mark Litterly connected for a three and the momentum shifted back to the Toppers, 55-41. Or so it seemed. The Broncos hit another three with 2:49 remaining and the score was 55-44. Upon Aylesworth missing a string of free throws, the ball landed back in the hands of the Broncos and again they scored with 1:42 on the clock, 55-46 now the score. The Broncos did have another opportunity at the free throw line in the final minute as Litterly fouled out, but they could not take advantage and Mount Pulaski was able to put a W in the books, 55-46 the final.

Oliver led the Toppers with 12 points and Aylesworth and Litterly were in double digits with 11 and 10 respectively.

For the Broncos Frankie Foran led the way with 15 points and Joe Tenney chipped in 13 points.

The Toppers Varsity record improves to 4-2.

Meanwhile the Mount Pulaski Junior Varsity picked up their first win of the season Friday night in an exciting double-overtime contest with the Broncos. Mount Pulaski won the contest 49-44 with Eli Griesheim scoring 7 of his game-high 22 points in the double overtime. Eli Olson had 10 points and Seth Huff 8 points in the JV game. The JV evened their record at 1-1 with the win.

Mount Pulaski does not play again until next Friday night at home against South Fork.

Mount Pulaski scoring Varsity

Oliver 12
Aylesworth 11
Litterly 10
Przykopanski 8
Stewart 5
Brett Huff 5
Taylor 4

[Teena Lowery]