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 The championship game was close the entire evening with
Chester-East holding the advantage at every quarter. The Panthers
led 5-1 at the end of one quarter on a three by Will Ewald and two
points by Noah Funk. Dustin Murphy made the lone free throw for
Mount Pulaski's only first quarter point.
Both teams were even in scoring in the second quarter with eight
points apiece. Isaac Dewberry and Thomas Morris each chipped in two
points in addition to Funk's three pointer and a free throw by Ewald
for Chester-East. Dustin Murphy had the hot hand for the Bruins in
the second quarter, scoring six points, while Brandon Batchelder
added two points. The Panthers held the 13-9 lead at the half.
The Panthers edged the Bruins in third quarter scoring 10-9. It was
Jaden Pollice who led the Panther's scoring in the third quarter
with three points and teammates Morris and Funk scored two points
apiece. Meanwhile for Mount Pulaski, Grant Davis hit a three to
allow the Bruins to keep pace and his teammates, Drew Martin,
Brandon Kretzinger and Batchelder each added two points. The
Panthers continued to lead 23-18 at the end of the third quarter.
Although Mount Pulaski outscored Chester-East 10-9 in the final
quarter it was not enough. The Panthers continued to play a poised
basketball game under pressure and with 2:00 left to play in the
game held on to a 27-26 lead. The Bruins, however, would go ahead
28-27 with 1:46 remaining as Batchelder rebounded a missed shot by
Davis and put it back up for the lead.
Chester-East would run time off the clock until 51.5 seconds when
Ewald found nothing but net just inside the three point line. His
basket put the Panthers in the lead 29-28.
Mount Pulaski had a chance with 33.1 seconds remaining but a pass
on the inbounds play was intercepted by the Panthers' Pollice. The
Bruins quickly fouled Pollice but he missed the free throw and as
the players fought for the rebound the jump ball was called and the
arrow pointed towards Chester-East. Once again Mount Pulaski quickly
fouled. This time Funk went to the line and he made one at the
charity stripe to put the Panthers up 30-28.
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Mount Pulaski had possession of the ball with 22.9 seconds but
Kretzinger's shot would bounce off the front of the rim and into the
hands of the Panthers' Funk. The Bruins again were quick to foul,
sending Funk to the line where he made both shots and gave the
Panthers a 32-28 lead and some breathing room.
Martin would attempt a three for Mount Pulaski that came up short
and as Morris rebounded the ball he was fouled. He would be unable
to make those free throws in the final seconds but it did not
matter. Chester-East ended up with the final rebound of the game and
the victory.
The Panthers fought hard and earned the 2015 Logan County 7th Grade
Championship. The Panthers improve to 14-2 on the season under the
guidance of head coach Josh Komnick and assistant Jason Toft.
The Bruins, who started the season dropping the first three games,
while winning the next 17, fall to 17-4 overall under the coaching
of Brian Erlenbush and Doug Martin. Congratulations to both teams on
a well-played game.
[Teena Lowery]
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