Mount Pulaski Lady Toppers take second in Clinton Turkey Tussle

[November 23, 2015]   MOUNT PULASKI - On Saturday in the final game for the championship at the Clinton Turkey Tussle, the even though Mount Pulaski hung tough, the Lady Toppers could not out-best the Porta Blue Jays.

At the end of the game, Porta outscored the Toppers by 17 with a final score of 54-37.

At the game on Thursday night, the Lady Toppers (2 - 0) jumped out to a fast start in their second pool game of the Clinton Turkey Tussle Tournament.

Leading 28 – 6 after the first quarter the Lady Toppers never looked back.

Skylar Hayes led all scorers with 30, while Breanna Rentmeister tossed in 11 and Alyssa Bridge 6. Emily Wakeman led the team in rebounds bringing down 5 on the night while Bridge chalked up 8 assists and Hayes grabbed 6 steals. Rounding out the scoring was Callie Anderson and Morgan May, each with 3; and Tosha Boyer, Fikirte Mott, and Emily Wakeman, each with 2.

On Friday, the Lady Toppers advanced to the championship game with a win over Olympia 42 – 13.

Unlike their previous two games the Toppers had a slow start but finished strong. Only tallying 9 points in the opening quarter, the Lady Toppers turned up the steam and cruised to a solid victory earning a meet with Porta in the final contest for the championship.

Leading all scores was Skylar Hayes with 26. Ainsley Chandler grabbed 6 rebounds on the night as did Hayes, while Breanna Rentmeister had 5 steals and two blocked shots. Hayes also took 7 swipes to help her team to their third victory. Rounding out the scoring was Rentmeister 5, Alyssa Bridge 3, and 2 each from Shelby Bailey, Elizabeth Seibert, Emily Wakeman and Chandler.

On Saturday, the hot shooting Porta Blue Jays put a damper on the Lady Toppers in the final match of the Clinton Turkey Tussle downing the Toppers 54 - 37.

The best team the Lady Toppers have met so far came out in a smart, aggressive defense and shot lights out from long-range and the free throw line.

The combination proved too much this time for the Toppers, but it was also an important learning experience for the young group as they took second place in the tournament.

The Toppers adjusted as the game progressed and showed they can adapt and rely on each other.

Topper scoring was led by Skylar Hayes 11 and Ainsley Chandler with 8. Breanna Rentmeister and Shelby Bailey each contributed 6, Alyssa Bridge 5 and Ashley Houser 1. Chandler also grabbed 8 rebounds while Bridge had 5 assists and 4 steals.

[LDN with information received from Mount Pulaski High School]