Mount Pulaski takes Sangamon Valley by storm Toppers pick up 10th win on the season

[January 20, 2016]  MOUNT PULASKI - Lukas Aylesworth is pictured in the eye of the storm, Sangamon Valley Storm that is. Aylesworth led Mount Pulaski with 17 points Tuesday night as the Toppers easily downed the Storm 70-51.

Will Stewart also had a great game for the Toppers, pouring in 10 points and pulling down 8 rebounds. Super sophomore Peyton Taylor was also close to another double-double as he pulled down 9 rebounds and scored 12 points.

Mount Pulaski never trailed in the game and took the lead for good on a hook shot by Taylor with 2:26 left in the first quarter, 9-7 the lead. Seconds later a lob to Taylor on the inbounds pass was also good for two and the Toppers lead was 11-7. Following a couple free throws by Aylesworth, Mount Pulaski capped off its 8-0 run with a nice play by the duo of Aylesworth and Taylor. First it was Taylor pulling down the defensive rebound and firing a bullet pass down-court to the speeding Aylesworth, who managed to easily outrun the pack and lay the ball in nicely for a Toppers 15-7 first quarter lead.

Brett Huff quickly extended the lead to 18-7 early in the second quarter. Brandon Huff chipped in a free throw to make it 19-7 and then the game got a little careless for both teams. Turnovers plus missed shots equaled a sloppy second quarter for both teams. Sangamon Valley got the best of the purple and gold in this stretch though by going on a 9-2 run.

The Storm cut the Toppers lead to 21-16 with 2:15 left to play in the half. Despite the sloppy second quarter, Mount Pulaski managed to hold onto a decent lead going into the half, 24-16 the score.

The Toppers were full speed ahead and firing on all cylinders in the third quarter. Stewart and Dalton Litterly led the attack with 8 and 10 points respectively in the third quarter. Stewart's first basket of the quarter came when the senior traveled coast to coast and as he patiently watched his layup roll around and around and bounce out of the rim, he quickly grabbed the rebound and put it back up strong for the two points. Then it was Stewart giving Mount Pulaski their biggest lead so far, 36-23, on the nice assist from Litterly at the 4:32 mark. Aylesworth kept the Toppers on track with his drive to the basket that made the score 40-27.

Next it was Litterly's turn and what a show he put on. In a matter of about 30 seconds the senior went on his own impressive 8-0 run. First Litterly drilled back to back threes and following a timeout by the Storm, he managed to steal the ball and score two in the paint. This performance would give Mount Pulaski a 48-27 lead, now the biggest lead of the evening.

Brett Huff took his turn next with five quick points and even though Sangamon Valley answered back with a bucket every now and then, it was becoming increasingly clear they were not going to catch the Toppers. Stewart's bank shot was good just before the end of the third quarter and Mount Pulaski was cruising thru the Storm 55-39.

The Toppers continued to blaze through the Storm in the fourth quarter and it was junior Eli Griesheim scoring the final five points to seal the 70-51 victory.

With the win the Toppers improve to 10-8 on the season.

All five starters scored in double figures for Mount Pulaski: Aylesworth (17), Brett Huff (13), Litterly (12), Taylor (12) and Stewart (10). Miles Hutchins led Sangamon Valley with 11 points.

Mount Pulaski easily won the Junior Varsity game, 53-21.

Mount Pulaski hosts Delavan Friday night for Homecoming with the Junior Varsity game tipping off at 6 p.m.

Mount Pulaski Varsity scoring

Lukas Aylesworth 17
Brett Huff 13
Dalton Litterly 12
Peyton Taylor 12
Will Stewart 10
Eli Griesheim 5
Brandon Huff 1

Sangamon Valley Varsity scoring

Miles Hutchins 11
Mason Hutchins 8
Jimmy Staab 8
Jacob Oakleaf 7
Wyatt Royce 6
Allen Brown 6
Wyatt Beals 4
Seth Manion 1

Mount Pulaski Junior Varsity scoring

Seth Huff 10
Nate Dyer 7
Eli Griesheim 7
Jonathan Sheehorn 5
G Oliver 5
Eli Olson 4
Brayden Trimmer 4
Trevor Hayes 3
Zac Drake 2
Tanner Farris 2
Ben Fricke 2
Sebastian Scassifero 2

Sangamon Valley Junior Varsity scoring

Seth Manion 10
Mason Hemingway 4
Noah Wilhelm 3
Tyler Deaton 2
Bailee Pickel 2

[Teena Lowery]