Mount Pulaski Lady Toppers battle
in 49-45 win over Sages
[December 05, 2025]
The Mount Pulaski Lady Toppers improved to 6-0 on Thursday
night with a 49-45 win over the Monticello Sages.
The road win did not come easy. Both teams experienced some cold
shooting spells as frigid as the temperatures outside. Only one girl
on the court was hotter than a furnace and that was senior Aly
Murphy, who tossed in a season-high 30 points.
After Mount Pulaski raced to a 10-1 lead to start the game, the
Sages cut the lead in half. The score was 10-5 when the quarter
ended, with Aly Murphy tossing in seven points and Elayna Marten
adding a three.
Monticello tied the game in the second quarter and it was Murphy who
scored six straight points to put Mount Pulaski back in front. With
Addison Brown hitting nothing but net from beyond the arc, Mount
Pulaski was able to maintain a 21-16 lead at the half.
Mount Pulaski went up 25-18 early in the third quarter but those
Sages ran off a string of baskets to take a 27-25 lead. It was Brown
to the rescue with another three and a 28-27 Mount Pulaski lead. The
Sages answered with a bucket with 12.7 seconds left and they
remained on top 29-28 when the quarter came to a close.
The fourth quarter was a wild ride. The Sages went up 34-28 quickly
and the Lady Toppers had to battle back. A three from Brown was a
good start to the fire and after Ella Martin drove the lane and
dished it off to Murphy, she scored and Mount Pulaski was down just
38-35. Around the 4:00 mark Murphy was able to get a couple
opportunities at the free throw line and she went 4-for-4 and the
Lady Toppers were just down by one point. The Sages stretched the
lead with a three but Mount Pulaski refused to give up. A three by
Audrey Cooper at the 2:40 mark left the Sages clinging to a 45-44
lead. Murphy put the Lady Toppers ahead at the free throw line at
the 2:18 mark and with the Mount Pulaski defense forcing turnovers,
the Sages never really got a good shot off the rest of the game and
they kept fouling the wrong player. Murphy sank two more free throws
with 32.0 seconds left, giving Mount Pulaski a 48-45 advantage.
After the Sages missed a layup on their next possession, they
quickly fouled Murphy again after the rebound and the senior hit one
free throw to settle the final score with 8.6 seconds left.
[to top of second column] |
Mount Pulaski squeaks out a 49-45 win and keeps
their perfect record intact.
Monticello won the JV game 33-13.
Mount Pulaski’s next game is Monday night at Midwest Central at 6:00
p.m.
Varsity scoring
Mount Pulaski 50
Murphy 30
Brown 9
Marten 5
Cooper 5
Monticello 45
Weidner 19
Cresap 7
Melton 6
Sheppard 5
Leatherwood 4
Robinson 4
JV scoring
Mount Pulaski 13
Johnston 6
Marten 2
Werts 2
Bender 2
Rhoades 1
Monticello 33
Beaver 10
Connor 7
Shore 4
Grabarczyk 4
Melron 3
Rawdin 2
Miller 2
White 1
[Teena Lowery]
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