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The game was filled with turnovers and just all-around
fundamental errors as both teams were off to a slow start. Michael
Lowery was the lone bright spot in the first quarter as he scored
seven points and kept the Toppers close to Bulldogs. The Toppers
trailed 11-9 at the end of one quarter.
Dalton Litterly immediately tied the game at 11-11 with a layup to
start second quarter action. However, a chain of turnovers by Mount
Pulaski led to a series of easy layups for St. Teresa and they
pulled away 19-13. The Toppers were just struggling early in the
game to hold onto the ball and the Bulldogs were taking advantage of
every opportunity. At the half St. Teresa was up 21-17 over Mount
Pulaski.
Matt Amidon's two points quickly in the third quarter edged Mount
Pulaski closer 21-19. Lowery also took advantage of St. Teresa
throwing the inbounds pass right into his arms under the Mount
Pulaski basket and he quickly converted that for easy two points to
keep Mount Pulaski in pace, yet trailing, 23-21. The St. Teresa
coach got his team fired up after that mental mistake and they
responded by going on a 12-0 run on the Toppers. Finally Lukas
Aylesworth hit a free throw to break the Toppers scoreless streak.
Brett Huff followed up with a three pointer to make the score 38-25.
Will Stewart was fouled going to the basket and he sunk two free
throws with 3.2 seconds remaining in the third quarter and the
Toppers managed to just trail 38-28 at the end of three quarters of
action.
The Bulldogs came out firing in the fourth quarter early to extend
their lead to 44-28. Baskets by Huff and Peyton Taylor kept the
Toppers hopes alive, albeit they still trailed the Bulldogs 46-32.
St. Teresa continued to pull away and baskets by Amidon and Brayden
Curry were simply not enough as the Toppers ran out of gas and lost
54-40. Michael Lowery led the Toppers with 9 points while Curry,
Brett Huff and Will Stewart each chipped in five points.
Decatur LSA
Tuesday night the Toppers were back in action at the tournament
facing the number four seed Decatur LSA. The Toppers handled the
ball much better this game and came away with the 67-59 victory.
Peyton Taylor started the scoring for the Toppers with a layup but
LSA answered back with a three and the 3-2 early edge. Matt Amidon
tossed in two points to give the lead back to the Toppers and
Michael Lowery hit a jumper to extend that lead to 6-3. Dalton
Litterly's two points made the game 8-4 in favor of the Toppers and
Beau Collier's drive to the lane fueled the Toppers energy and gave
them the 10-4 lead. From this point on the Toppers were not looking
in the rear view mirror, as Beau Collier continued driving to the
basket for another two points and the 12-5 lead. At the end of one
quarter of play the Toppers led the Lions 12-7.
To start the second quarter Amidon decided to cruise through the
lane for two points and a 14-7 Toppers lead. Meanwhile, the other
Collier twin, Blake, also wanted in on a little fast-lane action and
he got in the driver's seat as well to extend the Toppers lead to
18-8. Meanwhile laid-back, long-armed Lowery decided to take it easy
and pull up for a three and quickly in the second quarter the score
was 21-10 in favor of the Toppers. Beau Collier, who was playing a
spectacular first half, stole the ball and his two points that
resulted widened the lead to 23-10. Lowery's basket on a nice assist
from Amidon made the score 25-12 as the Toppers were on fire. Brett
Huff came off the bench to drain a three pointer and also hit a long
jumper for two points and at the half the Toppers held on to a 30-23
lead.
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Beau Collier continued to be on a scoring rampage and his three in
the third extended the Toppers lead to 33-25. Amidon continued to
play aggressively in the third quarter as well and his five
consecutive points led the Toppers to a 38-27 lead.
Lowery's drive to the basket with 2:46 on the clock extended the
Toppers lead to 44-30. The Lions however came firing back with a
some much needed threes that resulted in nine unanswered points and
a 46-41 game, still in favor of Mount Pulaski. Huff's two points at
the end of three put the Toppers up 48-41 with eight minutes left to
play.
Baskets by Litterly, Amidon and Lowery would give Mount Pulaski a
comfortable ten point lead, 55-45, with 6:00 left to play. The Lions
continued to roar back though and pulled to within three points,
58-55, around the 2:00 mark. The final two minutes of play saw the
Lions forced to foul the Toppers. Twins Beau and Blake Collier,
along with Amidon, would go 7 of 8 at the charity stripe in the
final seconds securing the Mount Pulaski victory 67-59.
Matt Amidon led the Toppers scoring with 16 points while Beau
Collier was close behind with 15 points. Michael Lowery added 11
points and Brett Huff chipped in nine points for the now 4-7
Toppers.
The Toppers next game in the tournament is Saturday at 3:00 pm
versus Heyworth. The Toppers will also play on Monday but the time
of that game will be determined following Saturday's game.
Mount Pulaski scoring vs. St. Teresa
Lowery 9
Huff 5
Stewart 5
Curry 5
Amidon 4
Taylor 4
Beau Collier 2
Blake Collier 2
Litterly 2
Dierker 1
Aylesworth 1
Mount Pulaski scoring vs. LSA
Amidon 16
Beau Collier 15
Lowery 11
Huff 9
Blake Collier 8
Litterly 4
Taylor 4
[Teena Lowery]
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