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 The Lions took an early lead on a three-point basket by Parker
Nichols to give LSA the first points of the game. The Hilltoppers
started a little slower, with the first basket scored for the purple
and gold by Brett Huff with 5:42 left in the first quarter, tying
the score at 3-3. Peyton Taylor added six points down low for Mount
Pulaski. LSA would then hit a few jump shots and free throws, giving
the Lions a 16-9 lead to end the first quarter.
Brett Huff knocked down a quick three pointer to get the Toppers
going in the second. LSA’s Nichols countered that effort with a
baseline three ball of his own, boosting the Lions lead to 19-12.
Junior Eli Griesham contributed two points on a put back to pull the
Toppers within 5.
With 5:50 to go in the second quarter, Parker Nichols sunk his third
three of the game, giving his team the 22-14 lead. After a made free
throw by Lion Grant Karsten, senior Hilltopper Dalton Litterly drove
the lane for two points, making the score 23-16. Six-foot seven-inch
sophomore Peyton Taylor would contribute four points in the paint.
However, the Toppers’ defense grew somewhat lackadaisical to end the
second quarter and they would trail 31-24 heading into the locker
room.
LSA surged out of the locker room to score five quick points on a
jumper by MJ Thomas and a three pointer by Nichols to tally the
score at 36-24. Brett Huff’s lone made free throw would be Mount
Pulaski’s only point of the quarter until Litterly found Taylor for
two points under the basket at the 4:45 mark, closing the deficit to
nine points.
The Lions would extend their lead to 40-27 before a Mount Pulaski
timeout would be called with 4:01 remaining in the third quarter.
Litterly took a key charge at the 2:29 mark, and a new tide started
to turn for the Toppers. Brandon Huff checked into the game and made
one free throw and a lay up under the basket to inch closer to the
Lions at 42-32. Litterly would drive and score the final points of
the quarter for the Toppers, while Thomas and Nichols would each hit
a free throw to bring the score to 44-34 going into the fourth
quarter.
A cross-court pass from Taylor to Brandon Huff lowered gap to eight
for the Toppers. After a sequence of back and forth baskets by both
teams, the Lions found themselves up by only four points (51-47)
with 2:20 remaining in the game. A rebound and put back Litterly
propelled the Toppers within two, 51-49.
But, it was Aylesworth who decided he wanted to play the hero. With
:18.5 seconds left in the game, Aylesworth hit one of two free
throws to keep his team within two. He then tied it up under the
basket with :08 seconds to go, sending the game into the first
overtime at 55-55.
[to top of second column] |
The Hilltoppers struck first in overtime with a Litterly drive to
the basket giving his team their first lead of the game. Taylor
would add two more quick points to grow the lead to 59-55. LSA’s
Craig Austin would score two of his seven points, shortening Mount
Pulaski’s lead by two. After multiple missed free throws, the
Hilltoppers found themselves up by only two with under :15 seconds
to play. It would be Lion Grant Karsten who would nail an easy lay
up to send the game to its second overtime, tied at 60.
The second overtime would ultimately be determined by free throws.
The Hilltoppers finished the game out shooting just 1 for 5 from the
free throw line in double OT, while LSA was 5 for 8, bringing the
final score to 68-65.
Parker Nichols led the Lions with 24 points, while Peyton Taylor led
the Toppers with 16.
Mount Pulaski falls to 4 wins and 7 losses on the season.
The Toppers are back in action Tuesday night when they play Heyworth
at 7:30 p.m. at St. Teresa in Decatur.
The purple and gold are looking to snap a five game losing streak
and eclipse the Mount Pulaski High Schools boys’ basketball
program’s 1500th win.
Mount Pulaski scoring
Peyton Taylor – 16
Lukas Aylesworth – 15
Brett Huff – 11
Dalton Litterly – 10
Brandon Huff – 5
Eli Griesham – 4
Will Stewart – 4
LSA scoring –
Parker Nichols – 24
Grant Karsten – 17
Cameron Wells – 9
MJ Thomas – 9
Craig Austin – 7
Brennen Mitchell – 2
[Cady Lowery] |
