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 Mount Pulaski nearly pulled off the upset by overcoming a 15-point
deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 48-48. Lukas
Aylesworth, who led the Toppers with a career high 22 points, was
the hero in regulation as he sank the tying free throws with 3.9
seconds remaining in the game. As a team the Toppers outscored the
Bulldogs 21-6 in that terrific fourth quarter comeback which
included nine points from Aylesworth, six points from Peyton Taylor,
and two each from Will Stewart, Dalton Litterly and Brett Huff.
The Bulldogs led the contest all evening and it looked like by the
end of the third quarter there was no doubt St. Teresa would be
playing for the tournament championship.
However, the Toppers had other thoughts in mind. With the score
42-27 in favor of the hosts to start the fourth quarter, Mount
Pulaski was on a mission. All of the starters scored in the fourth
quarter and as Aylesworth hit a basket around the 2:00 minute mark
to pull the Toppers to within five points, it looked like the team
had a chance. Those chances improved when St. Teresa threw the ball
away with :20 seconds left and just a 48-44 lead. Despite a miss by
Brett Huff, Litterly rebounded the ball and put it back up for two
with :17 seconds left to make it 48-46. With less than :10 seconds
remaining Mount Pulaski fouled Isaiah Bond and fortunately for
Topper fans, Bond missed his free throw and Taylor grabbed the
rebound. Bond then turned around and fouled Aylesworth with less
than :05 seconds in the game. The two free throws were good by the
junior and mission accomplished part one, a tie game for the
Toppers.
A last minute attempt for the win fell short by the Bulldogs and to
overtime we go. Manny Green's two free throws put the Bulldogs up
50-49 in overtime and then it was Sydney Rhoades getting a bucket to
fall to put the home team ahead 52-49. Then it was Litterly's turn
at the free throw line and his two from the charity stripe were
good, 52-51 the score with just around a minute left to play.
[to top of second column] |
However, Bond and JaColby Boston quickly extended the overtime lead
with their baskets, 56-51. Mount Pulaski just could not get the ball
to fall as the bonus time was dwindling down and Mount Pulaski was
running out of time to pull off the upset win. Finally Boston's two
free throws in the final seconds sealed the win for St. Teresa,
58-51.
St. Teresa advances to the championship game tonight at 7:30 p.m.
versus Riverton.
The Toppers record falls to 1-2 in the tournament with both losses
coming in overtime and will play later today at 4:30 p.m.
Mount Pulaski scoring:
Aylesworth 22
Brett Huff 11
Taylor 10
Litterly 6
Stewart 2
St. Teresa scoring
Boston 19
Bond 12
Smith 23
Green 2
Rhoades 2
[Teena Lowery]
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