Mount Pulaski boys suffer tough loss to Decatur LSA in the St. Teresa Tournament

[December 29, 2017] 

There is a saying that goes, “Third time’s a charm.” Not that Mount Pulaski was banking on this expression Thursday night, but it sure would have been nice to ring true in the Hilltoppers third matchup of the season with Decatur LSA. The Lions defeated the Hilltoppers in the two previous games this season between the two teams.

Thursday night Mount Pulaski took the court in the 7:30 p.m. game versus Decatur LSA in the Decatur St. Teresa Tournament and it was a battle from the tip-off.

Mount Pulaski trailed by just one point at the half, 25-24 the score, and the Hilltoppers had faith.

Mount Pulaski fell farther behind in the third quarter until senior Nate Dyer caught fire and scored eight points in a row to tie the game. Dyer's three near the end of the third quarter was just the beginning of the comeback.

Early in the fourth quarter Dyer got the finger roll to go in and he connected for another three to tie the game at 48-48.

Gezus Oliver then scored a basket to give Mount Pulaski a 50-48 lead around the 5:00 mark.

Moments later Peyton Taylor put the Hilltoppers up 53-49.

The Mount Pulaski crowd was feeling lucky when Oliver hit a three to give the Hilltoppers a 56-51 lead with just over two minutes to play.

The Lions came roaring back in the next minute and cut the lead to 56-55 with :59 left to play. The Lions would take the lead on free throws and sink 7 of 11 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter. The Lions managed a 10-0 run to finish the game and finish off the Hilltoppers, who were a measly 1-for-7 from the free throw line for the game.

The final score in this one was a crushing blow to the Hilltoppers, who suffered their third loss to the Lions by a score of 61-56.

Peyton Taylor led Mount Pulaski with 25 points and 14 rebounds. Gezus Oliver tossed in 10 points for Mount Pulaski.

The Hilltoppers will play Heyworth in the third place game at 6 p.m. tonight.

Mount Pulaski’s record falls to 10-4 on the season. Three losses came at the hands of Decatur LSA and the fourth loss of the season came just before Christmas to Williamsville.

Special note: Mount Pulaski senior Peyton Taylor is chasing 1,000 career points. Taylor is just four points shy of the milestone as the Hilltoppers tip-off tonight against Heyworth.

Scores by quarter:

Mount Pulaski 11 24 41 56
Decatur LSA 14 25 48 61

Mount Pulaski (56)

Taylor 25
Oliver 10
Dyer 8
Kretzinger 5
Huff 4
Murphy 4

Decatur LSA (61)

Guske 16
Karsten 16
Schaal 15
Fiala 6
Todd 4
Walls 4

[Teena Lowery]