Mount Pulaski Hilltoppers finish fourth in the Decatur St. Teresa Tournament
Taylor hits 1,000

[January 16, 2018] 

Mount Pulaski finished the Decatur St. Teresa Tournament with a 2-2 record and earned fourth place Friday night after falling to Heyworth 63-57.

The Hilltoppers started strong and had an 11-5 lead after senior Peyton Taylor scored his 1,000 point on a bucket in the lane with 1:34 showing on the first quarter clock. The big man was fouled and made the free throw on the play.

Peyton Taylor connects for his 1,000 career point Friday night at Decatur St. Teresa

Fans react to Taylor's milestone

Taylor acknowledges the crowd during the next timeout

Brandon Kretzinger’s baseline layup gave Mount Pulaski a 14-8 lead to close out the first quarter.

Gezus Oliver wasted no time getting the Hilltoppers on the board in the second quarter. His layup stretched the lead to 16-8. At the 5:45 mark Kretzinger connected for a three and Mount Pulaski looked to be in control with a 21-11 lead. That lead dwindled away with Heyworth catching fire and even though Taylor scored six straight points to close out the second quarter, Heyworth had fought their back in this one, trailing just 27-25 at halftime.

Heyworth would take a 32-29 lead early in the third quarter and it would be the Hilltoppers having to fight their way back. Mount Pulaski was 6-for-6 at the free throw line mid-way through the third quarter and after Taylor banked one in at the 2:19 mark the game was tied, 37-37. Oliver sank two more free throws to reclaim the lead for the Hilltoppers, 39-37. Back and forth the game would go to finish out the third quarter. It would be a brand new ballgame to start the final quarter with the score knotted at 41 apiece.

Taylor continued to have a solid offensive night for the Hilltoppers and his jumper from the outside gave Mount Pulaski a 45-44 lead around the 5:00 mark. Seth Huff tied the game at 47-47 with a three but after that the momentum swung the way of the Hornets. Despite ten fourth quarter points from Huff, Heyworth just took off.

The Hornets built a six-point lead and the Hilltoppers couldn’t recover. Mount Pulaski was 5-for-11 from the free throw line down the stretch and Heyworth was 14-for-17 from the line in the final minutes. A difference maker for sure.

The Hilltoppers fell by a final score of 63-57 and finished in fourth place in the tournament.

Peyton Taylor finished with 22 points so his career total sits at 1,018 and counting.


Scores by quarter:

Mount Pulaski 14 27 41 57
Heyworth 8 25 41 63

Mount Pulaski (57)

Taylor 22
Huff 10
Oliver 10
Martin 7
Kretzinger 5
Hayes 3

Heyworth (63)

Tate Eller 24
McCubbins 10
Witten 10
Schultz 8
Cilento 6
Bobsin 3
Tazden Eller 1

[Teena Lowery]