Mount Pulaski boys fall on Senior Night to Illini Bluffs 67-60

[February 18, 2017]  MOUNT PULASKI -- Mount Pulaski hosted Senior Night on Friday night versus Illini Bluffs.

The Hilltoppers managed to keep the game close for three quarters but then the Tigers pulled away in the fourth quarter with the 67-60 win.

Mount Pulaski’s Gezus Oliver was on fire early, scoring 12 of the Hilltoppers 20 points in the first quarter. He would be outdone by sophomore Cam Scott from Illini Bluffs though. Scott poured in 14 of the Tigers 24 first quarter points, four of those buckets coming from the three point range.

The Hilltoppers got six points apiece in the second quarter from Seth Huff and Peyton Taylor and made a close game of it at the half. Illini Bluffs was up just 36-34 as the teams headed to the locker room.

A balanced scoring attack from both sides in the third quarter kept the game within reach for Mount Pulaski as the scored rested at 51-48, still in favor of Illini Bluffs, as the third quarter came to a close.

Thanks to some clutch free throw shooting by the Tigers in the fourth quarter, they were able to pull away with the 67-60 win.

Mount Pulaski did manage to hold the Tigers’ Division I prospect Taylor Bruninga relatively quiet with 15 points. The 6’7 senior for Illini Bluffs only made three shots from the field but was 9 for 11 shooting free throws on the night.

Cam Scott led Illini Bluffs with 22 points. Braden Cox scored 19 points for the Tigers.

For Mount Pulaski, Gezus Oliver was the leading scorer with 17 points while Peyton Taylor chipped in 16 points.

Mount Pulaski’s schedule for regional's is listed at the bottom of the article.

Mount Pulaski 60

Oliver 17
Taylor 16
Kretzinger 9
Huff 8
Aylesworth 7
Griesheim 3

Senior MPHS Band members honored Friday night were Eli Olson, Alyssa Stauffer, Alexis Bryne, Danielle Miller, Josh Dyer, TJ Benhart and Jake Trauner

Illini Bluffs 67

Scott 22
Cox 19
Bruninga 15
Bower 5
Alexander 4
Davis 2

Mount Pulaski Regional schedule

Mon., Feb. 20
Game 1 at 7:00 pm: (10) Roanoke (R.-Benson) vs. (11) DeLand (D.-Weldon)

Tue., Feb. 21
Game 2 at 6:00 pm: (4) Mount Pulaski vs. (14) Forsyth (Decatur Christian)
Game 3 at 7:30 pm: (8) Niantic (Sangamon Valley) vs. (13) Normal (Calvary Christian Academy)

Wed., Feb. 22
Game 4 at 6:00 pm: (1) Colfax (Ridgeview) vs. Winner Game 1
Game 5 at 7:30 pm: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3

Fri., Feb. 24
Game 6 at 7:00 pm: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5

[Teena Lowery]