Toppers season ends in regionals

[February 19, 2019] 

The Mount Pulaski Hilltoppers lost to the Blue Ridge Knights 33-30 Monday night in the opening round of regional action at Farmer City.

The Hilltoppers started the game off with a quick 5-0 lead after a three from freshman Lane Murphy and a coast-to-coast layup from Drew Martin.

Lane Murphy hit another bucket at the 3:21 mark to make the score 7-4.

A corner three from Grant Davis gave Mount Pulaski a 10-6 lead at the 2:22 mark and that lead would stay intact as the first quarter closed.

The Hilltoppers extended the lead to 12-6 immediately in the second quarter as Joey Davis scored off the offensive rebound.

The Knights hit a streak and came back to tie the game 12-12 at the 4:50 mark. The two teams traded buckets and the lead until a long three from Lane Murphy gave Mount Pulaski a 19-16 lead.

Drew Martin tossed up a three that was good with 1:58 left in the half and the Hilltoppers owned the 22-16 lead.

Blue Ridge converted a three-point play before the half ended and the score was settled at 22-19, in favor of Mount Pulaski.

The third quarter was rather bizarre. Mount Pulaski started with possession of the ball, Blue Ridge stole the ball and began to just hold the ball in order to run time off the clock. Lane Nichols did manage a basket in the quarter for Blue Ridge to bring the score to 22-21, but after that one basket the Knights held the ball immediately again on their next possession.

Very little passing, just holding the ball near half-court. After holding the ball for nearly six minutes of the quarter, the Knights took a shot with 8.6 seconds left and missed.

Mount Pulaski's Grant Davis shot a three at the third quarter buzzer but was off target and the beyond-boring quarter closed with the Hilltoppers clinging to a 22-21 lead.

Fourth quarter action was not what Hilltopper fans wanted. Blue Ridge took the lead on a three by Wayne Bowns, 24-22 the score with 5:26 remaining in the game.

Martin's bank shot seconds later tied the game 24-24.

But another three out of the Knights, this time by Nick Burrow, reclaimed the Knights lead, 27-24. The Knights extended the lead to 28-24 after a foul shot as the clock showed 2:30.

With Mount Pulaski desperate for a good shot, Todd Kelly came through but his basket was waved off after it just tipped the top of the backboard before dropping through the net.

Mount Pulaski would get another opportunity to score. Grant Davis hit a field goal and drew the foul to pull Mount Pulaski to within 28-27 as 1:41 remained.

Mount Pulaski plans their strategy during a timeout late in the regional game versus Blue Ridge. The Hilltoppers were defeated 33-30 down the stretch by the Knights.

Following a missed free throw by the Knights, Mount Pulaski grabbed the rebound and headed the other way.

The ball quickly got in the hands of freshman Aiden Schneider and with little hesitation, he popped a three from the top of the arc and Mount Pulaski went on top 30-28 as 1:12 showed on the game clock. A huge shot by the freshman.

Blue Ridge got lucky at the other end of the court. Senior Nick Becker tossed up a three from the corner by the Knights bench and it banked in off the backboard for a 31-30 Blue Ridge lead with just 22.2 seconds remaining in the game.

Mount Pulaski didn't even get a shot off in the next possession as the Knights stole the ball and ran downcourt. With 2.1 seconds left an intentional foul would be called on Martin and Brady Masengale would sink the two free throws just ahead of Blue Ridge getting the ball out of bounds.

Dustin Murphy fouled Burrow as the seconds ticked away quickly, sending him to the line to shoot two. Burrows missed both of those shots. Mount Pulaski failed at a last half-second attempt and the game was settled with the score 33-30.

Lane Murphy led Mount Pulaski with 10 points.

Scoring

Mount Pulaski 30

L. Murphy 10
Martin 7
G. Davis 6
J. Davis 4
Schneider 3

Blue Ridge 33

L. Nichols 8
Becker 7
Burrows 6
Bowns 5
Stephens 5
Masengale 2

[Teena Lowery]