High School Boys Basketball
Hilltoppers defeat Edinburg 52-45 in the Bill Rucks Tournament
Gavin Smith leads Hilltoppers with 20 points

[November 27, 2022]

The Mount Pulaski Hilltoppers earned their first win on the season in the 12th Annual Bill Rucks Varsity Boys Basketball Tournament. Mount Pulaski defeated Edinburg 52-45 in the 7th place game on Saturday afternoon.

The Hilltoppers had an 8-5 lead in the first quarter before Edinburg went on a 10-0 run and ended the quarter on top, 15-8 the score.

Nolan Deibert put the Hilltoppers in double-digits with his basket to start the second quarter. The Wildcats ran the lead up to 19-10 but the Hilltoppers came back. Threes from Evan Cooper and Gavin Smith ignited the Hilltoppers. Cooper also scored seven points in the quarter to lead the way. Mount Pulaski took a 22-21 lead after Jackson Fricke hit two free throws with 50.3 seconds on the clock. The Wildcats took the lead back, 23-22, on a bucket by Joey Patterson with thirty seconds left. Smith sank two free throws with 10.9 seconds left and Mount Pulaski was back in front. Smith would give the Hilltoppers the halftime lead with a three just ahead of the buzzer and Mount Pulaski was on top 27-23.

Lamarion Solomon stretched the lead to 29-23 in the third quarter. Two baskets by Clay Aylesworth made the Mount Pulaski lead 33-26. Evan Cooper’s two free throws at the minute mark gave the Hilltoppers a 35-26 lead. Mount Pulaski led 35-27 as the third quarter ended.

Freshman Eric Cooper hit a three to start the Hilltoppers fourth quarter scoring. Fricke’s jumper with under six minutes left extended the lead to 40-29. Aylesworth added a couple more baskets and Smith poured in seven more points in the fourth quarter as the Hilltoppers earned win number one on the season by a final score of 52-45.

Gavin Smith led the Hilltoppers with 20 points. Clay Aylesworth tossed in 11 points.

Mount Pulaski’s record is now 1-3 on the season.

Final day of the tournament:

Championship Game

Auburn 57
Clinton 56

3rd place game

Warrensburg-Latham 59
Tri-City/Sangamon Valley 43

5th place game

Delavan 53
Illini Central 51

7th place game

Mount Pulaski 52
Edinburg 45

Scoring

Mount Pulaski 52

Smith 20
Aylesworth 11
Evan Cooper 9
Fricke 4
Eric Cooper 3
Deibert 2
Solomon 2

Edinburg 45

Marsters 20
Patterson 14
Getz 3
Davis 3
Peacock 2
Collin Elder 2
Carter Elder 1

[Teena Lowery]