Mount Pulaski defeats Warrensburg-Latham 40-30

 

[January 14, 2025]  The Lady Toppers hosted Warrensburg-Latham on Monday night and both teams had a bit of a slow start but with Mount Pulaski turning the heat up in the second half they came out on top with a 40-30 victory.

Alyson Murphy led the Lady Toppers with 14 points.

First quarter

The two teams were tied 5-5 after the first quarter. Addison Brown hit the first three of the game for Mount Pulaski and then before the quarter ended Audrey Cooper tied the game at the free throw line.

Second quarter

Mount Pulaski was able to capture a 9-5 lead in the second quarter, thanks to their speed and great ball movement. First it was Aly Murphy dishing it off to Elayna Marten in the lane for the basket on the fast break. Then it was Marten’s turn to return the favor and Murphy scored her first basket of the game. Just when it looked like the quarter could end with a 9-8 score, Audrey Cooper hit a three from the corner for a buzzer-beater. Outstanding! Mount Pulaski took a 12-8 lead into the locker room.

Third quarter

Nobody’s shot was falling early in the third quarter. It would take a three at the top of the key from Brown to pry the lid of the basket at the 5:20 mark. Murphy and Claire Bobell also hit threes for Mount Pulaski and the run of nine points in just under a minute was really fun to cheer on for Topper fans. A minute later Cooper made a great spin move in the lane and dumped in two more points, driving the Mount Pulaski lead to 23-10. The Cardinals decided to retaliate for the 11-2 run. They took over the scoring for the rest of the quarter, adding seven points in the final three minutes. This would trim the Mount Pulaski lead to 23-17.

Fourth quarter

The Cardinals outscored Mount Pulaski 6-2 to start the fourth quarter, putting the Topper fans ill at ease with the score 25-23. Mount Pulaski picked up the defense and with Cooper on the steal that led to a three by Marten. Then it was Abby Jones swiping the ball under the Toppers basket and she scored to extend that lead 30-23. Murphy would also add a steal to her stat sheet and she turned that into a bucket. With less than two minutes to play Mount Pulaski was on top 32-24. The Cardinals got excited when they drained a three with 1:08 left, trimming the lead to 32-27 but the rest of the game they repeatedly fouled the wrong girl. The Lady Toppers leading scorer, Alyson Murphy, went 8-for-10 from the free throw line in the last minute of the game and that sealed the win for Mount Pulaski.

A final score of 40-30 was eventually reached and that win gives Mount Pulaski a 12-5 record on the season.

Mount Pulaski will play at Williamsville on Friday night. There will not be a JV game and the Varsity will start at 6:00 p.m.

Mount Pulaski 40
Murphy 14
Brown 9
Cooper 7
Marten 5
Bobell 3
Jones 2

Warrensburg-Latham 30
Dutcher 13
Coble 6
Jones 5
Wilber 2
Andricks 2
Jay 2

[Teena Lowery]