Tigers KO Bears, move one win away from state

By Andy Krutsinger,

Mt. Pleasant News

BURLINGTON ? No. 9 New London and Danville squared off for the third time this year on Thursday night in Burlington, and with the season on the line it was the Tigers who came out on top.

New London stormed back from a halftime deficit to knock out the Bears, 51-38, to put themselves one win away from a state tournament berth.

For the second time in three matchups between the two rival squads, Danville had the upper hand early.

The Bears outscored New London 12-9 in the first quarter and 17-15 in the second quarter to take a 29-24 lead into halftime, putting New London?s back against the wall.

The Tigers responded in a big way, however, taking the lead in the third quarter with a 17-7 run.

New London held a 41-36 lead after three quarters and momentum was squarely in the Tigers? hands.

Danville ran out of gas in the fourth quarter and New London was able to pull ahead by double-digits early in the quarter, and held on to the big lead all period.

The Tiger defense stepped up in a big way late in the game. After holding Danville to seven points in the third, New London completely shut the Bears? offense down in the fourth, outscoring them 10-2 to close out the game.

The win gave the Tigers the season series over the Bears. New London won their first matchup, 73-53, at home in late December before falling, 82-77, in Danville in late January.

New London had a well-balanced offensive attack. Four players finished in double-digits.

Ben Dentlinger scored 14 points in the win and Alex Dentlinger, Mason Porter and Keontae Luckett scored 10 points each.

Isaac McSorely scored five points in the win and Justin Henecke rounded out the New London scorers with two.

The New London defense held Danville?s top two players, Kole Perkins and Kaleb Haeffner, to 24 points combined. The two seniors combined for 58 points the last time the two teams met up.

Perkins scored 15 points in the loss. Haeffner and Darius Whaley scored nine apiece. Max Wilcox scored three points and Bryce Carr had two.

On the other side of the substate, fourth-seeded Lisbon knocked off Iowa Mennonite, 64-59, to take their spot in the substate final.

All three of the Lions? district tournament wins were nail-biters. Lisbon won their quarterfinal, 66-60 over Albernette in overtime and knocked off top-seeded Lone Tree, 61-57. Meanwhile, New London has won all of their postseason games by double-digits.

The Lions and Tigers will face off in Washington on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. The winner of that game will have a spot in the Class 1A state tournament.