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Akey, Burlington top Mt. Pleasant
Former Panther coach picks up win over friendly rival
MT. PLEASANT — A friendly neighborhood rivalry between Mt. Pleasant coach Eric Rawson and Burlington coach Caleb Akey went the way of the ladder on Tuesday night.
Akey’s Grayhounds defeated Rawson’s Panthers, 43-31, in a Southeast Conference matchup at Mt. Pleasant Community High School.
“I try to tell the kids to always stay even keeled for every game,” Akey said. “But I was honest with them, that this is always kind of special.”
Mt. Pleasant looked good early on. The Panthers led 10-6 after one quarter and held a 19-18 lead at halftime, behind a nine-point half from Dewon Trent.
In the second half, however, nothing seemed to work for the Panthers.
Mt. Pleasant struggled to get any offensive momentum going for the final 16 minutes of action. Burlington stole the lead on its first possession and Mt. Pleasant trailed for the vast majority of the second half.
“Guys just have to build on their confidence right now,” said Rawson. “That’s a big thing right now with us, is being able to build some confidence.”
Mt. Pleasant scored just 12 points in the second half and the Panthers dropped their third game in a row before holiday break, despite holding Burlington leading scorer Amarion Davis to just two points all night.
“To hold a team to 43 points, it should give you an opportunity to win the basketball game,” Rawson said.
Trent finished the game with 15 points. Payton Hagans had six. Owen Vansickel scored five. Aaiden Ashton had three, and Dylon Hagans chipped in two.
Rawson also spoke about his friendly rivalry with Akey, who coached with him as assistants under Paul Rundquist before heading up the Panther varsity squad for two years and then heading to his alma matter to the east.
“It’s a pretty special opportunity to be in the positions that we are right now,” Rawson said. “Even if we are coaching against each other, we have a good bond outside the basketball court.”
Mt. Pleasant fell to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in SEC play. Burlington is now 4-5 overall and 3-1 in the conference.
Mt. Pleasant’s Owen Vansickel launches a 3-pointer as Burlington head coach Caleb Akey watches from behind during the first half of the Panthers’ 43-31 loss to the Grayhounds on Tuesday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Mt. Pleasant’s Dylon Hagans drives to the lane during the Panthers’ SEC loss to Burlington on Tuesday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Mt. Pleasant’s Aaiden Ashton (23) drives by Burlington’s Amarion Davis (2) as Mt. Pleasant head coach Eric Rawson barks orders from behind on Tuesday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
