Instant classic! New London over Mt. Pleasant in 3 overtimes

NEW LONDON — Monday night’s Highway 34 showdown between New London and Mt. Pleasant went right down to the final seconds. And then it did it again, and again, and again.

An epic three-overtime thriller ended when the 10th-ranked (1A) Tigers finally outlasted Mt. Pleasant 77-74 to stay unbeaten and snap a two-game losing streak to the Panthers in the process.

It was New London’s seventh win to start the year, and the Tigers’ fourth victory by three points or less.

“I can’t take many more of these,” said New London head coach Bryant Porter.

The Tigers had to battle back from three possessions down to force the first overtime. Kade Benjamin converted a 3-point play to tie the game at 63-63 with 54 seconds left in regulation, then blocked a potential game-winner for Mt. Pleasant. Blaise Porter had a full-court heave for New London but it fell short.

The Tigers had the game almost won in the first overtime, but a clutch shot by Mt. Pleasant’s Dewon Trent kept the Panthers alive. Trent flew to the rim and laid the ball up with just 2.5 seconds left.

Porter had another shot to win it in the first overtime. He found space on a deep three right in front of the New London bench, but it went off the mark and the game went into a second extra frame, tied 67-67.

In the second overtime, it was the Panthers that had a shot to win it. A scramble led to Hagans getting a contested layup at the buzzer, but the ball spun around the rim and fell innocently to the hardwood to keep the game tied at 69-69.

“They've figured out how to win,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach Eric Rawson. “To be honest with you, we're still learning, and I think we're pretty close.”

As time wound down in the third overtime, it was Porter who pushed the Tigers home. The Tiger junior, who celebrated scoring 1,000 career points before the game, put in five points in the third overtime and had 29 on the night to finally put the Panthers away.

“We just stayed calm through the ups and downs,” Porter said. “Most of the game we were trailing, but once we got back in it and kept our heads up, we were good.”

Benjamin, who played the entire overtime stretch with four fouls, finished the night with 15 points. For he and Porter, it was the first win over their friendly rivals to the west.

“We have a big heart,” Benjamin said. “We won't quit. None of us want to give up.”

Kasel and Devin Swanson each scored 12 points. Kooper Schulte scored four. Tayshun Donaldson had three, and Bowen Glaha had two.

Trent had a big night for Mt. Pleasant. The Panther senior poured in 27 points to lead the team. Hagans finished with 17, and Aaiden Ashton scored 12 to give Mt. Pleasant three double-digit scorers.

Owen Vansickel scored nine points for Mt. Pleasant. Dylan Hagans had five, and Carter Amos scored two.

“It was a great high school basketball game,” Rawson said. “It’s something to build on.”

The two teams have now played once in each of the last four seasons, and have split those games 2-2. The last three contests have been settled by single digits.

“We enjoy going against Mt. Pleasant,” Coach Porter said. “It’s right next door and a bigger school. It’s just a friendly rivalry.”