Methodical Mt. Pleasant outlasts Fairfield

Coming into Thursday night’s Southeast Conference battle, the Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield boys basketball teams were a combined 1-8 in games decided by 10 points or less. As time ticked away in a nail-biting rivalry showdown, something had to give.

As crunchtime approached, it was Mt. Pleasant that had the extra step. The Panthers broke the tie in the final two minutes and clung on to a lead till the final buzzer to knock off the Trojans 50-48.

“It was a big win for us,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach Eric Rawson. “Fairfield has a good team, and Mick (Flattery) does a good job with them. I knew we were going to be in a dogfight.”

It was Mt. Pleasant’s second single-digit win of the week after a tough go of it in close games leading up to that point. Fairfield is now 0-6 in single digit games.

After trailing 9-6 at the first quarter buzzer, Fairfield battled back to lead 22-19 at halftime and 33-31 after three quarters, but the Panthers were able to stay in the game by slowing the game to a halt and picking their spots. With two minutes remaining in the contest, neither team had broken 40 points.

With the game tied at 39-39 and just 1:39 showing on the clock, Mt. Pleasant’s Payton Hagans drew a foul and made two free throws to put the Panthers ahead. Fairfield missed on the other end and Owen Vansickel made two more free throws for Mt. Pleasant to give the Panthers a four-point advantage.

Over the final 1:39, Mt. Pleasant would go 11-for-14 on the free-throw line to close out the game.

“We just stay focus and fight,” said Mt. Pleasant’s Dewon Trent. “This feels good, especially with everyone who came out to see us play.”

Trent led the Panthers with 21 points, 20 of which came in the first three quarters.

“Dewon is a great kid,” said Rawson. “He's a joy to have in practice, and he's just great to have out on the court. He was certainly big for us tonight.”

Vansickel scored 10 points on 10-of-15 from the charity stripe. Aaiden Ashton finished with seven. Hagans had five. Carter Amos scored four, and Reece Kempker had three.

JJ Lane did everything he could to keep the Trojans in it down the stretch. In that final 1:39, Lane poured in 11 points, including a 3-pointer right before the buzzer. He finished the night with 24 points to lead all scorers.

Max Weaton finished with 12 points for the Trojans. Tate Allen had five. Sam Weaton scored four, all on a four-point play in the first half. Evan Haines had two, and Hunter Cecchini scored one.

Mt. Pleasant is now 4-7 overall and 2-4 in the SEC. Fairfield fell to 3-8 overall and 1-5 in league play.