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MP boys trump Trojans
Panthers get second conference win in rivalry game
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MT. PLEASANT — The Mt. Pleasant boys basketball team put together perhaps its best full game of the season on Friday night, as the Panthers scooped up a big win over Highway 34 rival Fairfield.
Less than a year after falling to the Trojans by one point the last time the two teams played at Mt. Pleasant Community High School, the Panthers left no doubt in a 62-42 victory.
The game was tight early on, as Fairfield enjoyed a 12-9 first quarter lead, and Mt. Pleasant led 26-24 at halftime, but the second half belonged to the hosting Panthers, who pounded the ball inside over and over and over.
Mt. Pleasant shot 50% from the field in an efficient game that saw the Panthers stretch the lead to 42-35 after three quarters and put up 20 points in the fourth to close it out.
“Our defense showed up in the third and fourth quarter, and we certainly needed that,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach Eric Rawson. “Your defense leads to your offense, and we did a nice job hitting some big shots from deep, and also paying attention to the block.”
Noah Lange had a big night, going for 22 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Ryan Helling scored 18 points, including four of the team’s six 3-pointers, and swiped away three steals of his own.
“We started off the year not too good, but we’re trying to get back and get a groove on,” said Helling. “With two wins this week, we are starting to build our confidence.”
Isaiah Lange finished the night with a double-double, going for 11 points and 12 rebounds. Aiden Humble hit a pair of 3-pointers to finish with six points. Carter Gehling and Brody Clark had two points each, and Grayson Lowery finished with one.
It was a tough loss for the Trojans, who have now dropped four straight SEC games after winning the opener in Ft. Madison. Despite the loss, Fairfield got another big game from Ethan Bisgard, who scored 18 points.
Eli Zillman had seven points on the night, and pulled down a team-high five rebounds. Drew Myers and Axl Starr scored six points each. Jeremy Parker had three, and Chase Countryman finished with two.
The win moved Mt. Pleasant to 3-6 overall and 2-3 in the SEC. Fairfield is now 2-7 overall and 1-4 in league play.
