Mt. Pleasant manhandles Oskaloosa

MT. PLEASANT — Last season, the Oskaloosa Indians held off Mt. Pleasant 45-43 in a boys basketball game that ended a double-digit Panther win streak in the series. Just under one year later, the Panthers got some payback on their home floor.

Mt. Pleasant leapt out to an early lead on Tuesday night and kept pushing, racking up a season-high in points in a 72-46 victory.

The Panthers led 22-9 after one quarter, 31-18 at halftime and 56-35 after three. Oskaloosa never won a quarter.

Aaiden Ashton stayed hot with a 23-point night. Payton Hagans finished with 18. Nate Stroud had 14. Owen Vansickel scored eight. Carter Amos had five. Drake Anderson and Noah Lange finished with two each.

Mt. Pleasant moved to 10-3 with the win. The Panthers still have not yet lost at home.

The Panthers will next play on Friday, in one of the biggest games of the season. Mt. Pleasant (10-3, 5-1) travels to Washington (6-5, 5-1) for a battle of first place teams in the Southeast Conference.