Mt. Pleasant storms back

WASHINGTON — Friday’s Southeast Conference clash between the Mt. Pleasant and Washington boys basketball team lived up to the billing.

A back-and-forth battle saw the lead sway from the Demons to the Panthers, as Mt. Pleasant rallied back from a double-digit deficit to win the latest edition of the rivalry 58-51.

Mt. Pleasant’s Carter Amos leaps up for a layup during the Panther’s 58-51 win over Washington on Friday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)

“They're kind of cardiac kids right now,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach Eric Rawson. “We're just still learning how to play on the road, so it was nice to see us be able to fight, and stay in it.”

And stay in it is exactly what the Panthers had to do. Washington controlled the first half, and the Panthers had to stave off a hungry Demon team that led by as much as 11 in the early minutes.

Washington’s Aden Six (10) gets to the hoop while Mt. Pleasant’s Aaiden Ashton contests the shot on Friday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)

In the first quarter, Washington scored 12-straight points to open up a 12-1 lead, thanks to some hot shooting from the outside. The Demons led 15-6 after the first quarter and 27-20 at halftime, although a few missed layups in the second quarter kept the lead from getting back to double digits.

“I feel like we probably should have been up 14 or 15 points,” said Washington head coach Collin Stark. “We had some bunnies there, and I know these guys want those back.”

Most of the Mt. Pleasant roster struggled offensively in the first half, but the same guy who carried the scoring load in the first two quarters continued to step up in the final two. After a 14-point first half, Mt. Pleasant’s Payton Hagans scored 16 in the second to help will the Panthers back.

“When he's a man on a mission, it's hard to stop him,” said Rawson. “That's the type of player he is.”

Mt. Pleasant’s Payton Hagans sets up for a 3-pointer on Friday night in Washington. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)

Hagans got things going again in the third quarter, and after a short lead, Mt. Pleasant was down just one, at 39-38 heading into the fourth.

“Coming out in the second half, we just knew we had to bring more energy,” said Hagans. “We started out slow, and we need to stop doing that.”

The fire that Mt. Pleasant caught in the third quarter continued into the fourth, as the Panthers followed an 18-point third by scoring 20 in the final eight minutes.

With the game tied up at 43-43 midway through the fourth, Owen Vansickel hit one of his three 3-pointers in the game to break the tie and give Mt. Pleasant the lead. The Panthers would hold that lead until the final horn.

“Owen Vansickel is really playing well right now,” said Rawson. “He knuckled down and hit some big shots down the stretch.”

Hagans finished the night with 30 points, going 6-for-9 from 3-point land to hit that mark. Vansickel scored 12. Nate Stroud had eight points and 13 rebounds. Carter Amos scored six, and Aaiden Ashton finished with two.

Washington’s Logan McDole looks up court after a steal on Friday night against Mt. Pleasant. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)

Washington’s Aden Six had 18 points to lead the Demons. Ajay Six scored nine. Ethan Patterson had eight. Logan McDole had six. Avery Six scored five. Evan Van Der Molen put up four, and Drew Conrad finished with two.

“They made shots,” said Stark after the loss. “It just seemed like the ball wasn't falling for us, and they knocked down some tough shots.”

Mt. Pleasant is now 11-3 overall and 6-1 in the SEC. They are one game above Washington (6-6, 5-2) in the standings, and 1.5 games ahead of Burlington (11-4, 4-2).

The Panthers will be at Mid-Prairie on Monday night. Washington plays in Ottumwa.