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Washington Evening Journal
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Panthers come up short to Saints at home
Mt. Pleasant fourth quarter surge falls short in loss to Xavier
MT. PLEASANT — Mt. Pleasant never gave up in its 54-39 point loss to Cedar Rapids Xavier on Tuesday night.
The Panthers led after the first quarter, but the Saints never lost a period the rest of the way.
Mt. Pleasant came ready to play against the 2022 3A state runners-up.
Through the opening period, the Panthers trailed just once and led by as much as four.
A three by Payton Hagans in the final minute of the quarter put the Panthers up 12-8, but Xavier narrowed the gap with a two with 1.2 seconds remaining.
In the opening quarter, Hagans and Nate Stroud combined for all 12 of the Panther’s points.
Things began to shift toward Xavier’s favor in the opening stages of the second.
The Saints rattled off nine straight, while the Panthers struggled to find a bucket. It took Mt. Pleasant over four minutes to score.
Xavier went up by as much as seven twice in the frame, which included its last basket of the quarter to make it 23-16.
To the Panther’s favor, Christian Stacy buried a three ball before the half to pull them back within four, 23-19.
The early quarter scoring woes continued for Mt. Pleasant in the third and the Xavier defense didn’t help any.
The Panthers scored just two points through six and a half minutes.
Meanwhile, Xavier scored 16 itself to make it 39-21 with 1:25 remaining.
By the end of the period, Xavier held a 41-27 advantage.
The Panthers never let up.
To begin the fourth, the Panthers got four quick points from Hagans to make it a 10 point game, 41-31.
On the next defensive stand, the Panther’s Zach Newton battled for a jump ball that gave Mt. Pleasant back the possession and it turned into another three from Hagans, making it just a seven point game, 41-34.
However, that would be as close as the Panthers would come as the Saints won the scoring battle the rest of the way, 13-5.
Hagans finished with 23 points for the Panthers. Stroud ended with six points and Avin Truong had four. Stacy had three, Payson Coleman two and Ian Reid one.
Mt. Pleasant (1-3) will return to the hardwood against Fort Madison (1-1) on Friday.
