Panthers edge Demons in final minutes

WASHINGTON — It was just a matter of time until Mt. Pleasant boys basketball grabbed its first Southeast Conference victory of the season.

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That’s what Mt. Pleasant head coach Eric Rawson said after the Panthers’ 62-53 victory over Washington on Friday night.

The game was about as close as it could get through three quarters. Six points is all that separated the two teams at most through 24 minutes.

By the start of the fourth period, the game was knotted at 41-41.

Through the first minute of the final quarter, Washington built a pair of two point leads at 43-41 and 45-43.

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The Panthers Aiden Humble and the Demons Conner Leyden then traded threes to swap the lead before the two squads settled at 49-49.

Panther guard Ryan Helling came up big. The freshman, who ended with a game-high 26 points, scored five straight off a two and a deep ball to give the Panthers a 54-49 lead.

It proved to be an advantage that the Panthers would never lose. Back-to-back buckets from Logan McDole pulled the Demons within one at 54-53, but they would never score again in the final two minutes.

The Panthers closed the game on an 8-0 run.

Washington controlled for much of the first quarter and led 13-12 after one, but in the second the two squads traded the lead four times before the Panthers built a 26-23 at halftime.

In the third, neither team led by more than three before the both settled at 41s heading into the fourth.

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Along with Helling’s 26 points, Ian Reid scored 12 and Aiden Humble 11. Noah Lange finished with nine points and 13 rebounds as well.

For Washington, Logan McDole scored 12. Nic Stone finished with 11 and Rajan Roth carded 10.

With the win, Mt. Pleasant moves to 2-13 on the season and 1-7 in SEC play.

Washington drops to 7-10 on the year and 4-4 in league action.