Panthers thrash Tigers for fifth win

MT. PLEASANT — Christmas break didn’t deter the Mt. Pleasant girls basketball team.

The Panthers picked up right where they left off in 2022 on Monday night at home against New London.

Mt. Pleasant (5-6) had no issues with the Tigers (0-11), as it rolled to a 59-20 victory. The win marks the Panthers second straight win on the season.

The Panthers set the tone early in the non-conference bout.

Tristian Shull got the Panthers going on their first trip down the floor with the three ball. That would be her narrative all-night long.

Shull would finish with a game-high 23 points, which included six balls from beyond the arc.

“We’ve been moving the ball really well,” Shull said. “This game it definitely showed. When we move the ball in and out like that, it’s definitely easier for me to get shots up.”

New London kept the game close through the first quarter, trailing just 13-6 with just under a minute to go.

But Shull had other ideas as she buried yet another three with 32.4 on the clock to give the Panthers their first double-digit lead of the night, 16-6.

Mt. Pleasant put together their most efficient quarter of basketball in the second as the press led to Tiger turnovers and easy buckets for the Panthers.

New London was held to just four points in the quarter with its first bucket coming at the 5:22 mark in the period.

“We started out a little slow,” Mt. Pleasant head coach Curt Watson said. “I thought we picked it up as the game went on. We’re getting better and better on the press. We haven’t done it a lot to start the year, but we’re trying to pick it up. I think it helps us get some energy and get after it.”

The Tigers wouldn’t score again until Kayla Strawhacker hit a two with 14 seconds on the clock.

As for Mt. Pleasant, Abby Carthey connected on a pair of free throws which kicked off what would be a 20-4 run in the quarter.

“We’ve been having a lot of fun at practice, but we wanted to prove that we’ve been putting in the work. I think our performance tonight showed that.”

At the break, the Panther led the Tigers 36-10.

In the third, Mt. Pleasant continued to roll.

To begin the third period, the Panthers garnered a 10-0 run, pushing their lead to 46-10.

Emma Nye ended the run with back-to-back threes for New London, but Andrea Lopreato and Shull combined for seven points to end the quarter.

Heading into the fourth, the Panthers led 53-16.

The Panthers were able to hold on in the fourth, as New London was held to four points once again, all by Natalie Burden, and Mt. Pleasant sealed it with a six point quarter.

Following Shull in scoring for Mt. Pleasant was Lopreato with 14 points, 11 boards and six assists. Andi Scott added eight points. Carthey and Alex Scott both finished with four points. Addison Peck tallied three, Juliana Burns two and Bizzie Richtman one.

For New London, Natalie Burden led with seven. Emma Nye ended with six points. Mylee Miller followed with five. Kayla Strawhacker finished two.

“We just gotta keep fighting and keep grinding,” New London head coach Terri Hester-Mathews said. “We gotta keep working everyday. We had some girls step up when they needed to. It didn’t transition to a win, but I’m proud of them for stepping up.”

Mt. Pleasant will take on Fort Madison (6-3) in its next contest. New London will host Notre Dame (7-2). Both games are set for Friday night.