Washington overcomes Panthers

WASHINGTON -- The biggest Demon lead in Friday's Southeast Conference boys basketball game between Washinton and Mt. Pleasant was the final score of 62-50.

The win gave the Demons a 3-0 record in the league and 4-2 overall.

'We haven't been undefeated (in the SEC) because usually we are looking up from the bottom,” Washington senior point guard Luke Turner said. Turner and Kasen Bailey led the Demons with 15 points apiece.

Mt. Pleasant drops to 2-5, 1-2.

'Washington has earned that undefeated conference record obviously,” Mt. Pleasant coach Caleb Akey said. 'I think there's more parity in the conference than there has been. I have been around for 10 years and there's more parity than I've seen in that time. There will be some good battles for Washington and all the teams coming up.”

The Panthers were unable to take advantage of 10 free throws in the first quarter, making just three and finishing 4-of-13 in the game at the foul line.

'We were fortunate that they did not make those free throws and it allowed us to adjust,” Washington head coach Collin Stark said. 'We have been starting games well. We did not do that.”

After going 2-for-6 at the line to start the game and trailing 7-4, the Panthers went on a 7-0 run, but Washington answered with a 7-1 run to end the quaerter ahead 14-12.

'About the 3-minute mark, we called a time out, calmed down and we went on a run the last two minutes and that was the key,” Stark said. 'That helped get the game going in the right direction for us.”

The teams traded baskets for much of the second quarter before Bailey and Zacary Stout nailed back-to-back 3-pointers for the largest Demon lead at 25-19, but Mt. Pleasant's Brevin Wilson scored before intermission to make it a 25-21 score at the break.

The third quarter started with a Mt. Pleasant basket by Clayton Lowery, who finished with 18 points on 9-of-14 shooting, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

'I thought Clayton Lowery had a great game,” Akey said. 'He was really active on the boards and finishing at the basket. He played great on defense.”

While Lowery has been a main contributor for the Panthers, he played a more important role Friday.

'He has had some good games before but I thought this was really a breakout game for him,” Akey said.

The teams traded baskets until the 4-minute mark when the Demons went on a 10-4 run, capped by an awesome assist by Bailey on a Luke Turner basket that made it a nine-point Demon advantage, the biggest lead to that point.

'We stopped making some shots and they started making some shots,” Akey said. 'We got a little sloppy there for a little bit,” Akey said. 'We had some turnovers, but we were able to create some turnovers at the end of the third quarter and close the gap. That third quarter was one of those where they did a little bit, then we did a little bit, then they did a little bit, then we did a little bit.”

Baskets by Lowery and Brevin Wilson, who finished with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting with two assists, two steals and a block, closed the gap to 44-39 starting the final quarter.

Washington freshman Ethan Patterson, who had seven points in the third quarter, canned a trey to start the fourth, but a 5-0 Panther run prompted a timeout from Stark at the 5:48 mark ahead 47-44.

'There were bumps in the road in this game but I like how our guys responded,” Stark said. 'Every run they made, our guys had an answer for.”

The Demons outscored the Panthers 10-2, capped by a rebound by Brock Sobaski, who finished with nine points, and feed to Trevor Quigley for an easy score and a 57-46 advantage.

'I would rather finish games well, than start them well, but we try to teach that the first minutes of each quarter are very important,” Stark said. 'They are key because in the middle is where runs are happening. But the middle and the end are key, too. We have to have a great finish to each quarter. I thought we did that. I guess I would rather finish better, but I think we have to continue to work on starting well and get all facets working well.”

Lowery added two more field goals but the Demons closed the game on a 5-2 advantage.

'We made some mistakes at the end of the game because we are still learning,” Stark said. 'We're trying to know how to finish games and this was an improvement from other ones. We are getting to the point where we're not making silly passes with under three minutes left. The guys are working hard and that's all I can ask.”

'It feels great to beat Mt. Pleasant because that is something we have not done in a long time,” Turner said. 'This is a nice feeling.”

It's a different feeling from the past for Turner. The Demons lost two games to the Panthers last year by a total of five points.

The last Demon win against the Panthers was Jan. 9, 2015 in Washington.

'I think every game we go into, we are very confident with the guys we have,” Turner said. 'We are always very optimistic about our chances in every game but this is one we really want because it has been a while since we beat them in basketball. We are ready to turn the tide. I don't care if we have a good ending or a good start as long as we get the win.”

Getting wins in the SEC is different this year with the addition of Burlington, where Akey works.

'I went to high school at Burlington and I'm excited Burlington is in the conference because it is good for their program and it helps for our conference to have six teams now. That makes it fun and exciting.

The Panthers play Burlington Friday, Jan. 3 in Mt. Pleasant.

'Hopefully, it'll be a good game for us,” Akey said.

The Demons next play when they travel to Ft. Madison, Friday Jan. 3.

'It feels great to be undefeated,” Stark said. 'This is a good way to end the first third of the season.”

I would say the past is I may come naturally and that's because the guys do a good job of getting open. They do a great job heading up and lock so I just want to give them the ball.

Washington is 3-2, 2-0 SEC