The Taylorville Tornadoes came storming back on the road against the Williamsville Bullets but couldn't get the job done as the Bullets held on for a 44-40 victory in the first game of the season for both teams.
Both teams came out firing and were all knotted up at 9 when Jackson Sanders was able to hit a shot at the buzzer to give the Bullets an 11-9 lead. Taylorville struggled in the second quarter with multiple shot clock violations and mistakes which led to a 21-9 lead, but Taylorville would come fighting back in the last two minutes including a 3 from Maddex Havera and Taylorville would cut the deficit 21-16 going into halftime with the momentum.
Coming out into the third, Taylorville looked rejuvenated and firing on all cylinders as Taylorville got scoring from Brock Brown, Blake Ladage, and Wyatt Younker. Williamsville got 8 points including a big 3 from Garrett Timm who finished with 14 points including four 3's. Taylorville trailed going into the fourth quarter, 29-27.
In the fourth quarter, Taylorville took an early lead-their first since the first quarter, and even led at one 35-30, but couldn't close out the game, as Kaden Entwistle hit a huge three, and Taylorville couldn't hang on for the victory as Taylorville sent the Bullets to the free throw line, to which, they closed out the game.
Taylorville got 20 points from Brock Brown, five from Malique Pearse, six from Blake Ladage, five from Maddex Havera, two from Maddyx Owens, and two from Wyatt Younker. Taylorville sophomore Brock Brown was named the WTIM Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the game.
Williamsville got 14 from Garrett Timm, 12 from Jackson Sanders, eight from Brody Neuhoff, six from Kaden Entwistle, two from Nolan Bryant and two from Dalton Root.
Taylorville 9 7 11 13 40
Williamsville 11 10 8 15 44
Taylorville falls to 0-1. Williamsville improves to 1-0. Taylorville will play Mahomet Seymour on Friday night at the Dolph.
