The Taylorville Tornadoes jumped out to an early lead against the Mattoon Green Wave, and kept the Green Wave's leading scorer in check, but couldn't hold off big games from Theran Gent and Tyler Haacke as the Green Wave stormed back to beat Taylorville 53-47 on Friday night. 

Taylorville jumped out to a 14-9 lead courtesy of Landon Bowsher, Maddyx Owens, Patrick Curtin, and Malique Pearse, but Taylorville's shooting went cold in the second quarter, and Taylorville went into halftime trailing 23-21.   The Tornadoes again came out strong in the third quarter with a huge quarter from Brock Brown who poured in 7 including two three pointers, and Blake Ladage who scored 5 and Taylorville outscored Mattoon 18-9 and even had a 10 point lead at one point in the third taking a  39-32 lead into the fourth quarter. 

Max Wetzel hit a big three a little into the fourth quarter to tie up the game at 39-39 followed by a Lincoln Hayes three gave the Green Wave a 42-39 lead.  Hayes, who had been quiet through most of the game, finished the game with only 5, despite averaging 18 a game. The Tornadoes couldn't hold onto a lead and Mattoon used a strong free throw attack to go on a 21-8 run giving the Green Wave the victory. 

The Tornadoes fall to 2-4 on the season, while Mattoon improves to 4-5.  The Tornadoes will face North Mac on Monday evening on WTIM.  Blake Ladage was named the WTIM Nicole Patrick Country Financial Tornado Player of the Game