Taylorville went 2-3 this week in basketball as they played an absolutely hectic schedule with 5 games in a week. The Tornadoes got the week started off with their holiday tournament in Taylorville where they ended up taking fourth place out of 8 teams. Before the tournament got started, the Tornadoes were recognized for their 1500th win in school history.
Taylorville 51 Glenbard South 56
Taylorville suffered an opening loss to Glenbard South as they survived a furious comeback from the Tornadoes down the stretch. Taylorville jumped out to a 15-12 lead at the end of the first quarter, courtesy of some great play from Brock Brown who dropped 9 en route to a 25 pt game. The second quarter would be tough for Taylorville as Glenbard South’s Amir Jackson would drop 11 points and the Tornadoes would be outscored 19-9 heading into the locker room. The score was 31-24 and Taylorville was pushing hard. The third quarter was extremely close but it would be Glenbard South taking advantage with a 16-13 run. In the fourth the Tornadoes would take full advantage and hit the court hard going on a big run and getting within a few, but a big 3 from Camden Earley from Glenbard South sealed the deal and the Raiders held off the Tornadoes 56-51. Taylorville uncharacteristically went 6/15 from the free throw line. 5 Maddex Havera finished with 11 points and was named the WTIM Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the game. Leading scorers for Taylorville: Brock Brown 25, Maddex Havera 11, Malique Pearse 6, Blake Ladage 5.
Taylorville 67 Chicago Comer 42
The Tornadoes went on a scoring spree and jumped out a 23-7 lead at the end of the first en route to a big game as Malique Pearse had himself a career day. This was game one of two in the day and the Tornadoes needed some wins to secure a higher game for championship day. Pearse would drop 20 points in the first game including a 9 point first quarter. The Tornadoes would take a 37-16 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Tornadoes would come out in the third picking up right where they left off dropping another 20-9 3rd quarter and the Tornadoes would cruise to victory. Pearse was named the WTIM Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the Game. Leading Scorers for Taylorville: Malique Pearse 20, Brock Brown 14, Maddyx Owens 9, Blake Ladage 9.
Taylorville 56 Sterling 51
Taylorville played one of the best games of the year with a big win over Sterling for their second game on December 30th. Taylorville jumped out to a 21-10 lead at the end of the first quarter and once again Malique Pearse started off the game hot with 10 points scored en route to another huge game where he would score 22 points capping off a fantastic day on the court. The Tornadoes would take a 31-24 lead into the locker room and even by the end of the third quarter, the Tornadoes were clinging to a 45-37 point lead. The Tornadoes looked a little flat coming into the fourth quarter and Coach Ryan Brown called a timeout with 2:48 left and the Tornadoes holding a one point lead. The team came out firing and Malique hit a quick steal and a lay up. After a series of free throws, the Tornadoes clung to a lead and walked out winners of the day and improving in the tournament to 2-1 where they would await Limestone in a 3rd/4th place matchup. Malique was once again named the WTIM Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the game with his 22 points (42 points on the day!) Taylorville Leading Scorers: Malique Pearse 22, Blake Ladage 11, Maddex Havera 10, Brock Brown 8, Maddyx Owens 4.
Limestone 59 Taylorville 55
The Tornadoes played Limestone for the 3rd place game and the Tornadoes came out of the gate again strong taking a 15-10 lead after the 1st courtesy of 7 points from Brock Brown and Maddyx Owens who went 4/4 from the free throw line. Limestone’s Jay Caho scored 8 points on his way to a 15 point game. The Tornadoes couldn’t find the net in the second quarter struggling to score points and Limestone would take the lead with a 7-2 run to start the second quarter and Limestone wouldn’t look back as they would score 19 in the second quarter and head to the locker room up 29-23. Taylorville would come out strong in the third with the Tornadoes spreading around the points and the Tornadoes cutting the deficit to 4 trailing 43-39. Taylorville cut into the lead with 5:45 left in the fourth quarter 47-44 when Blake Ladage got fouled making a layup tying up the game with 5:30 left. Taylorville even pulled ahead by 5, 52-47. Things got heated in the fourth quarter as fouls weren’t being called and the officials were letting them play. Limestone’s Preston Quine hit a huge 3 enroute to a 12 point game to cut the deficit to 2. Taylorville led 55-50 but Kayvion Graham who scored 18 on the night, hit a jump shot from in the paint with 1:45 left in the game. Quine hit another huge dagger tying up the game with 59.4 seconds left and free throws were made giving Limestone 3rd place and the victory. Maddyx Owens was named the WTIM Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the game. Leading Taylorville Scorers: Brock Brown 14, Blake Ladage 12, Maddyx Owens 11, Malique Pearse 9, Maddex Havera 7.
Metamora 75 Taylorville 57
The Tornadoes wrapped up their holiday tournament and headed on the road for a Saturday afternoon matchup against 10-4 Metamora. The Red Birds got off to a quick start from the strong play of Sam Koch who would put up 26 points. While Taylorville kept the Red Birds Brady Jones in check (11), Koch and Briggs Bucy would put up huge games. Taylorville would trail at the end of the first 21-15. Starting the third Taylorville would get within three, but it felt that everytime Taylorville went on a little run, Metamora would go on an even bigger one. Heading into the locker room Taylorville trailed 46-22. The Tornadoes would actually outscore Metamora in the second half but couldn’t comeback getting within 12 midway through the fourth quarter but falling short on the road and falling to 5-7 on the season. Brock Brown was named the WTIM Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the game. Leading point scorers for Taylorville: Brock Brown 11, Blake Ladage 8, Patrick Kurtin 6, Malique Pearse 5, Tucker Durbin 4, Maddex Havera 4.
Taylorville sits at 5-7 and will face Triad on the road on January 6th.
