The Taylorville Tornadoes boys basketball team secured a spot in the championship bracket in the Litchfield Tournament, but more importantly exercised some early season demons as they came back on Wednesday night with a huge 42-39 win over Glenwood. The Titans won earlier this year in a 46-33 matchup and Taylorville was determined to not let that be the case on Wednesday night at the Rick McGraw Memorial Invitational Tournament.
The defense shined early as Glenwood jumped out to a quick lead. The Titan’s Cohen Reid dropped 6 points on two 3 pointers and Bordy Green and Hugo Lopp go ta couple buckets as well, but Taylorville answered with a big three from Brock Brown and 5 points from Maddyx Owens as Taylorville trailed at the end of the first 11-8.
Heading into the second quarter, the defenses shined again as both teams ran designated plays and neither side could take an advantage. Taylorville only got one basket that wasn’t a free throw, a 3 pointer from Maddex Havera. Otherwise Taylorville went 5/6 from the free throw line. For Glenwood Hugo Lopp would score eight points but no one else would get on the score sheet. The Titans took a 19-16 lead going into the locker room.
In the third quarter, Glenwood again threatened to pull away as Brody Green got four and Jack Kurmann got five, but it was Kurmann who was an absolute menace on the boards and did a fantastic job of outrebounding and boxing out Tornadoes. Taylorville got 7 points from Brock Brown, one from Malique Pearse, and two from Blake Ladage. Taylorville took a brief lead at the beginning of the third quarter, but trailed at the end 30-26.
In the fourth quarter, Taylorville came storming out of the gate. Brock Brown got Taylorville within one, eventually getting eight points including 2 3-pointers. The defense continued to be the story of the night as Glenwood struggled to get anything going. Taylorville would tie up the game as they would go to the free throw line quite a bit in the fourth quarter, but with 1:16 left, Glenwood would get the ball back. The Titans wouldn’t be able to score as Taylorville played tough defense and got the ball back with 38 seconds.
Glenwood sat at four fouls and needed to foul to get the ball back. The Tornadoes used a flurry of passing back and forth which allowed them to keep the ball but more importantly not get fouled and by the time they did there was only 16 seconds left. Coach Ryan Brown said ultimately that’s what won the game for Taylorville. Taylorville went 6/7 from the free throw line and hung on for a 42-39 victory.
The Tornadoes will take on Triad on Friday night at 6 PM with the winner of that game going to the championship. Depending on their game against Triad, Taylorville will face either Marquette or Roxana either on Saturday at 10:30 or Saturday at 9:00. Please note these times have been adjusted due to snow forecast. Taylorville improves to 10-9 on the season. Taylorville lost to Triad earlier this year in Troy 75-39.
Top scorers for Taylorville Brock Brown 19, Blake Ladage 8, Maddyx Owens 7. Top scorers for Glenwood: Cohen Reid 11, Hugo Lopp 10, Jack Kurmann 7, Brody Green 7.
1 2 3 4 F
Glenwood 11 8 11 9 39
Taylorville 8 8 10 16 42
Taylorville’s WTIM Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the Game was Brock Brown.
