The Taylorville Tornadoes led by as many as 10 points but a buzzer beater from Chase Jones in double overtime gave the Marquette Catholic Explorers a 58-56 win over Taylorville on a frigid Saturday morning in the Litchfield Tournament.  Taylorville (5) took an early 5-0 lead against Marquette (3) but the Explorers came pushing back.  Taylorville continued to add to their lead and took a 17-11 lead at the end of the first.  If the Tornadoes were tired from playing the night before they didn't show it. Maddex Havera had a huge first quarter with 3 three pointers and Blake Ladage added four points while the Explorers got five points from Cameron and Chase Jones. 

Heading into the second quarter, both teams started to feel each other out and things evened up.  Malique Pearse added five points while Maddex Havera and Ladage added two each. Marquette's James Sehorn and Cameron Jones got points but a huge buzzer three from Cameron Golike at the buzzer cut the lead to seven going into the locker room at half as Taylorville lead 26-19. 

In the third quarter, Marquette took off with two 3 pointers from Cameron Jones, and seven points from Chase Jones and Taylorville struggled with their shooting as Malique finally got a basket with about 3:18 left in the third.  Taylorville would get a couple baskets from Ladage and Brock Brown but Taylorville was outscored 15-6 as Marquette would take a lead for the first time and would head into the 4th with a 34-32 lead.

Taylorville would bounce back in the fourth thanks to Blake Ladage taking over with six points and and Brock Brown adding four. Marquette would only get a three from Noah Menke and points from Chase Jones but Taylorville couldn't take advantage after a travel violation with 1.1 seconds left and the Tornadoes went into overtime for the second straight game and for the fourth time this season, with the score all knotted up at 42.  

Heading into the overtime, Taylorville got scoring right away from Blake Ladage but fouls started adding up and Ladage would foul out shortly after.  Taylorville would also get a basket and a couple free throws from Malique Pearse and Maddyx Owens.  Marquette got one field goal from  Cameron Jones but went 5/8 from the free throw line as Taylorville and Marquette both scored 7 to head into a second overtime.  

In the second overtime, the exhaustion took over and Taylorville and Marquette battled through the entire four minutes.  Brock Brown hit a huge 3 and Malique added four, but Maddyx Owens fouled out and Marquette got scoring from Jack Rea, Chase Jones and a couple free throws from #33 who I didn't have a name for. Looking like it was going to head into a third overtime, a deep pass led to a quick drive on the right side from Chase Jones, who spun around took a step back and hit the shot that rolled around for a good second before falling and that clinched the game for Marquette.

Marquette improves to 16-5 while Taylorville falls to 10-11.  The Explorers finish third, while Taylorville takes fourth in the tournament out of 12 teams.  Coach Ryan Brown said he was absolutely proud of his guys and thrilled with their effort over the last 12 hours against two top teams in the state. Blake Ladage was named the WTIM Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the game. Taylorville will face Rochester at home on Tuesday night before a huge conference game on the road on Friday against Mahomet. 

                              1           2         3         4       OT       2OT        F
Taylorville            17        9          6         10       7         7           56
Marquette            11       8          15         8       7         9           58

Taylorville Leading Scorers:  Blake Ladage 16, Malique Pearse 13, Maddex Havera 13, Brock Brown 11
Marquette Leading Scorers:  Chase Jones 21, Cameron Jones 16, Jack Rea 5