The Taylorville girls basketball team has now won successive games for the first time since the Thanksgiving Holiday Tournament after beating Mattoon 73-57 on Friday night.  Like the previous occasion, they achieved the run entirely at home.

Taylorville led wire-to-wire, though Mattoon did reduce the deficit to a single score multiple times in the first half.  Grace Rogers went on a run late in the second quarter to give her side a ten-point lead heading into the dressing rooms.  She continued it into the third quarter as, in addition, her side forced Mattoon beyond their foul limit each quarter.

The away side also ran into individual foul trouble.  Belle Powers fouled out as three of her teammates came within one foul of the same outcome. 

Rogers finished with 16 points and the title of Chill Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the Game.  Baileigh Jackson also had 16, while McKynlee Siempelkamp tacked on 12.  Hope Kietzman contributed just four points but managed several steals - especially in the first half - and assists.

For Mattoon, Kennedy Smith scored 23 points, which included seven three-point scores.  Ava Larson added 19 points.

Taylorville improves to 9-19 overall and 5-4 in the Apollo Conference.  A heavy dose of Christian County pride is on the line when the Tornadoes clash with Pana tomorrow at 4:30 p.m.  You can listen to live commentary as always on 96.5 The Chill.  Mattoon drops to 4-22 overall and 1-8 in the conference and hosts Sullivan in its next match.