The Taylorville boys basketball team could not send the seniors away on a high, losing to Jacksonville 65-40 on Senior Night. Landon Bowsher and Malique Pearse were honored before the game.
The teams enjoyed a back-and-forth first quarter which ended tied at 11. The Crimsons turned up the pressure in the second quarter, forcing turnovers and taking advantage of second-chance opportunities to go ahead 34-24 at the break. The remainder of the game proceeded similarly, as only Maddex Havera and Blake Ladage could supply the Tornadoes’ second-half field goals.
Ladage led all players with 22 points and was dominant on the front-court baseline, earning him the title of WTIM Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the Game. For Jacksonville, Wyatt Moore put up 15 points, all from threes. Greyson Prevett also had 15, with Latrell Hemphill at 14.
Taylorville drops to 14-15 overall, and the loss ends a four-game winning run. Their final regular season game is away to Mt. Zion on Friday. Jacksonville is up to 21-8 and on an eight-game winning run. That was their last game of the regular season; the Crimsons turn their attention to a playoff game away to Jersey – whom they comfortably beat just before tonight – next Wednesday.