No. 10 Pontiac rallies for IPC victory over Unity
TOLONO — Virtually every game in the Illini Prairie Conference is expected to be a challenge, especially for the road team. Pontiac was the road team Tuesday night as the 10th-ranked Indians faced host Tolono (Unity).
After a feeling out period, PTHS was able to work its magic and leave town with a 64-58 victory and remain in second place in the IPC standings.
The Rockets were hitting from the perimeter consistently in the first half as they built a 16-point advantage. Unity shooters hit five 3-pointers in the first quarter as it jumped out to a 17-9 lead.
“We dug ourselves a hole early,” PTHS head coach Matt Kelley said. “They came out and shot the ball well and we had a tough shooting night.”
Three more treys were hit in the second frame as the lead hit 16 points at one point. But Pontiac was able to work its way back into contention, finishing the half trailing 30-22.
Strategy for the Indians in the second half included working the ball inside. This worked particularly well in the fourth quarter as the Tribe overcame the eight-point deficit it faced entering the period. Unity and PTHs each scored 16 points in the third to make it a 46-38 game.
“We fell behind by 16 in the first half (but) we were capable to claw our way back,” Kelley noted. “We started getting the ball inside more and taking it to the rim. We got to the free throw line and didn't rely on the 3 in the second half.”
Pontiac relied on its height and size down the stretch. Henry Brummel and Logan Barnett combined for 13 points in the last stanza. The Indians were also to not only get to the free throw line, they were nearly perfect in catching the Rockets and then blowing by them. PTHS connected on 16 of 17 free throws in the fourth quarter. Five different players went to the line.
“The guys trusted that if we just kept grinding away, we would find a way to get it done in the end and we were able to do that,” Kelley said.
Riley Weber led the way for Pontiac (18-6, 5-1) with 17 points as four Indians reached double figures. Barnett and Brummel each tossed in 12 points and Kerr Bauman tallied 11. Michael Kuska chipped in 9 points and Seth Branscum chalked up 3.
Henry Thomas led Tolono (13-11, 3-3) with 17 points. Dalton O'Neill added 14 and Will Cowan scored 12 points.
Girls
Masching reaches milestone
Pontiac is getting a roll as the girls' basketball regular season nears its completion. The Indians have won four straight, including a Senior Night triumph against Monticello Monday at PTHS.
On Saturday, junior Bailey Masching hit a milestone by scoring her 1,000th career point as the Indians handled Illini Central in an IPC-Sangamo Shootout contest at Monticello.
After scoring 18 points against Monticello on Monday, Masching had chalked up 1,025 points in her three years of varsity play. She joins her sister Addison and her mother Lindsay (Dodson) Masching in reaching 1,000 points.
Pontiac 41, Monticello 31
Pontiac's fourth straight victory was a 41-31 Illini Prairie Conference tilt with Monticello at PTHS. It was Senior Night as Mackenzie Coates and Natya McAllister were recognized before the game.
The Indians stumbled in the second quarter but were able to regroup at the break. After leading 9-6 at the end of the first quarter, PTHS found itself down 19-15 at the half.
Masching had six points in the third period as Pontiac outscored the Sages 13-7 to regain the lead at 28-26. Coates scored all her points in the final frame to help the Tribe put the game away.
Masching finished with 18 points to lead the Tribe (9-15). Coates added 7 points with Olivia Lindsey tossing in 6 points. Jayonnah Einhaus, Brianna Hilleary, Makyah Hartfield, Trinity Miller and Morgan Dewald each scored 2 points.
Pontiac 45, Lexington 38
LEXINGTON — Although they didn't really stumble, the Indians were outscored in the second period as host Lexington made it a close game by the intermission in a nonconference game last week.
Pontiac was able to rebound and regained control in the second half for a 45-38 victory at The Fort.
The Indians led 11-4 after the first quarter and added 11 more points in the second frame. But the Minutemen rallied in the second to make it a one-point game at 22-21 at break.
Pontiac bounced back in the third frame by outscoring Lexington 15-8 to hold a 37-29 edge heading into the last stanza.
Masching topped Pontiac's scorers with a game-high 28 points. Hilleary added 5 points with Einhaus, Coates and Hartfield each tossing in 3 markers. Dewald threw in 2 points and Miller chalked up 1 point.
This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: No. 10 Pontiac Indians rally for IPC victory over Tolono (Unity)
