Hilltoppers defeat
Tri-City/Sangamon Valley 62-42
Eric Cooper reaches 1,000 career points
[November 27, 2025]
The Mount Pulaski Hilltoppers defeated Tri-City/Sangamon
Valley 62-42 on Wednesday night in the 15th Annual Bill Rucks
Varsity Boys Basketball Tournament.
Senior Eric Cooper scored his 1,000th point of his career in the
third quarter. Cooper finished the game with 17 points.
Franklin Wade led the Hilltoppers with 20 points.
The Hilltoppers were off to a fast start in the first quarter,
opening up with a 19-7 lead. Cooper scored eight points in that
first quarter.
Cooper added a three and two free throws in the second quarter,
helping the Hilltoppers to a 29-18 lead at halftime.
Mount Pulaski went on an 8-0 run in two minutes to start the third
quarter, forcing the Tornados into a timeout. Wade picked up right
where he left off after the timeout, getting buckets. Wade guided
the team to a 40-18 lead before the Tornados even scored. Mount
Pulaski would eventually outscore the Tornados 17-2 during this run
and Cooper was a big part of that too. Cooper scored a basket at the
4:48 mark and seconds later he assisted Aaron Volle on the
Hilltoppers next two points.
Then with the clock approaching the 4:00 mark, Cooper dribbled up
the court and stopped just shy of the free throw line to hit a jump
shot. The ball took a couple bounces on the rim before dropping
through the net, allowing Cooper to reach the elite milestone of
1,000 career points.
Mount Pulaski was in control with a 46-20 lead.
Wade would continue with the hot hand in the third quarter, nailing
a three and getting a bucket on the fast break, bringing his third
quarter total to 14 points.
The Hilltoppers closed the third quarter with a 51-25 lead.
Landon Deibert came into the game in the fourth quarter and he
wasted no time shooting from beyond the arc. Wide open, he had a
high arch on the ball and it fell through the net, giving Mount
Pulaski a 54-28 lead. The rest of the quarter saw a lot of the bench
players get action, and Reed Martin took advantage of every
opportunity. Martin scored the Hilltoppers last eight points and
just like that Mount Pulaski blew by the Tornados 62-42.
Mount Pulaski improves to 2-0 on the season.
The Hilltoppers will play Clinton on Friday night at 8:00 p.m.
[to top of second column] |
Congratulations to MPHS senior Eric Cooper for scoring his 1000th
career point. Photo by Teena Lowery
Results of Tuesday’s games:
Edinburg 73
Delavan 52
Tri-City 40
Illini Central 39
Auburn 43
Litchfield 40
Results of Wednesday’s games:
Clinton 61
Illini Central 31
Auburn 55
Delavan 44
Mount Pulaski 62
Tri-City 42
The tournament runs through Saturday.
Mount Pulaski 62
Wade 20
Cooper 17
Kretzinger 9
Martin 8
Charron 3
Deibert 3
Volle 2
Tri-City 42
Martin 10
Martincic 10
Muir 6
Nibbe 5
Roach 4
Gietl 3
Riley 2
Lappe 2
[Teena Lowery] |
