Bulldogs end State Farm Classic in consolation game, lose to Bradley-Bourbonnais
By Fred Kroner
Mahomet-Seymour’s boys’ basketball team battled back from a first-round loss in the large-school division of the State Farm Classic at various Bloomington and Normal sites to advance into the consolation championship game.
In the consolation finals on Wednesday (Dec. 29), the 12th-seeded Bulldogs couldn’t maintain a double-digit halftime lead and fell to sixth-seeded Bradley-Bourbonnais, 48-47. Earlier in the day, M-S posted a 62-51 victory over eighth-seeded New Lenox Lincoln-Way in the consolation semifinals.
Both games were played at Normal West High School.
Bradley’s Owen Freeman (an Iowa recruit) scored the last of his game-high 13 points with three seconds to play to thwart the Bulldogs’ bid for a win in their tourney finale.
The loss was the third this season for M-S by one point and the fourth by no more than four points.
Byron Lynch led the Bulldogs with 10 points. Wyatt Bohm had nine points and three rebounds.
Dayten Eisenmann ended with seven points and three rebounds. Quenton Rogers added six points, four rebounds, and three steals. Blake Wolters contributed five points, five assists, and three steals.
The Bulldogs connected on 7-of-7 free throws, with four players having attempts.
M-S led16-9 after one quarter and 31-21 at halftime but was held to two points in the third period.
Against Lincoln-Way, M-S bagged eight three-pointers and sank 12-of-15 free throw attempts.
Wolters made 19 points. Lynch registered 12 points. Two other Bulldogs reached double figures. Rogers notched 11 points. Eisenmann ended with 10 points.
Eisenmann, Lynch, and Wolters all collected two three-pointers. Sinking one apiece were Bohm and Dream Eagle.
Wolters pulled down nine rebounds and Rogers grabbed seven rebounds and led all players with six assists.
Eisenmann collected four assists. Wolters contributed two steals and two blocked shots.
M-S trailed, 14-11, after one quarter, but shot into a 35-24 halftime lead.
The Bulldogs started their tournament comeback on Tuesday (Dec. 28) with a decisive 60-34 victory over 13th-seeded Machesney Park Harlem.
Eisenmann tossed in a team-high 13 points. Following his lead were Rogers (nine points), Lynch (eight points), and Wolters (eight points).
M-S had assists on a season-high 20 out of 26 field goals. Eagle and Ben Wagner each handed out three assists.
Helping the Bulldogs to a 28-16 rebounding advantage were Carter Selk (six) and Bohm (four). Wolters also contributed three steals and two blocked shots.
Afterwards, Bulldog coach Ryan Bosch said: “It was probably our most complete game as a team on the season.”
On Monday (Dec. 27), Chicago Brother Rice, state-ranked in Class 4A, handed Class 3A M-S its worst loss of the
boys’ basketball season, 68-38, in first-round action at Illinois Wesleyan University.
Wolters led the Bulldogs with seven points. Rogers chipped in with six points.
Brother Rice held a 28-15 rebounding edge. Wolters grabbed four rebounds and Rogers had three boards.
M-S trailed, 14-4, after one quarter and 34-14 at halftime.
“While we fought hard, we struggled mightily to score,” Bosch said. “We were down early after missing some good looks and they were able to convert some transition baskets that opened it up.
“While we fought in the third quarter, we were still unable to get enough stops.”
M-S (7-7) returns to action on Tuesday (Jan. 4) at Rantoul.
