By avenging only league loss, outright title belongs to Morton
Morton’s large group of seniors and its outgoing boys basketball coach surely will treasure this one.
A 52-38 victory Feb. 23 at Washington, which also was aided by the team’s promising underclassmen, clinched the Mid-Illini Conference championship for the Potters.
Morton completed its first title in the sport since 2001-02 by avenging its only previous league loss.
“It’s awesome, a great feeling and a terrific reward for these guys,” MHS head coach Steve Schupp said. “I couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve accomplished.”
Washington won the previous five M-I crowns.
Drake Taphorn topped the Potters at Torry Gymnasium with 14 points. Brett Bisping and Tyler Lundeen added 11 apiece.
Taphorn made three big three-pointers in the second half after the Panthers cut a 14-point deficit to six.
“I just credit the guys for finding me in the corner,” Taphorn said of his long-range shots. “They have confidence in me to knock them down.”
Four different Morton players — Eric Waibel, Will Headean, Lundeen and Taphorn — scored early as the guests jumped out to a 9-2 advantage.
Washington got within 11-10 in the second quarter before a 15-2 Potter spurt.
Bisping completed a three-point play to start the salvo with 6:49 before halftime. Later, he cut down the middle of the lane and converted on a nice feed from Headean.
Potter Adam Kumpf also delivered five points, knocking down a trey and providing a putback with 43 seconds remaining.
A 10-2 Panther spree in the third quarter moved the hosts as close as 30-24.
Taphorn drained a triple at 2:44 before Isaac Fisher answered for Washington with a nice move to the bucket.
Ben Ryan was whistled for his fourth foul on a charging call at :08.4 to wipe out the Panthers’ final chance in the period.
Headean then assisted Taphorn again on a trey at the buzzer that made it 36-26.
It was a seven-point difference before two key plays that helped put Morton over the top.
Lundeen signalled Bisping from the sideline, then lobbed an inbounds pass to the sophomore that led to a lay-up with 6:14 left.
Thirty-one seconds later, Taphorn connected on his fourth three of the night to create a 43-31 margin.
Washington never got closer than 10 points the rest of the way in its second home loss in a row to the Potters.
“I wanted these guys to be successful and they came through. We had to trust each other,” Schupp said.
