Regional final set for 7:30 p.m. Friday
The Morton boys basketball team made plays in the most crucial times Wednesday.
The Potters outscored Limestone 10-3 in the final 2:35 to stave off the upset-minded Rockets, 40-36, in the Class 3A Limestone Regional semifinals.
"We're still living another day and that's what we want at this point in the season. Just very thankful to still be playing," MHS head coach Steve Schupp said. "I don't want this to end."
No. 2 seed Morton (21-4) will face fourth-seeded East Peoria (15-11) at 7:30 p.m. Friday for the regional championship.
The winner of that game will meet either Central or Richwoods at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the semifinals of the Ottawa Sectional.
Morton's Brett Bisping scored eight of his team-high 14 points in the fourth quarter, and the Mid-Illini Conference champions overcame Limestone runs of 8-0, 7-0 and 7-0 to defeat the Rockets for the third time in 2009-10.
Bisping got the Potters within 33-32 at the 2:34 mark before Drake Taphorn put them ahead to stay with a three-pointer from the left wing 58 seconds later.
"Schupp does a good job getting us ready for that," said Bisping of late-game situations that are stressed at the end of practice.
Morton survived a harrowing final 25 seconds.
Limestone's Kody Krupps, who led all scorers with 15 points, sank his fifth three of the night to get the hosts within 37-36.
After a Morton turnover in which an apparent foul on the third-seeded Rockets was not called, Akil Watkins was fouled driving to the hoop. He missed both free throws, however.
After Will Headean gave the Potters a 38-36 lead, Krupps badly missed on a trey in the final seconds. Bisping sealed the victory with two free throws at :02.2.
Tyler Lundeen provided seven of his 11 points in a first quarter in which Morton was on top 11-4.
Check beck at the Web site for further details of the game.
