Prairie Central rally against BCC falls short

By Erich Murphy

Bingo Magic Sports

FAIRBURY — All Prairie Central head coach Trevin McCulloh could really do as shake his head. He had thoughts of what could have been racing back and forth after his Hawks dropped a 56-55 heartbreaker to Central Catholic in an Illini Prairie Conference boys basketball game Thursday night.

Prairie Central’s Spencer Ray drives underneath the basket for a reverse layup against Central Catholic on Tuesday. Ray scored 8 points but the Hawks lost 56-55. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

On the air, McCulloh told Marc Strauss of Fairbury News that his team won three of the four quarters, and that he was proud of the never-say-die effort. But it was that one period that got lost that ate at him.

“(A) tough loss for our boys,” McCulloh said afterward. “(I) couldn’t be prouder of effort and grit they showed.”

Prairie Central’s slow start put it in a 20-8 hole by the end of the first quarter. The Hawks weren’t making shots and they’re having trouble containing BCC’s KeShaun Manney. The shifty Saint scored 13 points in the opening frame.

The deficit reached 14 points 15 seconds into the second period after another Manney basket.

But then something clicked for Prairie Central. The Hawks methodically make their comeback. A six-point spurt featured two Avery Dunn field goals. He added another basket with 4:50 left in the half tome it a 24-16 game.

Easton Friedman of Prairie Central rushes the ball up the floor against Central Catholic. Friedman scored 14 points to lead Prairie Central’s scorers. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

It was a 34-26 game at the break as Prairie Central had trouble getting closer. The Saints pushed their lead back to 12 points in the third frame, but five PC free throws in the final 80 seconds trimmed the margin to 44-37 heading into the final lap.

The teams played tit-for-tat by trading scores until the final three minutes. The Hawks snapped the string with a Bryson Gadberry 3-pointer and an Easton Friedman free throw to make it a 51-47 game with 1:56 to go.

Prairie Central’s problem down the stretch was not getting one more defensive stop. Manney’s runner with 39 seconds remaining made it 55-49.

Dane Wheeler buried a 3-pointer with 24 seconds left and McCulloh used his final timeout. It took the Hawks 11 seconds to foul Manney, who made one of two charity tosses with 12.7 seconds to go. This proved to be the final difference.

Friedman drained a triple with three seconds left but it left the Hawks one point short.

Ashton Sheldrake of Prairie Central secures a rebound for the Hawks in their Illini Prairie Conference game with Central Catholic on Thursday. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

Friedman led Prairie Central (7-10) with 14 points. Gadberry added 9 while Spencer Ray and Dunn each scored 8 points. Wheeler chucked in 7 markers with Griffin Tredennick adding 5 and Ashton Sheldrake chipping in 4 points.

Manney led Central Catholic (10-9) with 26 points. Crayton Schnierle added 17.

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