Indians still unbeaten in IPC play with rivalry win over Hawks

By Erich Murphy

Bingo Magic Sports

Super sub Evan Wolf did what he does best — shoot the rock — as the junior helped lead Pontiac to a 66-60 victory over Prairie Central in an Illini Prairie Conference boys’ basketball contest Friday at PTHS.

Griffin Tredennick of Prairie Central gets double teamed by Pontiac’s Amazin King, left, and Evan Wolf. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

Wolf is Mr. Instant Offense for the Indians as was witnessed against the Hawks. He hit two 3-pointers in the third quarter that gave the Tribe the lead for good as PTHS claimed its second win over Prairie Central this season.

The two treys came in a 30-second span, the last with 3:09 to go in the third. They pushed the Indians to a 40-36 lead and helped Pontiac hold a 50-43 advantage heading into the home stretch.

Evan Wolf, shown here looking ahead after securing the basketball, hit key shots at crucial times in helping lead Pontiac to a 66-60 victory over Prairie Central Friday at PTHS. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

A few other factors need to be addressed. First, Pontiac has gotten to where it is because of head coach Matt Starker’s reliance on various rotations. Eight players got quality floor time, which on the low side of normal.

The leaders in scoring become obvious. Players like Wolf, Cayden Masching, Amazin King and Aden Brummel typically find themselves among the leaders in the scorebook. But players like Anderson Horning, Ben Melchers, Evinn Tracy and Henry DeYoung give depth with opportunities to score, as well.

Masching buried a 3-pointer to open the scoring 17 seconds into the game against Prairie Central. The Hawks came back, something that will be looked at in a bit. King scored on a put-back of his own miss to give the Tribe a 17-16 lead after one period.

Cayden Masching of Pontiac charges through the lane to the basket. Masching scored 14 points in the Indians’ 66-60 win over Prairie Central Friday. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

Down one, 29-28, at the half, PTHS fought back with a 22-point effort in the third. Six different Indians scored in the quarter as King and Wolf each drilled two 3-pointers. The 50-43 advantage was challenged in the last stanza.

This brings a look at head coach Trevin McCulloh’s charges. This group of Hawks was much more disciplined and much more in tune than when these teams met in December, a game claimed by the Indians 63-42 in Fairbury.

Anyone who has been watching the Hawks since Christmas has seen a team that may not shoot consistently well, but has been in about all its games because of an aggressive defense and strong effort.

Easton Friedman of Prairie Central attacks the basket against Pontiac defender Ben Melchers. Friedman scored 17 points and grabbed more than five rebounds for the Hawks. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

These were on display in this game. Spencer Ray gave PC its first lead at 4-3, and Easton Friedman, who had a monster game on offense and in his rebounding, added his first points for a 6-3 lead. The Hawks held the advantage until King’s put-back.

Friedman’s triple 97 seconds into the second period put the Hawks up 19-17. Prairie Central didn’t trail again until a Henry DeYoung broke a 24-24 tie with 3:22 to go in the half. The two sides traded the next three scores, the last being a turnaround jumper from Griffin Tredennick that gave the Hawks a 29-28 halftime lead.

Although the Hawks fell behind 57-46 after a Wolf trey a minute into the fourth quarter, they were able to cut the margin to 57-55 after Friedman scored on a put-back to cap a 9-point run.

That was as close as Pontiac let PC get. Wolf hit another 3 and Melchers scored on a drive to make it a three-possession game. A pair of Wolf free throws with 35 seconds remaining sealed the deal as the margin grew to nine points, at 66-57.

Wolf finished with a game-high 21 points as Pontiac improved to 18-5 on the season and 7-0 in the IPC. Masching added 14 points and King scored 13. DeYoung chalked up 7 points with Horning throwing in 5, Melchers adding 4 and Brummel tossing in 2 points.

Ashton Sheldrake, left, and Spencer Ray battle for a rebound in Prairie Central’s IPC basketball game at Pontiac. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

Ashton Sheldrake led Prairie Central (10-15, 2-5) with 18 points and Friedman added 17. Bryson Gadberry chipped in 9 points, Spencer Ray and Dane Wheeler added 5 points apiece and Acer Kratichvil tallied 4 markers. Tredennick had 2 points.

The win allows Pontiac to keep pace with Class 2A fourth-ranked Tolono (Unity) atop the IPC standings. The Indians and Rockets are sitting at 7-0 with two games remaining in league play. They will match up for what could be the title tilt next Friday at Tolono. The Indians will face St. Joseph-Ogden (17-8, 5-2) at home Tuesday while the Rockets, who beat SJO 68-63 Friday, will travel to Chillicothe (IVC) Tuesday.

Prairie Central’s final two league games are at home against Monticello Tuesday and at PBL next Friday.

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