The Taylorville Tornadoes celebrated Senior Night in front of their home crowd as they welcomed one of the top teams in the state, the Jacksonville Crimsons, to town.
Both teams came out with energy early, trading baskets in a fast-paced first quarter that ended tied 11-11. Blake Ladage set the tone for Taylorville, pouring in eight of the team’s first-quarter points to keep the Tornadoes even with the Crimsons.
In the second quarter, Jacksonville began to take control by using its size advantage in the paint, scoring repeatedly inside. Wyatt Moore added to the Crimsons’ surge with a big night from beyond the arc, knocking down multiple three-pointers to stretch the lead.
The third quarter followed a similar script. Ladage continued to battle and find ways to score, doing everything he could to keep Taylorville within striking distance. However, Moore remained hot from long range, finishing the night with five three-pointers as Jacksonville gradually extended its lead.
Despite the deficit growing late, the night remained a special one for the Tornadoes. Senior Night festivities, photos, and celebrations highlighted the evening as the team honored its seniors for their dedication and contributions to the program.
Taylorville will look to bounce back Friday when they host Mt. Zion in their regular-season finale. The Tornadoes will then travel to Triad for regional play, where they are set to face Chatham in the opening round against a familiar opponent.
Maddex Havera hits from 3
Brock Brown sinks it from DT