TAYLORVILLE — The Taylorville Tornadoes earned redemption Friday night, knocking off the Mattoon Greenwaves 68-56 in Apollo Conference action at Taylorville High School.
The matchup served as a rematch from earlier in the season, when Mattoon edged Taylorville in a tight contest that came down to the final minutes. This time, the Tornadoes made sure the outcome was different.
First Half
Taylorville won the opening tip and wasted no time setting the tone. The Tornadoes applied strong defensive pressure early, limiting quality looks and forcing Mattoon to work for every possession.
The Greenwaves responded with steady offensive play, refusing to let Taylorville pull away. Every time the Tornadoes threatened to create separation, Mattoon answered, keeping the game within reach.
At halftime, Taylorville held a narrow three-point advantage in what had been a physical and competitive first half.
Second Half
The third quarter proved challenging for the Tornadoes. Offensive struggles and missed shot attempts allowed Mattoon to seize momentum, and the Greenwaves grabbed their first lead of the game during the period.
Facing adversity, Taylorville responded.
In the fourth quarter, the Tornadoes returned to the intensity and aggression they showed early on. Lockdown defense fueled the comeback effort, as Taylorville shut down Mattoon’s offensive rhythm and turned stops into scoring opportunities. The Tornadoes steadily rebuilt control and eventually stretched the lead to double digits in the final minutes.
When the final buzzer sounded, Taylorville had secured a 68-56 home victory — a statement win in conference play and a satisfying redemption over a team that handed them a tough loss earlier in the season.
Maddex Havera with the contact bucket for Taylorville
Brock Brown DUNKING ON Mattoon