High School Basketball
The Mt. Pleasant boys’ basketball team lost a heartbreaker at the buzzer as Burlington came out on top 56-54. It was a back-and-forth affair the entire evening with the Panthers at one point holding a 10-point lead. However, the Grayhounds were up two points heading into the last quarter of play and they were ready to put it away until Payton Hagans was fouled and sent to the line down 53-52 with four seconds to go. Hagans made both of the one-and-one free throws, but the Grayhounds would spoil the day for the Panthers making a three with no time on the clock to win. Hagans led Mt. Pleasant with 19 points. The Panthers are now 5-3 on the season and fell to 3-1 in conference play.
The girls’ team clobbered the Grayhounds at home 49-13 as the Panther defense allowed only 6 points in the first half. Andrea Lopreato led the scoring with 16 points and Tristian Shull aided the effort with 11 points. Both teams will host New London January 2nd with the girls starting at 6 pm.
The Winfield-Mt. Union Wolves girls’ basketball team continued their trail of dominance defeating Highland 57-23 as the Wolves did not allow a point in the first quarter. They moved to 10-0 on the season after the win. The girls’ team will travel to Lone Tree January 6th and the boys’ team will face off against Hillcrest Academy on January 3rd at 7:30 pm.
Danville swept the night against Cardinal with the girls’ team winning 60-45 and the boys’ team crushing the Comets 69-30. The Bears will host West Burlington January 6th with the girls starting at 6 pm and the boys to follow.
The WACO girls basketball team took over in the fourth quarter outscoring Lone Tree 21 to 5 leading to the 61-35 victory. The Warriors next game will be January 3rd at home against Louisa-Muscatine with the girls starting at 6 pm and the boys at 7:30 pm.
The New London Tigers girls’ team’s next game is January 1st against Van Buren County.
The Holy Trinity Catholic Crusaders will have to wait until January 6th to host Central Lee with the girls going at 6:30 pm.
High School Wrestling
The Mt. Pleasant boys team will be back in action January 12th when they travel to face off with Washington. The girls team will compete at the Highland Tournament January 6th.
High School Bowling
The Mt. Pleasant Panthers girls and boys teams next competition will be January 5th against Washington at the Iris Bowling Center.
Iowa Wesleyan Athletics
The men’s basketball team, now 14-1 and rocking a 13-game winning streak, will have to wait until January 6th to compete against Crowley’s Ridge College for a CAC Classic.
The women’s basketball team will look to have Coach Williamson break the record for most career victories in Iowa Wesleyan history December 29th on the road against Bellevue University for the Bellevue Classic at 12:30 pm.
The women’s wrestling team will compete December 29th and 30th at the Soldier Salute Tournament.
The men’s wrestling team will have to wait until next year to wrestle at Central Methodist University on January 10th.
The Tiger’s next indoor meet will be the Dutch Athletics Classic on January 14th.
This Day in Sports History
1891 – First game of basketball, based on rules created by James Naismith, played by 18 students in Springfield, Massachusetts.
1937 – Chicago Blackhawks left wing Paul Thompson becomes first player in NHL history to score a goal against his brother; scores on goaltender Cecil Thompson of the Boston Bruins with just 9 seconds left in regulation; Bruins win though, 2-1.
1969 – Vince Lombardi (Washington Commanders) coached his last football game, a 20-10 loss to the Cowboys in Dallas, for a 7-5-2 season and 105-35-6 career record.