WILLIAMSPORT — Fountain Central boys basketball capped off a Bi-County sweep for the Mustangs on Friday as shortly after the girls team got done cutting down the nets, the boys did the same with a 47-41 win over the Seeger Patriots. The title was the seconds straight for the boys and they had to do it without their second leading scorer in senior Isaac Gayler who sprained his ankle Thursday vs Attica. It looked as if the Mustangs were going to cruise to the win as they took a 36-20 lead into the final quarter. However, the Mustangs got a little careless with the basketball . A Will Harmon three made the lead up to 19 but Seeger had one final run in them and with 32.4 seconds left only trailed 45-41, but the Mustangs held serve and hung on for the win.
Without Gayler, the Mustangs relied heavily on senior Will Harmon and he delivered. Harmon ended the game 10-17 from the floor and 3-4 from the line to end with 28 points to lead all scorers.
“With one of our guys down I knew that I’d have to step because that’s what a leader should do,” Harmon said. “I knew that I’d probably have to take over if we wanted to bring home the championship and that’s what I was able to do.”
Harmon also while the Patriot defense focused in on him was able to deliver some beautiful assists to his teammates. Along with Harmon’s 28, freshman Eli Foxworthy got his first career start and was able to score 11 points and grab eight rebounds. That duo was enough for the Mustangs and coach Greg Dean was proud of how his team was able to bring home another Bi-County title.
“There were a lot of guys that once again stepped up because we had Ike (Gayler) out,” Dean said. Owen Acton played really great defense and rebounded well. Will Harmon played fantastic and we needed him to. We’ll take that performance out of him every night and of course he knocked down some big time shots and that’s just who he is. Eli Foxworthy has never been in a Bi-County championship game environment before and he handled it terrific. It was fast paced and physical and that experience for him is going to pay off big for us down the stretch.”
The Mustangs for the game shot 17-36 (47%) from the field in the win and 5-12 (42%) from three while going 8-17 (47%) from the foul line. FC grabbed 37 rebounds and turned the ball over 14 times.
Dean knew hat even up 19 points, that Seeger (6-2) had one last run in them and despite being out-scored 21-11 in the final eight minutes, the Mustang did enough down the stretch to hold on for the win.
“It’s one of those things to where we stemmed the tide as best as we could,” Dean said. “One of the keys in that final quarter was that we finally started being aggressive against their pressure. For a little while we were just trying to not turn it over and work the clock and realized it was ok to go and score. Then we started attacking and getting some good looks at the rim.”
Seeger was led by Christian Holland’s 12 points. Luke Pluimer added 11, Cam Laws seven, both Jack Cole and Ayden Winchester four, and Hunter Thomas three. As a team the Patriots 15-43 (35%) from the field and 5-19 (26%) from three. Seeger did struggle from the foul line going 6-14 (43%). They grabbed 23 rebounds and turned the ball over 10 times.
Dean concluded by giving credit to the girls team as well for the both Mustang teams coming away with championships.
“The fact that both of us were able to do this together makes it extra special,” he said. “We enjoy watching what Coach Karr and the girls are doing because they’ve got a great thing going. It’s been since 2008-09 since we both won it so it’s a great time for Fountain Central basketball.”
Fountain Central improves to 5-1 and will take their five game winning streak into next week where they will compete in Clinton Central Tournament which features 4-2 Carroll (Flora), 2-5 North Putnam, 3-6 Western, 1-6 Clinton Central, 6-0 Clinton Prairie, 7-0 Tipton, Noblesville Homeschool (non IHSAA school), and the Mustangs. FC takes on Noblesville Homeschool in game two of the tournament on Thursday which is slated to begin at 11:45.
