2025 has arrived, and for the Mount Pleasant boys varsity team, it’s business as usual as they defeated Lapeer 66-51 on Friday night.
The Oilers came into the contest 4-3 overall, and the only undefeated team in the SVL at 2-0 in conference play. Mount Pleasant ended 2024 on a roll winning two straight, and looked to continue that in the new calendar year.
Mount Pleasant hosted Lapeer, who came in at 5-3, and yet to play a conference game. The 5 wins for Lapeer had already eclipsed the 4 wins they had in the past 2 seasons combined. First year Head Coach Jack Chittle has had the Lightning playing good hoops to start the year, but Coach Schell and the Oilers are never an easy opponent.
It was all Oilers to start, getting off to a 7-0 lead and up to a 12-2 lead halfway through the first. Easton Day hit 2 triples in the first few minutes, and lead to several timeouts called from Lapeer. The Lightning would respond well however, going on a 11-0 run to take the lead 13-12. This would be the only lead Lapeer gathered in the contest however, as the Oilers answered with a 12-0 run of their own to end the first and start the second quarter.
Easton Day continued to let it fly in the 2nd, with Lapeer defending in a 2-3 Zone for a majority of the game. Day hit 4 triples in the first half and finished with 15 total at the break. Before the halftime horn sounded however, there was a game-changing moment for the Lightning.
With just over 2 minutes left in the half, Coach Chittle of Lapeer was upset over a moving screen call, and was called for a technical foul. One was not enough however, as Chittle would be blown for a second technical just seconds after, ejecting him from the contest. Nick Dise went to the stripe and drilled plenty of free throws in result of the techs, as the Senior guard had 8 free throw makes in the quarter alone.
The Oilers led 37-28 at the end of the first half, and Easton Day decided to keep the hot hand heavy in the 3rd, as he hit 2 more triples, ending the quarter with 25 points, and the Oilers led 56-36.
A late game run from Lapeer would fall short as Mount Pleasant went on to win 66-51. Star Senior Easton Day led all scorers with 27, matching Sacred Heart’s Karis Terwilliger for the most total points in a game that we have covered this season. Nick Dise would finish with 12, with 10 coming at the charity stripe. Will Garcia added in 8 for Mount Pleasant, and Clay Molyneux finished with 7.
8 total triples for the the Oiler offense (6 from Day) combined with stifling defense is what lead them to their league-best 3rd conference win of the season. Mount Pleasant moves to 5-3 overall and 3-0 in the SVL.
Lapeer was led by Junior guard Will Fisher who had 21, and Senior guard Drew Brennan added 14. The Lightning move to 5-4 overall and 0-1 in the SVL.
The Oiler boys will be back in action Tuesday the 7th in Flint to face Powers Catholic.
Our coverage continues on Tuesday right back at Mount Pleasant High School as the Oiler girls will host Flint Powers Catholic. Our full January Basketball Schedule is available HERE.
Kyle Sandel – Buck92 Sports Director