The third-seeded Fulton Steamers came away with a narrow 30-28 win over second-seeded Annawan Friday night in the 1A Wethersfield Regional title game.
The win earned the Steamers back-to-back regional titles and marks the second consecutive year that Fulton will face Pecatonica in the sectional semifinals. Fulton won last year’s battle by a score of 62-51.
Last year, Scales Mound eliminated Fulton, 50-46, to deny the Steamers a berth in the Elite Eight. AP No. 3 and top-seeded Pecatonica boasts a record of 29-5 after beating Galena, 73-54, in the Pecatonica Regional championship.
Friday’s regional win is the third straight for the Indians. Pecatonica and Fulton (24-11) will play at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the River Ridge Sectional.
Fulton 30, Annawan 28
Points were hard to come by throughout Friday night’s regional championship game. Both teams locked down the interior by playing tight zone defenses. As a result, there was a lot of passing around the perimeter with the hope that, eventually, something would give.
There wasn’t much give, but at times there were cracks on the interior and some quick shooting on the perimeter for the occasional 3-pointer.
Nearly half of the first quarter was played before either team put a point on the board. Senior guard Trevor Tiesman broke the ice with a free throw for the Steamers. Fulton center Baylen Damhoff then made a 3-pointer to give the Steamers a lead of 4-0 and then Brady Read followed with another three to make it 7-0.
Annawan senior Gabe Sims made a trey at the end of the first quarter to put the Braves on the scoreboard for a score of 7-3.
Similar to the first quarter, few points were scored until midway through the second frame. Maddux Heitzler then took a steal the full length of the court for a layup and a score of 7-5.
Annawan’s 6’6″ junior Alex Earley came up big in the second quarter by getting a rebound bucket and another shot in the paint to keep the Braves close at 12-9. Damhoff made a free throw to close out the half at 13-9.
It should also be noted that Earley and Brady Heitzler kept 6’6″ Damhoff in check throughout the game. Damhoff had just four points at the half.
There was another scoring drought in the third period until Maddux Heitzler dished the ball to Brady Heitzler who went strong to the basket for two for a score of 17-11.
Towards the end of the third quarter, Maddux Heitzler zeroed in a three from the top of the key, but Fulton maintained a 22-14 lead. Landon Park then entered the game and made a three of his own with the score now 22-17.
The score was 23-17 at the end of the third quarter and that remained the score until a few minutes into the final frame when junior guard Brody Childs drove inside for a short jumper (23-19).
Maddux Heitzler hit a big 3-pointer with just under two minutes left and the score, 27-22. Annawan was forced to foul, but they didn’t put Fulton into the bonus until there were 41 seconds left in the game.
Brady Heitzler made a drive-in bank shot to bring Annawan within three points at 29-26 with 26.7 seconds left. Childs then drove in to cut the lead to one, 29-28.
Annawan then fouled Tiesman, who made one free throw for the final point of the game with 4.7 seconds left. The Braves got a good look at a 3-pointer but it bounced off the rim, giving Fulton the win.
Annawan ends their successful season with a record of 24-11. They bid farewell to two seniors, Tommy Covington and Gabe Sims.
The Braves will be loaded for bear next season with a plethora of experienced junior and sophomore players returning.