Middle School Hoops: Fulton downs 'Dogs in state semis

Down, but never out, Harrisburg fought to the final bell.

With an opportunity to play for a state championship Saturday, Harrisburg squared off against Edward A. Fulton Junior High School, out of O'Fallon, where a fast start propelled the Panthers to a 48-36 heavyweight victory in the SIJHSAA Class L State Tournament semifinals.

Harrisburg spotted Fulton a 10-0 lead to start and didn't score until 3:50 left to go on a bucket by Sallie Morse.

Morse had six straight for HMS and Jamisen Green pulled the Bulldogs to within three, 12-9 with 35 left to go on 3 from the top of the key.

In the second quarter, HMS got to within four at 15-12 before Fulton went on an 11-0 run and led

35-21 at the break.

Fulton was able to keep Harrisburg at arms length in the second half, outscoring HMS 8-6 in the third quarter. Green got the Bulldogs to within seven points, 35-28 after a basket with 4:59 to play, but Fulton quickly used a 7-0 run to go up 42-28 with just under 3:00 to play.

Morse led the Bulldogs in scoring with 12 points, while going 2-for-2 from the free throw line.

Green tacked on 11 points, including two 3-pointers.

Hannah Rorer scored six points, four of which came in the second quarter, while Abi Wilson finished with five points, all coming in the fourth quarter. McKendra Douglas tacked on three points against Fulton.

Harrisburg finished 5-for-6 from the free throw line, while Fulton finished with two players in double figures as Josie Christopher had 21 points, 16 in the first half and Haeli Tart scored 17 points

The loss is the first for Harrisburg, who now stands at 23-1 and will play in Saturday's third place game against Hamilton County at Rend Lake College, starting at 9 a.m.

Fulton will play Salem in the championship game, starting at 11 a.m.

Spyder Dann covers prep and college sports for the Southern Illinois LOCAL Media Group. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.