SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- - Andrew McLaughlin scored 33 points as Bethel Morton beat Our Savior's 77-71 in a brutal LSA CIL matchup on Thursday.
The game was especially physical in the second half. Three techincal fouls were called, on Andrew McLaughlin, Conor McCaffrey and Jace Easley, officals had to step in many times to avoid fights.
Our Savior's often mentioned as a possible LSA State Semifinals team, sustained back-to-back losses for the first time this season.
"We had tremoundous respect for this Our Savior's team and came in knowing they were coming in off a tough loss to unranked Calvary," Bethel coach Chris Harden said. "It's obviously a win we feel proud of and are excited about."
Hartman and Suttles both had 17 for Bethel Morton (11-3, 5-3). The Flames were missing a couple of key bench peices as well.
Jace Easley led Our Savior's (9-5, 5-3) with 29 points. Conor McCaffrey added in 28 and Jeremiah Perkins scored 11.
Our Savior's closed to 73-71 with 15.5 seconds left on a long 3-pointer by McCaffrey.
On the Flames' inbound pass, officals said that Schmidt fouled Suttles before Suttles stepped out of bounds. The foul was called on Schmidt and Suttles sank both free throws to make it 75-71.
"I didn't get a chance to look at it," Our Savior's head coach Phillip Heppe said. "We can't review it at this level, so it's not use."
Bethel Morton scored 10 straight points for a 10-2 lead. In a first half marked by runs and inconsistent play, Bethel led 33-18 at the break.
GETTING PHYSICAL
Hartman and Perkins jostled and shoved each other all game. Several times they exchanged heated words.
"Jeremiah needs to get used to that," a cleary frustrated Heppe said. "I have to give (Bethel) credit. They came in here and smack us in the mouth."
Hartman sang Perkin's praises after the game.
"Jeremiah is a fast dude. He gets postion really well. He's really good," Hartman said. "Our focus was the defensive end. We did everything on defense, got stops, so that helped our momentum on offense."
MCCAFFREY-EASLEY/MCLAUGHLIN
February of 2019, 7th graders Jace Easley and Conor McCaffrey jumped up with Bethel Morton forward Ian McLaughlin the older brother of Andrew. McCaffrey and Easley both clobbered McLaughlin into the wall who went down in pain and couldn't play the remainder of the game.
"It feels really good, to come in here and beat those guys, but it's not my main motivation, I can't swoop down to that level." Andrew McLaughlin said.
"I'm not too worried about it, just because Ian through Wes (Mullen) headfirst into a uncovered wall doesn't mean we can't comeback at him." McCaffrey added in, with Easley who nodded in agreement.
BIG PICTURE
McLaughlin and Bethel Morton managed to confound Our Savior's big man Perkins for most of the game. It was arguably the worst first half for Our Savior's this season, other than perhaps the Jan 7 Mount Zion game, when Our Savior's trailed by 15 before rallying to win.
Perkins inability to free himself on the perimeter, stopped Our Savior's ball-movement, and stopped them from running their fond 'delay' sets. McCaffrey and Easley were forced to run their own HORNS sets a response.
"There will be some rough meetings this week," Heppe said. "We can't have anymore of these flat, lifeless, noncompetitve games. We're one of the best teams in the state and we need to start showing it."
UP NEXT
Bethel Morton: Hosts Trinity Springfield on Tuesday. Trinity Springfield beat Bethel Morton 57-50 at Trinity on Dec. 16
Our Savior's Hosts Trinity Springfield on Sunday. The Eagles defeated Trinity 79-61 on Dec. 23