Photo by Keith Stewart
Freshman Brooke Tuttle eyes the basket during Sullivan’s game against St. Anthony last Monday. Tuttle would have a solid performance throughout the three-day tourney with 47 points.

•January 6, 2016•

by Keith Stewart
For the NewsProgress

Playing in the annual Mattoon tournament for the second year, the Sullivan girls’ basketball team ran into some tough competition each of their three days and eventually settled for seventh place.

On day one, they drew the eventual tournament champion and no. 6 ranked Galesburg (3A) for their first contest.

And the 66-39 result was to be expected.

The Silver Streaks wasted no time in exerting their pressure, coming out with a full court press that helped account for many of Sullivan’s 12 first quarter turnovers. In turn, Galesburg shot 12-of-18 from the field, including two 3-pointers, to take a 27-8 lead after the initial period.

The Streaks would sub many of their starters in the second, but Sullivan struggled offensively, scoring just three points from the charity stripe.

“We didn’t do well from the free throw line,” said coach Sheri McCain. “I appreciate the fact that the Galesburg coach subbed in quite a bit in the second half. I appreciate that since we are so young and still learning. His starters are absolutely phenomenal. They deserve the six seed in 3A. I expect them to go pretty far this year.”

But the second half would see better production for the Lady Redskins.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.