The Bushnell-Prairie City High School boys basketball team wrapped up its regular season Thursday night, dropping a 44-34 Prairieland Conference crossover contest to host Elmwood.
Elmwood (16-12) grabbed an early lead as Garrett Webster scored 10 of his team’s 16 points. That helped the Trojans take a 16-10 lead after the opening eight minutes.
Both teams struggled offensively in the second quarter, but Elmwood managed to outscore B-PC 8-5 upping its lead to 24-15 at halftime.
Connor Palm scored the opening basket for the visiting Spartans to start the second half. But the Trojans answered with a 10-0 run in building a 34-17 advantage after a pair of Webster free throws with 2:41 left in the period.
B-PC narrowed the gap, scoring the final six points of the frame, including a 3-pointer by Braylon Griffutts that left Elmwood with a 34-23 lead entering the final stanza.
The Spartans would get no closer than seven points in the final minutes however as Elmwood secured the victory.
Palm topped B-PC with 15 points, including three treys.
De’Arion Ruffin-Thomas also finished in double figures, scoring 11 points.
Griffitts added six points and Dylan King two for the Spartans.
Webster led all scorers, topping the Trojans with 15 points.
B-PC (3-23) was to begin Illinois High School Association Class 1A Regional play Monday, making a return trip to Cuba for a rematch against North Fulton (22-7).
B-PC was the No. 13 sub-sectional seed, while North Fulton was seeded fourth.
The two teams faced each other on Feb. 16 in Cuba with the Wildcats winning 51-16.
Monday’s winner advances to semifinal play on Wednesday at Rushville, facing either No. 12 seed Lewistown (8-17) or No. 5 seed Mendon Unity (13-14).
Other opening-round games Monday had No. 16 seed Hartsburg-Emden (2-24) at No. 1 seed Deer Creek-Mackinaw (22-6) and No. 9 seed Havana (11-14) at No. 8 seed Rushville-Industry (10-15).
The regional championship game is slated for Friday.
