Mont Alto lost two conference games this year, but held the #1 seed going into the PSUAC Championship game tonight. One of the teams they lost to was the team they would end up facing in tonight's matchup.
The game started as expected, going back and forth through the first twenty minutes of the game. Fayette's Brandon Cunningham gave Mont Alto troubles from the field as he scored 18 points in the first half. Mont Alto still held strong though as Jalen Smith and Jerome Evans pulled down 17 rebounds, had 18 points, and 7 assists between them.
Mont Alto went into the half down by 2, 41-39. As all Mont Alto fan's know, the score at the half doesn't matter.
With a few quick three point baskets to start the 2nd half, Fayette looked to take control of the game as they went up by 11. Coach Schenzel called a timeout to calm Mont Alto down, and it seemed to work. The defense of Mont Alto proved yet again to be the stopping force that it has been all year. Holding Cunningham to zero points in the 2nd half, and holding Fayette to 32.8% from the field, Mont Alto was ready to turn up the heat on the offensive end as well.
With a fitting steal by defensive specialist Mykel Barber with seconds left in the game, Jalen Smith got fouled to hit 2 free throws to go up by 1. Fayette put up a desperation shot that missed, and Mont Alto got another rebound that led to a foul which sent Theo Remy to the line. Hitting 1-2, Fayette had a few seconds for another long shot, but they came up short.
Mont Alto won the 2015-16 PSUAC Championship by a score of 68-66. Smith ended with 19 points and 15 rebounds, while Evans totaled 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Mont Alto will be traveling to the USCAA National Championship Tournament next week as they look to keep their winning ways still rolling.
