Morton gets past Hersey in Pekin opener

Hersey's Kyle Miklasz scored 5 points over the last 19 seconds and finished with a game-high 21 points, but Morton was able to hold off the Huskies 61-59 in first-round play at the Pekin Insurance Holiday Tournament on Monday.

Miklasz hit a 3-pointer with 19 seconds left to cut the Morton lead to 59-57.

Tate Anderson made 2 free throws at nine seconds to give Morton a 61-57 lead, and Miklasz hit a bucket with one second left for the game's final points.

Jordan Mertes and Justin Jobski both had 11 points for Hersey, and Tom Sutrinaitis had 10.

Tyler Lundeen led the way for Morton with 19 points.

A third-quarter surge helped Hersey (5-5) regain the lead after it had trailed by 10 in the first quarter, but Morton finished the third with a spurt of its own to take a 48-37 lead heading into the fourth.

Hersey will play the first of two games today in the consolation bracket at 10:30 a.m. against Lake Zurich. The Huskies would play again at 6:30 p.m. if they win and at 3:45 p.m. if they lose.