Mount Pulaski rallies to force OT, wins 1A semifinal

Alyson Murphy's last-second 3-pointer sends game to overtime as Mount Pulaski defeats Brown County

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Down three points in the final seconds of Thursday's Class 1A girls basketball state semifinal, Mount Pulaski senior Alyson Murphy hit a game-tying 3-pointer to force overtime. In the extra period, Mount Pulaski pulled away to defeat Mount Sterling Brown County 47-40 and advance to the state championship game.

Why it matters

This victory sends Mount Pulaski to its first-ever girls basketball state championship game, a milestone achievement for the program. The Hilltoppers overcame a size disadvantage and turnover issues to rally late and secure the win, showcasing their resilience and big-game experience.

The details

With Mount Pulaski trailing 40-37 in the final seconds of regulation, Murphy sprinted to the sideline, caught a pass, and drilled a 3-pointer to tie the game and send it to overtime. In the extra period, Mount Pulaski jumped out to a 5-point lead and held Brown County without a field goal to pull away for the 47-40 victory.

  • Mount Pulaski trailed 40-37 with seconds remaining in regulation.
  • Murphy hit the game-tying 3-pointer with 9.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
  • In overtime, Mount Pulaski outscored Brown County 7-0 to win 47-40.

The players

Alyson Murphy

A 5-foot-7 senior for Mount Pulaski who hit the game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime.

Ryan McVickers

The head coach of Mount Pulaski who decided against calling a timeout in the final seconds, allowing Murphy to make the game-tying shot.

Maggi Henry

A player for Mount Sterling Brown County who made a 3-point play to give her team a late lead before missing a free throw that allowed Mount Pulaski's final possession.

David Phelps

The head coach of Mount Sterling Brown County, whose team battled back from a 5-point deficit in the final minutes of regulation but ultimately fell short in overtime.

Elayna Marten

A player for Mount Pulaski who had 14 points and made the pass to Murphy for the game-tying shot.

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What they’re saying

“It felt good coming off my hands and I just had to hope and pray that it went in. Thankfully, it went in.”

— Alyson Murphy, Mount Pulaski senior (sj-r.com)

“We're playing for the state championship, we're very, very excited. Obviously, we had the goal (after losing to Roanoke-Benson in the regional final last year), I could just tell our mindset was, 'We don't want to feel that feeling anymore,' and these girls sitting next to me are just unbelievable. They're big-time players who make big-time plays. That was the story of this game.”

— Ryan McVickers, Mount Pulaski head coach (sj-r.com)

“We got what we wanted: we got the ball inside, we rebounded really well — I think on both ends of the floor. Towards the end of the game, it seemed every ball bounced their way.”

— David Phelps, Mount Sterling Brown County head coach (sj-r.com)

What’s next

Mount Pulaski will face Deer Creek-Mackinaw in the Class 1A state championship game on Saturday at 10 a.m.

The takeaway

This thrilling comeback victory showcases the resilience and clutch play of Mount Pulaski, which is making its first-ever appearance in the girls basketball state championship game. The Hilltoppers overcame a size disadvantage and turnover issues to rally late and secure the win, setting up an exciting title matchup.