Dieterich and St. Anthony for NTC Tournament Championship; Altamont to Consolation Championship Game; Other Friday Scores

It'll be #1 and #2 in the championship game of the 80th Annual National Trail Conference Tournament Saturday night after the St. Anthony Bulldogs defeated the South Central Cougars 47-30 Friday.

Altamont advanced to the consolation championship game with a 53-26 win over Neoga. 

St. Anthony, the #2 seed, will take on top-seeded and undefeated Dieterich for the title at 7:30pm. 

Here's ticket information for Bulldogs' fans: tickets for Saturday night's championship game will be sold from 8:30-9:30am to high school students and parents and season ticket holders, from 9:30-10:30am to junior high students and parents...and from 10:30-11:30am to the general public. There is no limit on the number of tickets you can purchase. Any remaining tickets will be returned to Altamont for sale at the door Saturday night. Doors will open 45 minutes before game time Saturday night.

The Bulldogs' victory was not certain early in the game as St. Anthony struggled offensively. South Central led 8-5 after one quarter. However, the shots started to fall in the second quarter and St. Anthony outscored the Cougars 31-11 over the middle two quarters and were never headed.

St. Anthony made 16 of 46 shots, 35%, but made 10 of 14 foul shots, turned the ball over just seven times, outrebounded South Central 27-20 and made five of 18 three-point tries.

South Central made 45% of its shots, 13 of 29, made just three of eight foul shots, committed 16 turnovers and made just one of seven three-point tries.

Scoring for St. Anthony: Kyle Hartke 11, Connor Greene nine, Derek Rios seven, Nick Grunloh six, Andrew Gardewine five, Zach Gardewine four, Jeff Niebrugge and Chandler Martelli two each, and James Kabbes one.

For South Central: Evan Langley seven, Dre Hill six, Brett Harmeier five, Jace Wilkins, Chase Riley and Dylan Brauer four each.

St. Anthony is now 14-7 on the season, while South Central slipped to 8-13.

In the battle of the Indians, Altamont quickly put the game away, leading 12-3 after the first quarter, 27-5 at halftime, and 40-13 after three quarters.

Altamont made 46% of its shots, 21 of 46, made five of 10 from the line, committed 12 turnovers and grabbed 29 rebounds while making four of 14 three-point shots.

Neoga made just 12 of 39 shots, although they shot much better in the second half, and made just one of six foul shots and just one of seven three-point tries, while committing 22 turnovers and pulling down 19 rebounds.

Scoring for Altamont: Adam Mayhaus and Ryan Armstrong 12 each, Thomas Caravello nine, Brandon Hosick eight, Evan Cornett four, Eric Wolff three, Justin Goeckner and Logan Deadmond two each, and Klaiton Wolff one.

For Neoga: Luke Baker seven, Caleb Hill six, Caleb Abernathy four, Corey Kersey three, and Drew Ramert, Jesse Holt and Jon Welch two apiece.

We're down to the final day of the tournament. Here's the schedule:

11:30am--Stewardson-Strasburg vs. Windsor in a battle of the Monday losers

1pm--Consolation Championship game between Cowden-Herrick and Altamont

2:30pm--Third Place Game between St. Elmo/Brownstown and South Central

7:30pm--Championship Game between Dieterich and St. Anthony

Hear all four games on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com including live video and audio streaming of each game.

Here are other Friday scores:

BOYS BASKETBALL

Effingham 57, Charleston 27 (This game was close early, with Effingham leading 15-10 after one quarter, but the Hearts outscored the Trojans 32-7 over the middle two quarters to put the game away; for Effingham, Grant Wolfe led the way with 17 points, while Michael Carie scored 15 points and Braydon Bone 14 points; also for Effingham: Reed Schafer four, Brent Beals three, and Jared Minor and Kyle Morrow two apiece; Effingham is now 13-6 on the season; Effingham won the JV game 52-45; for Effingham: Reed Schafer 13, Brady Jackson eight, Michael Woltman and Trevor Kreke seven each, Drew Vasquez six, Brent Beals and Mason Hull four apiece, Alex Webb three)

Carlyle 66, Pana 59

Taylorville 86, Salem 55

Vandalia 62, Litchfield 54

Waltonville 57, Clay City 54

Little Illini Conference Tournament

At Newton

Robinson 64, Paris 55 (consolation championship)

Marshall 80, Flora 56 (third place)

Lawrenceville 81, Casey-Westfield 59 (championship)

Little Okaw Valley Conference Southeast Division Tournament

Villa Grove 100, Cumberland 85   (third place)