Shoes Capture Pana Regional Girls Championship; St. Anthony Wins Regional at Dieterich

The Teutopolis Shoes captured the Class 2A Pana Girls Basketball Regional championship Thursday night with an exciting 56-54 win over the Sullivan Lady Redskins. Meanwhile, the St. Anthony Bulldogs claimed the Dieterich 1A Regional championship with a 39-28 win over the Dieterich Movin Maroons. The Shoes game was heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com, while the St. Anthony/Dieterich contest was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.

The Teutopolis/Sullivan was wild in several regards. First, Teutopolis had three starters sidelined with injuries. Second, two starters picked up two fouls early in the contest, requiring Coach Laurie Thompson to go even deeper down her bench for replacements. Third, Sullivan, at 22-4, with two players who combined for 50 points in their semifinal win earlier in the week, took a quick six-point lead, forcing T-Town to play catchup for the early part of the game.

No problem.

After trailing 18-13 after one quarter, the Lady Shoes outscored Sullivan 17-7 in the second period and led 30-25 at halftime. T-Town eventually held an 11-point lead before Sullivan began a determined comeback. At one point, Sullivan pulled back within one point, but could never take back the lead.

The Shoes made it exciting thanks to some less than stellar foul shooting, and Sullivan got the ball with 0:00.8 remaining at mid-court. Sullivan got off a shot that hit the left side of the rim at the buzzer and then fell off and the Shoes had the win and the regional championship.

As usual, the Shoes air-tight defense was a key to the win. T-Town held Sullivan's Brittin Boyer and Emily Neuhauser, who combined for 50 points in the Lady Redskins' semifinal win, to a combined 27 points.

On offense, Teutopolis made 50% of its shots, 22 of 44 including one of seven from three-point range. The Lady Shoes made 11 of 18 foul shots, turned the ball over just seven times, and grabbed a whopping 34 rebounds.

Sullivan made 35% of its shots, 16 of 46, but hit on 15 of 18 free throws and turned the ball over just six times. Sullivan had just 24 rebounds, though, and made four of 15 three-point tries.

Anna Hartke and Molly Smith each scored 12 points to lead Teutopolis, while Reagan Drees scored nine points, Hannah Bueker eight, Shelby Thompson five, Michelle Schmidt and Sara Thoele four each, and Jenny McMahon two.

Emily Neuhauser scored 17 points to lead Sullivan, while Elissa Stewart added 12.

Teutopolis improved to 15-16 on the season, while Sullivan closes its season with a glittering 22-5 record.

The Shoes advance to action Monday night at the Class 2A Flora Sectional, where they play Tuscola, a 50-46 winner over Cerro Gordo in the Macon Meridian Regional, at 7:30pm in the second game of a doubleheader. Hear the game on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com.  

Class 2A Pana Regional

TEUTOPOLIS (56)

Bueker 3-1 -- 8, Schmidt 2-0 -- 4, Thoele 2-0 -- 4, McMahon 1-0 -- 2, Thompson 1-3 -- 5, Drees 4-1 -- 9, Hartke 5-2 -- 12, Smith 4-4 -- 12. TOTALS 22 FG, 11 FT.

SULLIVAN (54)

Stewart 5-2 -- 14, Marshall 1-2 -- 4, Ellis 1-0 -- 3, Boyer 2-6 -- 10, Neuhauser 5-6 -- 17, Shuman 3-0 -- 6, Riley 0-0 -- 0, Dickens 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 17 FG, 16 FT.

Teutopolis          13    17    10    16    --    56

Sullivan              18      7       8    21    --    54

3-point FG -- Teutopolis 1 (Bueker 1), Sullivan 4 (Stewart 2, Ellis 1, Neuhauser 1).

   --

Members of the St. Anthony team that won the Class 1A Dieterich Regional are, front row, left to right, Kelsea Dust, Megan Nuxoll, and Morgan Gardewine. Middle row, left to right, Maddie Schuette, Kyla Burton and Kaylee Horn. Back row, left to right, Head Coach Bart Wiedman, Hunter Niebrugge, Emily McDevitt, Abby Brown, Olivia Clausius, Abbie Schmidt, Emma Richards, Samantha Brandenburger, Assistant Coach Krystal Johnson and Assistant Coach Tony Kreke.

Meanwhile, winning a regional championship in the home of your opponent is a tall order, but it's an order Bart Wiedman's Bulldogs filled Thursday night.

St. Anthony held the advantage throughout most of the game, leading 12-8 after one quarter, 15-14 at halftime, and 23-20 after three quarters, and then outscored the Maroons 16-8 in the final stanza to post the 11-point win.

St. Anthony made one-third of its shots, 12 of 36, from the field, but added 14 of 18 from the foul line. The Bulldogs turned the ball over 16 times, pulled down 24 rebounds, and made one of six three-point shots.

Dieterich, though, just couldn't get untracked, making just 26% of its shots, nine of 35. Dieterich made eight of 12 foul shots, also committed 16 turnovers, and grabbed 22 rebounds while making two of seven three-point tries.

Megan Nuxoll led St. Anthony with 16 points and grabbed six rebounds. Emma Richards scored six points and collected nine rebounds. Also for St. Anthony: Hunter Niebrugge eight, and Morgan Gardewine, Abby Brown and Emily McDevitt three apiece.

Dieterich was led by Courtney Flach with nine points, while Mallorie Vahling scored seven, Kallee Heuerman four, Elizabeth Abbott and Kelsey Webb three each, and Anna Shadle two.

St. Anthony improved to 18-13 on the season, while Dieterich sees a great season come to an end with a 21-9 record.

The Bulldogs will come home to host their own Class 1A Sectional, taking on Central A&M on Tuesday at 7pm.

Class 1A Dieterich Regional

ST. ANTHONY (39)

Gardewine 1-1 -- 3, Schmidt 0-0 -- 0, McDevitt 1-1 -- 3, Nuxoll 4-8 -- 16, Brown 1-0 -- 3, Richards 3-0 -- 6, Niebrugge 2-4 -- 8. TOTALS 12 FG, 14 FT.

DIETERICH (28)

Abbott 1-1 -- 3, Flach 3-2 -- 9, Shadle 1-0 -- 2, Aherin 0-0 -- 0, Webb 1-0 -- 3, Heuerman 2-0 -- 4, Vahling 1-5 -- 7. TOTALS 9 FG, 8 FT.

St. Anthony           12    3    8    16    --    39

Dieterich                  8    6    6      8    --    28

3-point FG -- St. Anthony 1 (Brown 1), Dieterich 2 (Flach 1, Webb 1).