Altamont, Dieterich to Play for NTC Tourney Title

The Dieterich Movin Maroons edged the St. Anthony Bulldogs 33-31 Friday night to advance to the championship game of the 81st Annual National Trail Conference Tournament.

DIETERICH 33, ST. ANTHONY 31

The game was low-scoring, but that made every possession important.

St. Anthony broke out of the gate leading, but Dieterich pulled to within 9-8 by the end of the first quarter, and kept it going from there. The Movin Maroons outscored St. Anthony 10-2 in the second period to lead 18-11 at halftime. The Bulldogs moved to within 27-22 by the end of the third quarter, and eventually tied the game on a corner three by Nick Grunloh, but Dieterich quickly jumped back in front and held on to win by two points.

Neither team shot 30% from the field for the game, mostly due to stifling defense played by each on the other. Dieterich made just nine shots on 32 attempts including one of nine threes. Ironically, 6'6" Travis Niemerg hit the one made three for Dieterich. St. Anthony made 12 of 47 shots for just under 25% including three of 21 threes.

While St. Anthony made three of six foul shots, Dieterich made 14 of 20. St. Anthony outrebounded Dieterich 25-21. Turnovers were also a big factor, 21 for Dieterich to 17 for St. Anthony.

Travis Niemerg led Dieterich with 10 points, Noah Heuerman scored three points but grabbed eight rebounds, Nick Feldhake and Callaway Campton each scored five points, Lance Niemerg and Ryan Radloff each scored four points, and Thad Howell two points.

St. Anthony's Nick Grunloh led all scorers with 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Also for the Bulldogs: Drew Gibson 5, Kyle Hartke 4, Alex Beesley 4, Chandler Martelli 3, Cade Walsh 3, and James Kabbes 1.

#3 seed Dieterich improved to 16-6 and will take on a top-seeded Altamont sitting at 18-3 on the season. 

#2 seed St. Anthony slipped to 13-9 will play 5th-seeded South Central, now 8-13 on the season.

In the other contest Friday, a consolation bracket semifinal, Beecher City/Cowden-Herrick shot the lights out to defeat Windsor/Stew-Stras 74-52. The win will move BCCH into the consolation championship game at 1pm Saturday against St. Elmo/Brownstown. The WSS loss puts the Hatchets in the 7th place game at 11:30am against the Neoga Indians.

BEECHER CITY/COWDEN-HERRICK 74, WINDSOR/STEW-STRAS 52

Windsor/Stew-Stras actually led the game 15-13 at the end of the first quarter, but BCCH outscored the Hatchets 21-8 in the second quarter to lead 34-23 at halftime, outscored the Hatchets 20-12 in the third quarter to lead 54-35, and outpointed WSS 20-17 in the final quarter to win by 22 points.

Beecher City/Cowden-Herrick shot 60% from the field, making 24 of 40 shots, hit 26 of 34 foul shots, survived 20 turnovers, grabbed 20 rebounds and made one of seven threes. Windsor/Stew-Stras made 22 of 59 shots for 37%, made just seven of 15 foul shots, committed 19 turnovers, grabbed 22 rebounds, and hit one of 10 threes.

BCCH's Austin Rexroad scored 21 points to lead all scorers, while Micah Sandiford added 15 points, Aaron Nohren 14 points, and Konner Blackerby 12 points. Also for BCCH: Daniel Harder, Cody Grove, Westin Giles, Jake Wills, Andrew Moeller and Trey Buzzard two points each.

Christian Kessler led Windsor/Stew-Stras with 15 points. Also for the Hatchets:  Tristan Warner 8, Joshua Overbeck 6, Chase Thies 6, Chandler Ballinger 4, Nic Hutchinson 4, Trevor Quast 4, Blake Nichols 2, Gavin Bennett 2, and Isaac Kramer 1.

WSS drops to 9-10 and will play Neoga for 7th place at 11:30am, while BCCH improved to 8-11 and will take on St. Elmo/Brownstown 1pm in the consolation championship game.

Here's the rundown for Saturday action:

11:30am--7th Place Game--Neoga vs. Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg

1pm--Consolation Championship Game--St. Elmo/Brownstown vs. Beecher City/Cowden-Herrick

2:30pm--3rd Place Game--South Central vs. St. Anthony

7:30pm--Championship Game--Altamont vs. Dieterich

We'll have all four games Saturday on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com including live video and audio streaming.

OTHER SATURDAY SCORES:

BOYS GAMES

LITTLE ILLINI CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

Consolation Championship Game--Olney 59, Red Hill 44

3rd Place Game--Marshall 52, Flora 47

Championship Game--Lawrenceville defeated Robinson in overtime

REGULAR SEASON

Effingham 79, Charleston 58

Teutopolis 71, Breese Mater Dei 49

Taylorville 49, Salem 38

Vandalia 69, Litchfield 58

Cahokia 58, Mt. Vernon 49

Carlyle 83, Pana 62

Mt. Zion 56, Mattoon 55

GIRLS GAMES

Teutopolis 56, Effingham 39 (Game was heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com) 

JUNIOR HIGH BOYS GAMES

AT SIJHSAA Altamont Lutheran Regional

Odin 72, St. Peter 25

Altamont Lutheran 46, Patoka 44