Bulldogs Pull Out 45-43 Win Over Dieterich

BRIDGEPORT -- St. Anthony's Nick Grunloh had a big scoring opening quarter to get his team off to a good start against Dieterich in the Class 1A Red Hill (Bridgeport) Sectional. Dieterich put the clamps on and Grunloh didn't score again until the final quarter but that one just happened to be the winning shot as the Bulldogs edged the Maroons 45-43 Wednesday evening.

"I told Nick I needed him to get a big offensive board during the game but I didn't know it would be the one that would result in the game-winner," said St. Anthony Coach Cody Rincker.

Dieterich didn't give up easily and made one final attempt that just bounced off the rim. With .8 seconds remaining, Lance Niemerg took the ball out of bounds and threw it the length of the court. The ball hit the rim, bounced up and Callaway Campton grabbed it and immediately put it back up. As the buzzer sounded, the ball hit the front of the rim and came back out to the disappointment of the Movin' Maroons fans.

""What an unbelievable finish," said Dieterich Coach Jeff Staser. "I thought Lance had it when it hit the rim and went right to Callaway and then he put up the shot and it just wouldn't go down. I can't say enough about these guys. They've grown a lot this season and really came to play."

St. Anthony didn't make it easy as the Bulldogs ran off to a 17-7 opening quarter lead and looked entirely in control. James Kabbes opened the scoring at the 7:14 mark and then Chandler Martelli connected, Drew Gibson hit a basket and Grunloh knocked down a three-pointer and the Bulldogs raced out to a 9-0 lead.

The Bulldogs had a 12 point lead when Grunloh hit an old-fashioned three-point play. He finished the quarter with nine points and the Bulldogs leading 17-7. St. Anthony connected on 50% of its shots while Dieterich struggled with only three of 10.

Dieterich started coming back, though, as Travis Niemerg and Trenton Poe hit two baskets and Noah Heuerman converted an old-fashioned three-point play. Suddenly the lead was down to four at halftime, 24-20.

The Bulldogs came out strong and pushed ahead 27-20 at the start of the third period, but Dieterich again responded. Lance Niemerg hit a basket at the 5:05 mark before Heuerman put in a field goal and free throw and Poe nailed a bucket and suddenly the Maroons were within a point. A Bulldog timeout stalled the Maroons, but only for a short time.

L. Niemerg hit a bucket and Nick Feldhake nailed a three-pointer and the Maroons moved ahead 32-20. Another time out by the Bulldogs again put the momentum back in their court, but only shortly. Kyle Hartke nailed a three-pointer and the Bulldogs led 33-32. T. Niemerg hit a free throw to tie the score for Dieterich. Then Cade Walsh nailed another trifecta and the Bulldogs held a 36-33 lead going into the final period.

From there it was tied at 38-38 then St. Anthony moved ahead on a Gibson basket with a little over three minutes remaining. Following a Dieterich timeout, the Maroons pulled back in front as Campton connected on a basket and a free throw. The Bulldogs went ahead on a three-pointer by Gibson at the 1:17 mark, but T. Niemerg tied the score at 43-43 on two free throws at the 1:05 mark.

St. Anthony had the ball and with 31.6 ticks remaining called a time out to set up a play. With one second left, Gibson missed a shot but Grunloh pulled down the board and hit the fateful basket and the rest was history.

"We got a quick big start but I knew Dieterich would come back at us," said Rincker. "The games we've played against Dieterich have been very competitive the last three years. They're just a great group of kids and Dieterich is just a class act.

"I'm so very proud of our kids for sticking with it."

The Bulldogs were led by Gibson with 13 points and Grunloh with 11. Both players led in rebounding with nine each as the Bulldogs had a 30-21 edge in that department.

Dieterich finished up hitting better from the field than St. Anthony with 42.1 percent. The Maroons had one player in double figures, Feldhake with 10. Heuerman contributed eight and T. Niemerg seven. Niemerg also pulled down seven boards.

The Bulldogs move into the championship game Friday with a 21-10 record while Dieterich sees its season end at 23-7. The Maroons will lose seven seniors and that group has gone 97-26 in the last four years.

St. Anthony will now face Patoka at 7 p.m. for the sectional championship Friday. Patoka beat Edwards County (Albion) 60-48 in action Tuesday.

At Red Hill

ST. ANTHONY (45)

Walsh 2-4 0-0 6, Kabbes 4-9 0-0 8, Martelli 2-8 0-0 4, Grunloh 4-15 1-1 11, Gibson 5-12 2-2 13, Hartke 1-1 0-0 3, Niebrugge 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS 18-49 FG (36.7) 3-3 FT (100.0)

DIETERICH (43)

Poe 3-4 0-0 6, Feldhake 3-10 2-2 10, Niebrugge 3-6 0-0 6, Heuerman 3-7 2-4 8, T. Niemerg 2-6 3-4 7, Campton 2-3 1-1 6, Radloff 0-2 0-0 0, Howell 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS 16-38 FG (42.1) 8-11 FT (72.7)

St. Anthony            17    7    12     9    --    45

Dieterich                 7    13    13    10    --    43

3-point FG -- St. Anthony 6-18 (Walsh 2-4, Martelli 0-3, Grunloh 2-6, Gibson 1-4, Hartke 1-1), Dieterich 3-15 (Feldhake 2-9, L. Niemerg 0-2, Campton 1-2, Radloff 0-2). Rebounds -- St. Anthony 30 (Martelli 9, Grunloh 9, Kabbes 7), Dieterich 21 (T. Niemerg 7, Heuerman 6, L. Niemerg 5). Total fouls -- St. Anthony 12, Dieterich 10. Turnovers -- St. Anthony 12, Dieterich 13.