St. A Downs Altamont at Class 1A Nokomis Sectional, Other Scores

NOKOMIS -- Effingham St. Anthony High School had a tough fight for the third time this season with Altamont and again came out a winner in the opening game at the Class 1A Nokomis Boys Basketball Sectional Tuesday evening, 53-44.

The Bulldogs and Indians played to a 10-10 opening quarter tie. Drew Gibson knocked in two baskets while Ryan Armstrong and Evan Cornett had four points each for Altamont.

Gibson then went on a tear for the Bulldogs, knocking in a three-pointer and two more baskets for seven points while Cade Walsh came to life with a three-pointer and two free throws and the Bulldogs moved ahead 24-21 at halftime.

Mitchell Stevenson kept the Indians close with six points on two baskets and two free throws and Armstrong added four more points.

Then it was the Indians' turn to propel into the lead in the third quarter. Armstrong tallied four more points while Stevenson, Jesus Flores and Cornett hit a basket each. The only player scoring for St. Anthony was Gibson with six points. Altamont held a 31-30 lead going into the final period.

St. Anthony's Walsh taliled five points and Gibson connected on two baskets and started hitting eight of eight free throws in the final minutes. Armstrong also was going strong with eight more points. He nailed a three-poitner and five of six free throws but it wasn't enough as St. Anthony had a 23-13 run for the 53-44 victory.

Gibson, a 6-foot-3 senior, finished with 29 points for the Bulldogs, connecting on 10 of 12 free throws. Also in double figures was Walsh with 10. The Bulldogs are now 26-5 on the season and head to the championship game Friday at 7 p.m. against either Dieterich or Patoka. Those two teams play tonight at 7.

Altamont was led by Armstrong, a 5-foot-10 senior, with 20 points and Stevenson chipped in with 10. The Indians finish the season with a 20-12 record.

Class 1A Nokomis Sectional

ST. ANTHONY (53)

Walsh 2-4 -- 10, Deters 1-0 -- 2, Ludwig 0-0 -- 0, Levitt 1-0 -- 2, Nuxoll 2-0 -- 4, Gibson 9-10 -- 29, Beesley 2-2 -- 6, Runge 0-0 -- 0, Lawrence 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 17 FG, 16 FT.

ALTAMONT (44)

Stevenson 4-2 -- 10, Flores 1-0 -- 2, Stone 0-0 -- 0, Biggs 1-0 -- 3, Williams 4-11 -- 20, Childerson 1-1 -- 3, Cornett 3-0 -- 6. TOTALS 14 FG, 14 FT.

St. Anthony            10    14      6    23    --    53

Altamont                10    11    10    13    --    44

3-point FG -- St. Anthony 3 (Walsh 2, Gibson 1), Altamont 2 (Biggs 1, Armstrong 1).

CLASS 1A SCORES

Arcola Sectional

Cissna Park 50, Heyworth 43

Chicago Hope Academy  Sectional

Chicago John Hope 52, Chicago Luthern North 51

Chicago Hope Academy 57, Chicago Douglass 28

Mount Sterling Brown County Sectional

Mendon Unity 66, Delavan 57

Norris City-Omaha-Enfield Secitonal

Junction Gallatin County 42, Christopher 40

Okawville Sectional

Okawville 62, Carrollton 36

Pecatonica Sectional

East Dubuque 48, Orangeville 38

Somonauk Sectional

Newark 62, DePue 42

CLASS 2A SCORES

West Frankfort Sectional

Robinson 49, Eldorado 44

Byron Sectional

Kewanee 57, Winnebago 51

Chicago Collins Academy Sectional

Chicago Collins Academy 55, Chicago CICS/Longwood 41

Monticello Sectional

Monticello 57, Bismarck-Henning 38

Nashville Sectional

Pinckneyville vs. Nashville, no score listed

River Grove Guerin Sectional

Chicago Orr 66, Elmhurst IC Catholic 44

Stanford Olympia Sectional

Quincy Notre Dame 71, Stanford Olympia 49