Lady Shoes Claim Vandalia 2A Regional Title

The 2018 regional champion, Teutopolis Wooden Shoes.

The Teutopolis Lady Shoes claimed the Vandalia 2A Regional Tournament championship Thursday night, defeating the Pana Lady Panthers 52-40 in action heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com. 

The Lady Shoes will take on Mt. Carmel Monday at 7:30pm in first round action at the St. Anthony 2A Sectional at the Enlow Center at St. Anthony High School. Mt. Carmel defeated Flora 53-46 Thursday to win their own regional title.

The Shoes struggled with cold shooting throughout the first half, making just nine of 31 shots including 2 of 12 threes. T-Town trailed Pana 13-12 after one quarter, and led 23-22 at halftime.

The second half was another story, as the Lady Shoes made 10 of 19 shots and hit nine of nine foul shots after intermission. Teutopolis led 37-31 after three quarters and outpointed Pana 15-9 in the fourth quarter to post the 12-point win. At one point, Shoes Coach Laurie Thompson inserted sophomore Claire Bushur into the lineup and the 5'10" Bushur teamed up with 6'1" senior starter Macy Michels for a combination that Pana found it difficult to contain. Michels finished with 12 points and Bushur scored five points during her time in the contest.

Marianna Hemmen, though, was the big star on offense for the Lady Shoes, scoring 20 points including 12 of the 23 points the Shoes scored in the first half.

For the game, Teutopolis went 19 of 50 from the field for 38% including 2 of 13 threes. The Lady Shoes were 12 of 15 from the line for 80% and turned the ball over just six times in the contest. After being outrebounded 17-16 in the first half, the Shoes had an 11-3 edge after intermission to win the battle on the boards 27-20.

Pana made 13 of 32 shots for 41% including 1 of 4 threes. They made 13 of 16 free throws and turned the ball over 14 times.

In addition to Hemmen's 20 points, Michels' 12, and Bushur's 5, scorers for Teutopolis were Jolene Bueker with 8 points and Morgan Mette with 7. Mette led with nine rebounds, Jolene Bueker with seven, and Michels with six.

Teutopolis improved to 25-6 on the season. It's the Lady Shoes' ninth straight regional championship. They have failed to win a regional just twice since the 1989-90 season.

Marshall will play Sullivan in the first game at St. Anthony Monday at 6pm. Marshall beat Casey-Westfield 47-38 to win the Casey-Westfield Regional, while Sullivan defeated Tuscola 40-34 to win the ALAH Regional in Arthur.

Class 2A Vandalia Regional

Championship

TEUTOPOLIS (52)

J. Bueker 4-0 -- 8, S. Bueker 0-0 -- 0, Bushur 2-1 -- 5, Hemmen 7-4 -- 20, K. Mette 0-0 -- 0, M. Mette 2-3 -- 7, Michels 4-4 -- 12, Niemerg 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 19 FG, 12 FT.

PANA (40)

Weideman 0-2 -- 2, Schoonover 4-2 -- 10, Johnson 1-1 -- 3, Denton 0-1 -- 1, Holthaus 4-0 -- 8, Funneman 4-3 -- 12, Ashcraft 0-4 -- 4. TOTALS 13 FG, 13 FT.

Teutopolis             12    11    14    15    --    52

Pana                      13      9      9      9    --    40

3-point FG -- Teutopolis 2 (Hemmen 2), Pana 1 (Funneman 1).