Bulldogs Claim Regional Championship

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Published on February 28 2020 9:59 pm
Last Updated on February 28 2020 11:00 pm
Written by Millie Lange

Logan Antrim was the catalyst for Effingham St. Anthony Friday evening as the Bulldogs downed North Clay (Louisville), 69-54 to win the Class 1A Red Hill (Bridgeport) Regional boys basketball championship.

Antrim fired up four three-pointers in the opening quarter along with two regular baskets for 16 points as the Bulldogs took a 27-17 opening quarter lead.

"We decided to put our major effort on guarding Jaccob Dust and when you do that, sometimes someone else gets hot," said North Clay Coach Josh Zink. "Logan Antrim hurt us in that opening quarter."

Antrim nailed a two-pointer to get the Bulldogs up 2-0. Luke Fleener tied the score and it was tied again at 5-5. But from that point, Antrim let loose with the three-pointers, three in a row, and the lead went to 18-10.

From that point the Bulldogs had a tough time with turnovers. After not having a turnover in the first quarter, North Clay's defense forced the Bulldogs into seven second period turnovers but the Cardinals couldn't get the offense in gear and trailed 39-22 at halftime.

"The way we shot in the first quarter helped us get off in the right direction," said St. Anthony Coach Cody Rincker. "Antrim has the ability to do that. He gave us a huge lift in that quarter. North Clay made some nice shots as well. Our bench came in when we got in foul trouble and really contributed. They stepped up when they needed to."

The Bulldogs and Cardinals played to an 11-11 third period and St. Anthony held a 50-33 lead going into the final period. Jaccob Dust came to life in that third quarter with seven points.

North Clay came back with a 21-19 final period run but St. Anthony finally started making their free throws with nine of 14 and that finished the game.

"Jaccob is our go-to guy," said Rincker. "We just need to calm things down and throw into him. North Clay made some nice shots as well. Jack Hoene made shots in the second quarter."

Antrim finished with 23 points on nine of 11 from the field and one of three at the free throw line. He connected on four of five three-pointers. Dust tallied 19 on seven of 11 from the field and five of 10 at the line. Dust led in rebounds with 13.

North Clay was led by Ethan Bible with 14 and Luke Fleener with 13.

"Our kids battled and sometimes you just can't get over the top," said Coach Zink. "These seniors have meant so much to the program. Three years ago they won 12 games. They've built a competitive team in the NTC and we're going to continue to work. Our boys represented our community well. We're going in the right direction."

North Clay finished the season with a 21-12 record.

St. Anthony advances to the Casey-Westfield Sectional with a 28-3 record and will meet Casey-Westfield Wednesday at 7 p.m. Casey-Westfield won the Bethany Okaw Valley Regional over the host school, 57-37.

In the opening game Tuesday at 7 p.m., Altamont, a 64-44 winner over Dieterich at the Altamont  Regional, will take on Moweaqua Central A&M, a 58-43 winner over Nokomis in the Macon Meridian Regional.

Ticket information for St. Anthony fans -- all seats are general admission. all tickets are $6. Tickets will be sold from 8:30 to 1 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the high school office. The remainder of the tickets will be turned in and sold at the door at Casey-Westfield High School.

Class 1A Red Hill (Bridgeport) Regional

Championship

NORTH CLAY (54)

Lu. Fleener 5-11 1-3 13, Bible 6-9 0-0 14, Holkenbrink 3-7 1-2 8, Jones 4-13 0-2 9, Bailey 3-8 0-0 8, Lo. Fleener 0-1 0-0 0, Weidner 1-1 0-0 2, Ballard 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS 22-50 FG, 2-7 FT.

ST. ANTHONY (69)

Antrim 9-11 1-3 23, Hoene 4-8 1-2 9, Fearday 2-7 0-0 4, Dust 7-11 5-10 19, Webb 2-5 4-5 9, Elder 1-2 0-0 2, Walk 0-1 0-0 0, Walsh 1-2 0-1 3. TOTALS 26-47 FG, 11-21 FT.

North Clay                 17      5    11    21    --    54

St. Anthony               27    12    11    19    --    69

3-point FG -- North Clay 8 (Lu. Fleener 2, Bible 2, Bailey 2, Holkenbrink 1, Jones 1), St. Anthony 6 (Antrim 4, Webb 1, Walsh 1).