Breese Central Edges Teutopolis for St. Anthony Tournament Championship; EHS Falls in 3rd Place Game; St. Anthony Claims First Win of Season; Other Saturday Scores

(MEMBERS OF THE 2021 ST. ANTHONY THANKSGIVING ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM PRESENT AFTER THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, LEFT TO RIGHT: BRADY MOORE AND LUKE STUBHART OF BREESE CENTRAL, GARRETT WOLFE OF EFFINGHAM, JAYLEN MIDDLETON OF EFFINGHAM, CALEB SIEMER OF TEUTOPOLIS, SAM BRADBURY OF MATTOON, AND TOURNAMENT M-V-P BRENDAN NIEBRUGGE OF TEUTOPOLIS)

The Breese Central Cougars edged the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes 32-29 to claim the championship of the St. Anthony Thanksgiving Tournament. The Effingham Hearts fell to the Mattoon Green Wave 54-40 in the third place game. The St. Anthony Bulldogs posted their first win of the season 62-58 in overtime to claim 7th place honors in the tournament. The Shoes, Hearts and Bulldogs games were heard on Classic Hits 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

The championship game showcased great defense. Breese Central led 11-10 after one quarter, the Cougars were up 19-17 at halftime, and Breese Central held the Shoes to four points in the third quarter to lead 30-21 after three quarters. The Shoes weren't through, though, pulling within one point before the Cougars got a big basket, their only points of the period to hold on for the three-point win.

Teutopolis made 11 of 31 shots for 35% including 2 of 4 threes. The Shoes were five of eight from the line, grabbed 19 rebounds and turned the ball over 13 times.

Breese Central shot 38% from the field, 13 of 34 including 2 of 6 threes. The Cougars made four of five foul shots, pulled down 17 rebounds and turned the ball over just nine times.

Brendan Niebrugge scored nine points to lead Teutopolis, while Kayden Althoff scored 8, Caleb Siemer 6, Max Niebrugge 3, James Niebrugge 2, and Mitch Althoff 1.

Brady Moore scored 13 points to pace Breese Central. 

   --

Effingham hung tough in the first half of the third place game, but Mattoon put some space between them and the Hearts in the second half. Mattoon led 12-11 after one quarter and 22-18 at halftime, then 35-28 after three quarters before outpointing the Hearts 19-12 in the final quarter to win by 14.

Effingham made 14 of 39 shots, 36%, including 8 of 29 threes. The Hearts made 4 of 7 free throws, grabbed 22 rebounds and committed 11 turnovers.

Mattoon made 44% of its shots, 16 of 36, including 7 of 15 threes. Mattoon made 15 of 19 foul shots, including 13 of 17 in the fourth quarter, pulled down 16 rebounds and turned the ball over just 7 times.

Jett Volpi led Effingham with 14 points while Garrett Wolfe scored 13 points. Brayden Pals scored 7, Andrew Splechter 5, and Ethan Ritz 1.

Cooper Bergstrom led Mattoon with 15 points.

   --

St. Anthony and Rantoul had a spirited contest before the Bulldogs finally won it in overtime. Rantoul led 12-4 after one quarter, but the Bulldogs pulled in front 20-18 by halftime, then trailed 37-30 after three quarters before rallying to tie the game at 53-53 heading to the extra period. The Bulldogs outscored the Eagles 9-5 to win the contest.

St. Anthony shot 50% from the field, 22 of 44, including 8 of 21 threes. The Bulldogs made just 10 of 20 free throws, pulled down 22 rebounds and turned the ball over 12 times.

Rantoul made 24 of 52 shots, 46%, including 6 of 23 threes, made 4 of 8 free throws, pulled down 28 rebounds and turned the ball over 17 times.

Max Koenig stepped up to score 20 points for St. Anthony while Kyle Stewart added 15 points. Also for St. Anthony: Collin Westendorf 9, Griffin Sehy 8, Craig Croy 6, and Colton Fearday and Eli Levitt 2 each.

Rantoul had four players in double figures, including Avontay Anderson with a team-leading 14 points.

Breese Central finished 4-0, Teutopolis and Mattoon each 3-1, Effingham and Robinson 2-2, St. Anthony and Highland 1-3, and Rantoul 0-4. 

The All-Tournament Team consisted of MVP Brendan Niebrugge of Teutopolis, Jaylen Middleton of Mattoon, Noah Gilmore of Robinson, Craig Croy of St. Anthony, Garrett Wolfe of Effingham, Luke Stubhart of Breese Central, Jake Ottensmeier of Highland, Caleb Siemer of Teutopolis, Sam Bradbury of Mattoon, and Brady Moore of Breese Central.

HIGH SCHOOL

Boys Basketball

St. Anthony Thanksgiving Tournament

St. Anthony 62, Rantoul 58 (F in OT) (seventh place)

Robinson 62, Highland 60 (F in OT) (fifth place)

Mattoon 54, Effingham 40 (F) (third place)

Breese Central 32, Teutopolis 29 (F) (championship)

Cumberland Turkey Tournament

Dieterich 63, Odin/Palestine/Hutsonville 47 (F) (eighth place)

Okaw Valley 64, Vandalia 61 (F)  (consolation championship)

Cumberland 47, North Clay 40 (F) (third place)

Newton 46, Casey-Westfield 42 (F) (championship)

Mulberry Grove Tournament

Ramsey 44, Lebanon 36 (F) (seventh place)

Patoka-Odin 44, Mulberry Grove 35 (F) (fifth place)

Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City 61, Mt. Olive 57 (F) (third place)

St. Elmo/Brownstown 75, Father McGivney 53 (F) (championship)

Mary Sur Shootout

Cisne 64, Central A&M 36 (F)

Neoga 57, Arthur Christian 22 (F)

Neoga 61, Central A&M 41 (F)

Cisne 57, Arthur Christian 29 (F)

Girls Basketball

Mary Sur Shootout At Neoga

Neoga 50, Arthur Christian 19 (F)

Neoga 55, Georgetown-Ridge Farms 16 (F)

Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City Thanksgiving Tournament

Cowden Herrick/Beecher City 43, Dieterich 26 (F) (Championship)

Robinson Thanksgiving Tournament

Marshal 58, Olney 50

Salem Wildcat Thanksgiving Tournament

Carterville 50, Teutopolis 43 (F)

Teutopolis 48, Centralia 29 (F)

College Football

University of Illinois 47, Northwestern 14 (F)