Bulldogs Move Into NTC Championship Game

The top-seeded Bulldogs had a tough fight to get to the title game. North Clay came out with a strong opening quarter, stepping out to a 14-9 lead. Logan Fleener connected for seven points in the quarter while Alex Boose nailed a three-pointer.

The Bulldogs had a 12-8 second period run but trailed 22-21 at halftime. Craig Croy scored five points while Max Koenig hit a three-pointer. Fleener was again the catalyst for the Cardinals with seven of their eight points.

St. Anthony came back with a 14-12 third quarter. Kyle Stewart tallied seven in the quarter for the Bulldogs while Griffin Sehy connected for a three-pointer. Fleener scored eight more for the Cardinals.

In the final quarter, it was a fight all the way. North Clay moved ahead with 1:29 on the clock as Dakota Weidner hit one of two at the line for a 41-39 lead. St. Anthony rebounded on the second missed free throw and Brock Fearday stepped back behind the line and nailed a three-pointer, moving the Bulldogs ahead 42-41 with 1:08 showing. With 29 seconds showing, North Clay missed a shot and St. Anthony rebounded.

With 18.5 seconds showing, Craig Croy was fouled and hit both free throws for a 44-41 lead. Levi Smith hit a basket for the Cardinals putting them within one with 4.2 seconds remaining, 44-43. But the Cardinals had to foul B. Fearday at 2.2 seconds and he connected on one for a 45-43 lead and time ran out for the Cardinals.

Stewart was the lone Bulldog player in double figures with 14. Fleener led North Clay with 22 points.

In the opening contest of the evening in consolation bracket action, Neoga downed Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City, 61-46.

CHBC edged out to a 14-12 opening quarter lead as five players scored. Both teams tallied 14 in the second period and CHBC held a 28-26 halftime lead. Paci McClure scored six of Neoga's opening quarter points and came back with seven of the 14 in the second quarter.

Neoga then came out strong in the third period as McClure continued his hot scoring. He nailed three trifectas, hit a regular basket and a free throw for 12 of his team's 20 points as the Indians took a 46-38 lead going into the final quarter.

Neoga continued on with a 15-8 final period connecting on six of eight free throws.

McClure tallied 27 for the winners, hitting nine field goals, four of those three-pointers, and was five of seven at the line. Also in double figures was Kaiden Young with 10.

The Bobcats were led by Kade Persinger with 14 points.

In the second game in consy play Thursday evening, Dieterich handed St. Elmo/Brownstown a 58-40 loss.

SEB edged out to a 12-11 opening quarter lead behind Caleb Campbell's six points. But Dieterich got untracked with a 13-5 second period as Luke Westendorf connected for five points and Bryce Budde and Andrew Lidy nailed a three-pointer each. The Movin' Maroons held a 24-17 halftime lead.

Dieterich continued with a 12-8 third period to lead 36-25. In the final quarter, the Maroons went to the line, hitting 13 of 14 free throws around four baskets for a 22-15 run and the final winning margin.

Three players finished in double digits for Dieterich. Westendorf led the way with 14 points on four field goals and six of seven at the line while Pete Britton and Lidy tallied 12 each. Budde was on the verge of double figures with nine.

Westendorf led in rebounds with nine while Budde had eight. Britton led in assists with three and had two steals. Westendorf also had two steals and a blocked shot.

St. Elmo/Brownstown was led by Campbell with 16 points and Brady Maxey with 11. Campbell and Adam Atwood had four rebounds each. Maxey led in assists with three. Gavyn Smith and Atwood had two steals each.

The tournament contnues tonight with Neoga facing South Central at 6:15 p.m. in consy bracket action and Altamont meeting Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg at around 8 p.m. in winner bracket play.

The tournament comes to a close Saturday. The games begin at 11:30 a.m. with St. Elmo/Brownstown facing the loser of Neoga vs. South Central for seventh place, Dieterich taking on the winner of the Neoga vs. South Central contest for the consolation championship at 1 p.m., the third place contest with North Clay against either Altamont or WSS at 2:30 p.m. and the championship game featuring St. Anthony meeting either Altamont or WSS for the championship at 7:30.

National Trail Conference Tournament

Game Eight

NORTH CLAY (43)

Ballard 1-1 -- 4, B. Griffy 3-0 -- 6, D. Weidner 1-1 -- 3, Ingram 0-0 -- 0, Boose 2-0 -- 6, Smith 1-0 -- 2, Fleener 9-2 -- 22. TOTALS 17 FG, 4 FT.

ST. ANTHONY (45)

Rudibaugh 1-0 -- 2, Stewart 6-2 -- 14, Sehy 3-0 -- 7, Croy 3-2 -- 9, Koenig 1-0 -- 3, Martelli 0-0 -- 0, B. Fearday 3-1 -- 8, C. Fearday 1-0 -- 2. TOTALS 18 FG, 5 FT.

North Clay             14      8    12      9    --    43

St. Anthony             9    12    14    10    --    45

3-point FG -- North Clay 5 (Fleener 2, Boose 2, Ballard 1), St. Anthony 4 (Sehy 1, Croy 1, Koenig 1, B. Fearday 1).

Game Six

CHBC (46)

Bain 1-0 -- 3, Wojcik 1-0 -- 2, Robertson 1-6 -- 8, Buzzard 3-0 -- 8, Robinson 1-2 -- 5, Davis 0-0 -- 0, Persinger 6-1 -- 14, Radloff 3-0 -- 6, Brummett 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 16 FG, 9 FT.

NEOGA (61)

Reynolds 3-0 -- 7, Young 4-2 -- 10, Peters 2-0 -- 4, McClure 9-5 -- 27, Richards 2-2 -- 7, O'Dell 1-2 -- 4, Romack 1-0 -- 2. TOTALS 22 FG, 11 FT.

CHBC             14    14    10      8    --    46

Neoga             12    14    20    15    --    61

3-point FG -- Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City 5 (Buzzard 2, Robison 1, Persinger 1), Neoga 6 (McClure 4, Richards 1, Reynolds 1).

Game Seven

SEB (40)

Logan 1-0 -- 2, Wilhour 0-0 -- 0, Pasley 0-0 -- 0, Smith 3-2 -- 8, J. Maxey 1-0 -- 3, B. Maxey 3-2 -- 9, Miller 0-0 -- 0, Stine 0-0 -- 0, Schaub 0-0 -- 0, Campbell 6-2 -- 16, Atwood 1-0 -- 2. TOTALS 15 FG, 6 FT.

DIETERICH (58)

Britton 4-1 -- 12, Budde 1-6 -- 9, Lidy 4-2 -- 12, Will 0-2 -- 2, Desai 1-0 -- 2, Westendorf 4-6 -- 14, Bloemer 0-0 -- 0, Gephart 3-0 -- 6, Curry 0-1 -- 1, Jo. Holste 0-0 -- 0, Wente 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 17 FG, 18 FT.

SEB                  12      5      8    15    --    40

Dieterich          11    13    12    22    --    58

3-point FG -- St. Elmo/Brownstown 4 (Campbell 2, J. Maxey 1, B. Maxey 1), Dieterich 6 (Britton 3, Lidy 2, Budde 1).