St. Anthony Advances To NTC Title Game, N. Clay, WSS Also Win; LIC Scores, LPC Schedule

The two teams were tied at 11-11 after the opening quarter. Aiden Laurtizen led the Bulldogs with five points while Brody Mason led SEB, also with five points.

St. Anthony then edged ahead with an 8-5 second quarter to lead 19-16 at halftime. Brady Hatton put in two baskets and Collin Westendorf added three for the Bulldogs.

SEB was led by Josiah Maxey with a three-pointer.

It was still a close score in the third period as St. Anthony moved into a 28-23 lead. Westendorf chipped in with five more points. Mason was the five-point leader for SEB.

But the bottom fell out for Brownstown/St. Elmo in the final period as St. Anthony went on a 23-9 tear.

Ryan Schmidt took over the scoring duties for the Bulldogs, hitting two three-pointers, a regular basket and three of four at the line for 11 of his team's 23 points. Westendorf added six points and Brock Fearday four.

Collin Maxey put in four points and Cade Schaub hit a three-pointer but it wasn't enough for SEB.

Schmidt led St. Anthony with six of 10 from the field and four of six at the line for 19 points. He pulled down four rebounds. Westendorf added 16 points on six of 12 from the field and three of five at the line. B. Fearday led in rebounds with five and Hatton pulled down four.

St. Elmo/Brownstown was led by Mason with 12 points on three of eight from the field and four of four at the line. Adam Atwood pulled down five rebounds.

St. Anthony moves into the championship game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against either Altamont or Dieterich. Those two teams play tonight at 8. St. Elmo/Brownstown will play for third place Saturday around 2:30.

St. Anthony fans ticket sales today include students and public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the high school office. All tickets are general admission $5. Saturday, tickets will be sold in the lobby from 10 a.m. to noon. All remaining tickets will be turned in if any tickets are left and will be available at the door Saturday night for the championship game.

In the opening game of the evening. Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg edged Neoga, 49-44 in consolation bracket play.

James Bullock got Neoga first out of the chute, scoring 12 of his team's 13 points. He connected on two three-pointers, two regular baskets and was two of two at the line.

The Indians kept the pressure on with a 14-13 second period to lead 27-20 at halftime. Bullock connected on another three-pointer while Luke Keller hit a three-pointer and four other players scored.

The Hatchets were led by Nathaniel Gracey and Jackson Gurgel with five points each.

Windsor/Stew-Stras then got unwound in the third quarter with a 12-8 edge then continued on with a 17-9 final quarter surge for the 49-44 victory.

Gurgel led the winners with 19 points on six of 11 from the field, one a three-pointer, and six of nine at the line. Also in double figures were Brody Hendrickson with 11 and Gracey with 10.

Windsor/Stew-Stras will meet South Central at 6:15 p.m. today for the right to advance to the consolation championship.

Neoga had one player in double figures. Bullock finished with six of 12 from the field, three from trifecta land and two of two at the line for 18.

North Clay (Louisville) tallied a 61-52 victory over Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City.

The Cardinals edged out to a 17-15 opening quarter lead behind the scoring of Cody Zimdars with two three-pointers, a regular basket and two of two at the line for 10 points. 

Clayton Wojcik led the way for CHBC with eight points.

North Clay took the lead to 38-32 at halftime. Zimdars continued on with eight more points for 18 at halftime.

Wojcik also continued on with seven points for CHBC.

North Clay then had a slgiht 10-8 third quarter edged and finished out with a 13-12 final quarter.

Zimdars hit eight field goals, five of those from three-point range, and three of eight at the line for 24. Also in double figures were Carder Walden with 11 and Jesse Weidner with 10.

The Bobcats were led by Wojcik with seven of 14 from the field and four of five at the line for 19 points. He hit one three-pointer. Gage Lorton finished with 11.

North Clay advances to the consolation championship Saturday against either Windsor/Stew-Stras or South Central. Those two teams play at 6:15 p.m. today. Also playing tonight are Altamont against Dieterich at 8. The winner of that contest advances to the championship game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday while the loser will play for third place around 2:30 p.m.

NTC Tournament

Game Eight

SEB (32)

Taylor 0-0 -- 0, J. Maxey 1-0 -- 3, C. Maxey 2-2 -- 6, Wilhour 0-0 -- 0, Schaub 3-0 -- 7, Mason 3-4 -- 12, Willms 0-0 -- 0, Atwood 2-0 -- 4. TOTALS 11 FG, 6 FT.

ST. ANTHONY (51)

Griffith 0-0 -- 0, Ruholl 0-0 -- 0, LInk 0-0 -- 0, W. Fearday 0-0 -- 0, Westendorf 6-3 -- 16, Brent 0-0 -- 0, Lauritzen 0-2 -- 2, Schmidt 6-4 -- 19, Hatton 3-0 -- 6, Koenig 0-0 -- 0, B. Fearday 4-0 -- 8. TOTALS 19 FG, 9  FT.

SEB                            11    5    7      9    --    32

St. Anthony               11    8    9    23    --    51

3-point FG -- St. Elmo/Brownstown 4 (Mason 2, Schaub 1, J. Maxey 1), St. Anthony 4 (Schmidt 3, Westendorf 1).

Game Nine

WSS (49)

Gurgel 6-6 -- 19, Hendrickson 5-2 -- 11, Gracey 3-2 -- 10,  Manhart 1-2 -- 5, Sayers 2-0 -- 4, R. Rincker 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 17 FG, 11 FT.

NEOGA (44)

Bullock 6-2 -- 18, Sheehan 2-2 -- 6, Ray 2-2 -- 6, Keller 2-1 -- 6, Young 2-0 -- 4, Titus 1-0 -- 2, Hall 1-0 -- 2. TOTALS 16 FG, 7 FT.

WSS                   7    13    12    17    --    49

Neoga               13    14      8      9    --    44

3-point FG -- Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg 4 (Gracey 2,  Gurgel 1, Manhart 1), Neoga 5 (Bullock 4, Keller 1).

Game 10

CHBC (52)

Evans 1-0 -- 3, Wojcik 7-4 -- 19, Calame 3-0 -- 8, Radloff 2-0 -- 4, Logrotn 4-3 -- 11, Rueff 2-0 -- 4, Cosart 1-0 -- 3. TOTALS 20 FG, 7  FT.

NORTH CLAY (61)

Zimdars 8-3 -- 24, Kuenstler 4-0 -- 8, Griffy 0-0 -- 0, Byers 0-2 -- 2, Hosselton 2-2 -- 6, Weidner 3-2 -- 10, Bailey 0-0 -- 0, Walden 5-1 -- 11. TOTALS 22 FG, 10 FT.

CHBC                        15    17      8    12    --    52

North Clay                17    21    10    13    --    61

3-point FG -- Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City 5 (Calame 2, Cosart 1, Evans 1, Wojcik 1), North Clay 7 (Zimdars 5, Weidner 2).

Little Illini Conference Tournament

Two finals were contested at the Little Illini Conference Tournament Thursday at Newton High School.

Robinson captured the consolation championship with a 51-48 win over Mount Carmel.

Marshall edged Paris, 52-51 for seventh place.

The rest of the finals are tonight as Casey-Westfield meets Lawrenceville for third place at 6 followed by Newton taking on Richland County at 7:30 for the championship.

Little Prairie Conference Tournament

The finals are set for tonight at the Little Prairie Conference Tournament at Arthur.

The consolation championship featuring Cumberland against Tri-County is scheduled for 5 followed by third place with Argenta-Oreana vs. Sullivan at 6:30 and the championship at 8 featuring Arcola taking on Okaw Valley.