St. Anthony, Windsor/Stew-Stras To Meet For Regional Girls Title

Effingham St. Anthony and Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg captured victories Monday evening at the Class 1A St. Anthony Girls Basketball Regional and will now meet each other for the championship.

The Bulldogs opened the evening with a 65-48 win over Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City.

Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City edged out to a 10-9 opening quarter lead as Macee Rodman and Ines Saez-Ferrer each hit a three-pointer.

Nancy Ruholl knocked in a three-pointer and Stacie Vonderheide had four points for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs had a 13-11 second period to move into a 22-21 haltime lead. Ruholl scored five and Vonderheide and Addie Lauritzen hit two baskets each.

Rodman went on a seven point run in that second period with a basket and five of five at the line. Saez-Ferrer added another three-pointer.

But the bottom fell out for the Bobcats as St. Anthony went into the half leading by one and came out with a 28-9 third quarter run to lead 50-30 going into the final quarter.

Ruholl and Vonderheide went on runs in the quarter. Ruholl hit two regular baskets, a three-pointer and was five of six at the line for 12 points while Vonderheide put in four baskets that included a trifecta and one of two at the line for 10.

Although CHBC came back with an 18-15 final quarter, that third period was the catalyst for St. Anthony's victory.

"We got off to a slow start in the first half," said St. Anthony Coach Aaron Rios. "Nancy Ruholl had a great night shooting four of four from three-point range and finishing with 23 points, five rebounds and three of four at the stripe. Stacie finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and seven steals.

"Adysen Rios finished with nine points, five rebound and three assists, Ady Nuxoll with seven points and five rebounds and Addie Lauritzen five points and 12 rebounds."

Cowdeh-Herrick/Beecher City was led by Rodman with five field goals that included three trifectas and was 10 of 13 at the line for 23 points. Saez-Ferrer tallied 11 points on four baskets with three of those trifectas.

The Bobcats finished the season with an 18-14 record.

St. Anthony advances with a 23-8 record.

"This is the first time in school history we have had a team win 23 or more games for three straight years," said Coach Rios. "We hope to have the Enlow Center rocking on Thursday night."

In the second game of the evening, Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg took the early lead and then held off Moweaqua Central A&M in the final quarter for a 58-53 victory.

The Hatchets stepped out to an 18-10 opening quarter lead and held a 30-18 halftime lead. Windsor/Stew-Stras continued on with a 13-10 third quarter to lead 43-28 going into the final period.

But here came Central A&M. The Raiders pulled the lead down to three points at 52-49, forcing turnovers with two minutes left in the contest. But the Hatchets pulled together and connected on free throws to keep the game out of reach.

Samantha Hayes led the way for the winners with 21 points on eight field goals and four of six at the line. She hit one three-pointer. Also in double figures was Ella Kinkelaar with 15 on four field goals, one a three-pointer, and six of 11 at the line. The Hatchets finished with 56.5 percent from the free throw line.

The Raiders were led by Jilyan Burgener with 27 points. She ended her career with 1,720 points and is now the all-time leading scorer for Central A&M. She hit seven of 12 field goals with one three-pointer and was 12 of 18 at the line.

Windsor-Stew-Stras advances to the championship game against St. Anthony Thursday at 6 p.m. with a 20-13 record.

Class 1A St. Anthony Regional

Game Three

CHBC (48)

Vaughn 0-0 -- 0, Rodman 5-10 -- 23, Coleman 0-0 -- 0, Saez-Ferrer 4-0 -- 11, Smith 1-3 -- 5, Doty 1-0 -- 2, Dawson 0-0 -- 0, Fingo 0-4 -- 4, Stuckemeyer 1-1 -- 3. TOTALS 12 FG, 18 FT.

ST. ANTHONY (65)

Frisbie 0-0 -- 0, Rios 3-3 -- 9, Kollman 0-0 -- 0, Denning 0-0 -- 0, Ruholl 7-5 -- 23, Nuxoll 2-3 -- 7, Faber 0-0 -- 0, Henning 0-0 -- 0, Vonderheide 9-2 -- 21, Lauritzen 2-1 -- 5. TOTALS 23  FG, 14 FT.

CHBC                      10    11      9    18    --    48

St. Anthony              9    13    28    15    --    65

3-point FG -- Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City 6 (Rodman 3, Saez-Ferrer 3), St. Anthony 5 (Ruholl 4, Vonderheide 1).

Game Four

WSS (58)

S. Hayes 8-4 -- 21, Kinkelaar 4-6 -- 15, Mathis 3-0 -- 9, K. Hayes 2-1 -- 5, Wittenberg 2-0 -- 4, VonBehrens 1-2 -- 4. TOTALS 20 FG, 13 FT.

CENTRAL A&M (53)

Burgener 7-12 -- 27, Woods 4-1 -- 9, Snearly 3-0 -- 6, Hardiman 2-0 -- 4, Hallow 2-0 -- 4, Paradee 1-0 -- 3. TOATLS 19 FG, 13 FT.

WSS                             18    12    13    15    --    58

Central A&M               10      8    10    25    --    53

3-point FG -- Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg 5 (Mathis 3, Kinkelaar 1, S. Hayes 1), Central A&M 2 (Burgener 1, Paradee 1).