Altamont, Dieterich Wednesday Winners at NTC Tourney

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Published on January 29 2014 10:28 pm
Last Updated on January 30 2014 10:06 am
Written by Greg Sapp

Altamont High School's Ryan Armstrong goes to the line during the NTC contest against Stewardson-Strasburg.

A rematch is set between the Altamont Indians and the Dieterich Movin Maroons Friday night at the 79th Annual National Trail Conference Tournament.

The rematch is in place after Altamont defeated the Stewardson-Strasburg Comets 68-26 and Dieterich won over Beecher City 46-38 Wednesday night.  The games were heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com

Dieterich came from behind last Friday night to defeat Altamont 66-59, unleashing a 28-point fourth quarter on the Indians.  A possible motivation might have been that Altamont got the #2 seed in the tournament while Dieterich is seeded #3.

This time, it'll be Altamont that has the motivation so Friday's game could be quite a battle.  Add in that the tournament is played at Altamont and that Dieterich is the defending tournament champion and there are a variety of factors to consider.

Altamont played some stellar basketball in the second half Wednesday night, holding Stew-Stras to six points in the second half including two points in the fourth quarter while pouring in 36 points of their own.  

Altamont led 13-6 after one quarter and 32-20 at halftime before the huge second half.

Altamont made 56% of its shots from the field, 29 of 52, including four of 11 three-point shots.  The Indians made six of nine foul shots, turned the ball over 15 times and grabbed 35 rebounds.

Stew-Stras made 12 of 39 shots, 31%, but just three of 24 in the second half after nine of 15 before intermission.  The Comets missed all seven of their foul shot attempts, turned the ball over 20 times and pulled down just 16 rebounds.

Altamont's Garrett Ziegler led all scorers with 12 points and went over 1,000 points for his career. Cole Sanders scored 11 points.  Also for the Indians: Justin McGinnis, Derek Jahraus and Jake Seidel with eight points apiece, Klaiton Wolff with six, Ryan Armstrong four, Aaron Goeckner three, and Griffin Jackman, Matt Kuhns and Adam Mayhaus two points each.  

Brandon Helmuth and Bryce Bugger each scored 10 points for Stew-Stras, now 6-12 on the season. Jason Fry, Paul Blythe and Jacob Kramer each scored two points.

Altamont improved to 15-2 on the season.

   --

Dieterich led throughout the nightcap, although Beecher City closed the gap in the second half.

Dieterich was up 16-6 after one quarter and 30-14 at halftime, but scored just 16 points in the second half to 24 for Beecher City.

Dieterich shot 38% from the field, 18 of 38 including four of 16 on threes.  The Maroons made six of nine foul shots, turned the ball over nine times and pulled down 30 rebounds.

Beecher City made 13 of 39 shots for 33%, made 11 of 15 foul shots, turned the ball over 14 times and pulled down 29 rebounds, making one of seven three-point shots.

Dieterich's Alex Bohnhoff led all scorers with 10 points.  Devin Aherin and Nick Feldhake each added nine, Tanner Traub and Lance Niemerg each six, Travis Niemerg four and Josh Campbell two.

Adam Doty, Jackson Bales and Jacob Kenter led Beecher City with eight points apiece, Brandon Gardner had six, Andrew Lagerhausen four with 12 rebounds, and Austin Rexroad and Weston Giles two each.

Dieterich is now 13-5 while Beecher City slips to 7-7.

Tonight at Altamont: Windsor vs. St. Elmo/Brownstown at 6:15pm in a consolation bracket semifinal game and St. Anthony takes on Neoga at 7:45pm in a championship bracket semifinal game.  Hear both on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com where live video and audio streaming is available.

NTC Tournament

Game Five

ALTAMONT (68)

Jackman 1-0 -- 2, McGinnis 4-0 -- 8, Ziegler 5-0 -- 12, Borders 5-0 -- 11, A. Goeckner 1-0 -- 3, Armstrong 1-2 -- 4, Seidel 4-0 -- 8, Kuhns 1-0 -- 2, J. Goeckner 0-0 -- 0, Jahraus 3-2 -- 8, Wolfe 4-0 -- 8, Mayhaus 0-2 -- 2. TOTALS 29 FG, 6 FT.

STEWARDSON-STRASBURG (26)

Jones 0-0 -- 0, Ballinger 0-0 -- 0, Rincker 0-0 -- 0, A. Blythe 0-0 -- 0, Kremer 1-0 -- 2, P. Blythe 1-0 -- 2, Helmuth 4-0 -- 10, Bugger 5-0 -- 10, Kessler 0-0 -- 0, Fry 1-0 -- 2. TOTALS 12 FG, 0 FT.

Altamont              13    19    20    16    --    68

Stew-Stras            6    14       4      2    --    26

3-point FG -- Altamont 4 (Ziegler 2, Borders 1, A. Goeckner 1), Stew-Stras 2 (Helmuth 2).

Game Six

DIETERICH (46)

Campton 0-0 -- 0, Poe 0-0 -- 0, Traub 2-0 -- 6, Campbell 1-0 -- 2, Mellendorf 0-0 -- 0, Bohnhoff 5-0 -- 10, Gephart 0-0 -- 0, Feldhake 3-1 -- 9, L. Niemerg 2-2 -- 6, Aherin 4-1 -- 9, J. Niemerg 1-2 -- 4. TOTALS 18 FG, 6 FT.

BEECHER CITY (38)

Gardner 2-2 -- 6, Giles 1-0 -- 2, Doty 1-6 -- 8, Bales 4-0 -- 8, Lagerhausen 1-2 -- 4, Rexroad 1-0 -- 2, Kenter 3-1 -- 8,  Kemme 0-0 -- 0, Gasperine 0-0 -- 0, Randall 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 13 FG, 11 FT.

Dieterich              16    14      8      8    --    46

Beecher City          6      8    11    13    --    38

3-point FG -- Dieterich 4 (Traub 2, Feldhake 2), Beecher City 1 (Kenter 1)

Altamont Coach John Niebrugge (right) and Bob Rickett stand on the sideline at the National Trail Conference Tournament Wednesday evening. Rickett is a 1961 graduate of Altamont High School and a 1965 graduate of Eastern Illinois University where he held the school's all-time rebound record with 800 until 1985 when Kevin Duckwirth broke the record.

Altamont's Kurt Becker (left) was at the National Trail Conference Tournament Wednesday evening along with long-time Altamont resident and fan Larry Barns (center) and Bob Rickett.