Published on January 23, 2026 9:31 am
Last Updated on January 23, 2026 9:32 am
BY MILLIE LANGE
HIGHLAND — Lift For Life moved into a 13-8 opening quarter lead on Teutopolis and went on for a 58-23 victory in the 38th Annual Highland Girls Basketball Tournament Thursday.
Lift For Life had a 19-9 second period and held the Wooden Shoes down in the second half with a 26-13 run.
Four players hit double digits for the winners. Chase Hardieway led with 14 while Diamond Polk and Rian Lenox tallied 12 each and Kah’myla Bell finished with 10.
Teutopolis leading scorers were Malea Helmink and Kelsey Niemerg with six each. Helmink and Kelsey Niemerg had four rebounds each. Jersey Gaddis, Sophia Martin and Niemerg had one steal each.
Lift For Life will play for fifth place Saturday against O’Fallon.
In other games Thursday, O’Fallon defeated Breese Mater Dei, 68-45 and Breese Central edged Belleville East, 61-60.
Nashville meets Breese Central for the championship and Chatham Glenwood and Belleville East square off for third place.
Highland Tournament
TEUTOPOLIS (23)
Bloemer 0-0 — 0, Bueker 0-0 — 0, J. Gaddis 2-0 — 4, K. Gaddis 0-0 — 0, Helmink 3-0 — 6, Martin 0-3 — 3, Mette 0-0 — 0, Niemerg 3-0 — 6, An. Probst 1-0 — 3, Ruholl 0-0 — 0, Tegeler 0-1 — 1, Will 0-0 — 0. TOTALS 9 FG, 4 FT.
LIFT FOR LIFE (58)
Harris 2-2 — 7, Polk 5-0 — 12, Lampkin 1-0 — 3, Parchmann 0-0 — 0, Sykes 0-0 — 0, Bell 5-0 — 10, Lenox 4-4 — 12, William 0-0 — 0, Hardieway 5-0 — 14. TOTALS 22 FG, 6 FT.
Teutopolis 8 9 4 2 — 23
Lift For Life 13 19 15 11 — 58
3-point FG — Teutopolis 1 (An. Probst 1), Lift For Life 8 (Hardieway 4, Polk 2, Harris 1, Lampkin 1).
At Marshall
Newton came out the consolation champion in the Little Illini Conference Tournament Thursday evening.
The Eagles handed host Marshall a 68-54 loss. Newton ran out to a 21-10 opening quarter lead and led 36-26 at halftime.
Newton showed off its firepower as five players finished in double figures. Izzy Meinhart led the way with 16 points on seven field goals, two from three-point range.
Alani Bergbower added 13 points while Claire Probst, Grace Schumacher and Allie Hermann scored 10 points each.
Maddie Brummer led in rebounds with 10. Hermann and Bergbower had five assists each. G. Schumacher led in steals with five.
The Eagles are now 15-8 on the season.
Lawrenceville won over Casey-Westfield 46-20 for seventh place.
Tonight’s games feature Robinson facing Olney for third place and Paris against Mount Carmel for the championship.
At Marshall
Little Illini Conference
Consolation Championship
MARSHALL (54)
Mattas 6-1 — 18, Heighton 4-2 — 12, Wellborn 5-2 — 12, Richardson 2-2 — 6, Davis 1-2 — 4, Miller 1-0 — 2. TOTALS 19 FG, 9 FT.
NEWTON (68)
Meinhart 7-0 — 16, Bergbower 5-0 — 13, Probst 4-2 — 10, G. Schumacher 4-2 — 10, Hermann 5-0 — 10, Brmmer 4-1 — 9. TOTALS 29 FG, 5 FT.
Marshall 10 16 23 5 — 54
Newton 21 15 24 8 — 68
3-point FG — Marshall 7 (Mattas 5, Heighton 2), Newton 4 (Bergbower 3, Meinhart 2)
At Vandalia
Two games were contested Thursday evening in the Vandalia Tournament.
Mattoon was a 46-42 winner over Mascoutah while Vandalia edged Greenville 48-46.
Due to the weather, the schedule has changed. Today’s games will feature Hillsboro against Wesclin for third place at 6 p.m. and Effingham facing O’Fallon at 7:30 p.m. for the championship.
Saturday’s games will have Mascoutah against Greenville at 10 a.m. for seventh place and Mattoon facing Vandalia at 11:30 a.m. for fifth place.