Published on December 1, 2025 7:15 am
Last Updated on December 1, 2025 7:16 am
BY MILLIE LANGE
It was the battle of the city teams at Effingham and Effingham St. Anthony squared off Friday evening in the 2025 St. Anthony Boys Basketball Turkey Tournament.
Effingham came out a 50-47 winner.
The two teams played to a 6-6 opening quarter tie before the Bulldogs edged ahead 19-18 at halftime. Aiden Lauritzen put in five points while Conner Storm hit a three-pointer for the Bulldogs.
But the Hearts came back after halftime and put together a 15-9 run to lead 33-28 going into the final quarter. Jenner Pals knocked in two three-pointers and Cannon Bockhorn put in a three-pointer and two free throws while Jake Nlebrugge added a basket and two free throws.
The Bulldogs had a slight 19-17 final quarter run but couldn’t make up that five-point third quarter deficit. Miles Waldhoff hit two three-pointers and two free throws for eight in the quarter while Keenan Griffith had six points.
But the Hearts held on. Cole Phillips hit two baskets and two free throws for six points while Pals had his third three-pointer and was two of two at the line. Bockhorn and Jake Niebrugge was two of two at the line.
Pals finished with 12 points to lead EHS with three three-pointers and three of six at the line. Niebrugge and Bockhorn chipped in with nine each.
St. Anthony was led by Lauritzen and Griffith with 11 each and Waldhoff added 10.
In other games Friday, Chicago Leo defeated Edwardsville 53-42, Rantoul won over Breese Central 53-41 and Mattoon pounded Normandy 72-25.
The Saturday games were canceled due to the weather.
In Pool A, Chicago Leo had a 3-0 record, Edwardsville 2-1, Effingham 1-2 and St. Anthony 0-3.
In Pool B, Mattoon was 2-1, Breese Central 2-1, Rantoul 2-1 and Normandy 0-3.
St. Anthony Tournament
Game 12
EFFINGHAM (50)
Niebrugge 2-5 — 9, Bockhorn 2-4 — 9, Pals 3-3 — 12, Buzzard 0-0 — 0, Phillips 3-2 — 8, Fearday 2-0 — 4, McDaniel 1-0 — 2, Traub 0-1 — 1, Love 1-0 — 2, Warner 0-2 — 2, Wendling 0-0 — 0, Kinkelaar 0-1 — 1, Thiompson 0-0 — 0. TOTALS 14 FG, 18 FT.
ST. ANTHONY (47)
Waldhoff 3-2 — 10, Bierman 2-2 — 6, Lauritzen 5-1 — 11, Griffith 3-4 — 11, Verdeyen 2-0 — 4, Vonderheide 0-0 — 0, Storm 1-1 — 3, Sehy 0-0 — 0, Mayer 0-0 — 0, Jansen 1-0 — 2. TOTALS 17 FG, 9 FT.
Effingham 6 12 15 17 — 50
St. Anthony 6 13 9 19 — 47
3-point FG — Effingham 4 Pals 3, Bockhorn 1), St. Anthony 4 (Waldhoff 2, Griffith 1, Storm 1).