Published on January 29, 2026 9:19 am
Last Updated on January 29, 2026 9:47 am
BY MILLIE LANGE
ALTAMONT — Wednesday evening’s games at the National Trail Conference Boys Basketball Tournament went as predicted with the top seeds easily moving through the field and all three teams moving along offensively.
In the opener, top-seeded Cumberland had three players in double figures and its offense rolling with a 63-30 victory over ninth-seeded Neoga.
Cameron Roedl hit three from beyond the arc and was five of five at the line as Cumberland ripped out to a 22-8 first quarter lead behind his 14 points.
Isaac Venatta took over with five points in the second quarter and the Pirates led 35-21 at halftime.
Neoga played Cumberland even in the second period as both teams put in 13 points. Brayden Ray had two baskets and a free throw for five while Kaden Bryant hit two baskets, one a three-pointer, also for five.
The third quarter went to an 11-4 Pirates tally. Roedl added to his total with two baskets.
The final period was a 16-7 run for Cumberland.
The Pirates were led by Roedl with six baskets, four of those three-pointers, and five of five at the line for 21 points. Stewart and Venatta added 13 each.
Neoga had two players with nine points. Grady Haarman put in two three-pointers and was three of four at the line while Ray hit four baskets and a free throw.
Effingham St. Anthony then won big with a 72-25 victory over South Central.
The Bulldogs held only a 15-13 opening quarter lead. Aiden Lauritzen went to work with three baskets and two free throws for eight points while Miles Waldhoff connected on a three.
Westin Neilson kept the Cougars in the mix with three from beyond the arc and a regular basket for 11 of his team’s 13 points.
But the Bulldogs couldn’t be contained. Six players scored in the second 21-5 quarter run as St. Anthony led 36-18 at halftime. Lauritzen added five to his total while Keenan Grififth, Waldhoff and Jonny Gannaway put in two baskets each.
The Cougars only scored on a three-pointer by Aiden Strobel in the third quarter as St. Anthony pushed its lead to 60-21 going into the final period. Waldhoff added seven and Gannaway six.
St. Anthony finished with Lauritzen leading the way with 19 points on eight field goals and three of three at the line. Waldhoff chipped in with 16 and Gannaway added 12.
South Central was led by Neilson with six baskets, three from beyond the arc, for 15.
The final game of the evening saw Altamont hand North Clay a 75-65 loss.
Kade Milleville had a quarter that every ballplayer dreams about. Milleville connected on five three-pointers and two regular baskets for 19 of his team’s 23 opening quarter points.
The Indians held a 23-18 lead on North Clay. The Cardinals were led by Mason Byers with six points.
North Clay came back with a slight 15-12 second period but Altamont still held the lead by two points at halftime.
The Indians then got back on the scoring binge with a 16-9 third quarter to lead 51-42. Cooper McManaway took over the three-point scoring with two and put in a regular basket and a free throw for nine.
Jacob Johnson then took the scoring reins for the Indians with five regular baskets and a free throw for 11 of his team’s 24 in the final period. The Indians connected on their free throws as K. Milleville hit six of six and McManaway was three of four and Jacob Johnson hit his only attempt.
K. Milleville finished with 28 points on eight field goals, six of those from beyond the arc, and a perfect six of six at the line. He also pulled down nine defensive rebounds and five offensive ones to lead with 13.
Also in double figures were McManaway with 18 and Johnson with 17.
North Clay was led by four players in even scoring. Lucas Griffy hit seven field goals and was four of five at the line for 18 points while Kade Atwood finished with 14, Cody Zimdars with 13 and M. Byers with 12.
The tournament continues play tonight as Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City and St. Elmo/Brownstown meet at 5 p.m. followed by Neoga, playing its third game in three days, against North Clay at 6:30 and Cumberland facing Altamont at 8.
NTC Tournament
Game Four
NEOGA (30)
Ballinger 0-0 — 0, Hakman 0-0 — 0, Haarman 2-3 — 9, Coy 1-2 — 5, Sparrow 0-0 — 0, Finney 0-0 — 0, Ray 4-1 — 9, Welsh 0-0 — 0, Fearday 1-0 — 2, Matusas 0-0 — 0, Bryant 2-0 — 5, Shuler 0-0 — 0. TOTALS 10 FG, 6 FT.
CUMBERLAND (63)
Roedl 6-5 — 21, Stewart 4-2 — 13, Bierman 0-1 — 1, Venatta 6-1 — 13, McMechan 3-0 — 7, Harmon 3-0 — 6, Hougham 0-0 — 0, Weber 0-0 — 0, Saylor 1-0 — 3. TOTALS 22 FG, 9 FT.
Neoga 8 13 4 5 — 30
Cumberland 22 13 11 16 — 63
3-point FG — Neoga 4 (Haarman 2, Coy 1, Bryant 1), Cumberland 8 (Roedl 4, Stewart 3, McMechan 1).
Game Five
SOUTH CENTRAL (25)
Hoover 2-0 — 5, Gillespie 1-0 — 2, Hiestand 0-0 — 0, Sigrist 0-0 — 0, Neilson 6-0 — 15, Strobel 1-0 — 3, Yates 0-0 — 0. TOTALS 10 FG, 0 FT.
ST. ANTHONY (72)
Waldhoff 7-0 — 16, Lauritzen 8-3 — 19, Griffith 3-1 — 7, Gannaway 6-0 — 12, Verdeyen 1-0 — 2, Bierman 1-0 — 3, Looman 3-0 — 6, Vonderheide 2-0 — 5, Storm 0-0 — 0, Mayer 1-0 — 2, M. Storm 0-0 — 0. TOTALS 32 FG, 4 FT.
South Central 13 5 3 4 — 25
St. Anthony 15 21 24 12 — 72
3-point FG — South Central 5 (Neilson 3 Strobel 1, Hoover 1), St. Anthony 4 (waldhoff 2, Bierman 1, Vonderheide 1).
Game Six
NORTH CLAY (65)
Atwood 5-4 — 14, Zimdars 4-4 — 13, Griffy 7-4 — 18, Byers 5-2 — 12, Walden 4-0 — 8, Lewis 0-0 — 0, Wolfe 0-0 — 0. TOTALS 25 FG, 14 FT.
ALTAMONT (75)
Pals 1-0 — 3, McManaway 6-4 — 18, Milleville 8-6 — 28, Johnson 7-3 — 17, Miller 1-1 — 3, Lurkins 2-0 — 4, C. Milleville 0-0 — 0, Bell 1-0 — 3, Berg 0-0 — 0, Bridges 0-0 — 0. TOTALS 26 FG, 14 FT.
North Clay 18 15 9 23 — 65
Altamont 23 12 16 24 — 75
3-point FG — North Clay 1 (Zimdars 1), Altamont 9 (K. Milleville 6, McManaway 2, Pals 1).