Published on February 26, 2026 7:50 am
Last Updated on February 26, 2026 8:02 am
BY MILLIE LANGE
VANDALIA — Effingham St. Anthony led at the end of the first three quarters over Vandalia in the Class 2A Vandalia boys basketball regional Wednesday evening.
But the only basket that proved to be the game-winner came in the final period. And that’s where a last second shot ended any hopes the Bulldogs had of continuing on in post-season play as Vandalia won 50-48.
The Bulldogs moved into a 15-10 opening quarter lead as Freddie Jansen connected for six points and Keenan Griffith hit a three-pointer.
The lead went to 29-22 at halftime. Miles Waldhoff, Aiden Lauritzen and Gabe Looman hit two baskets each.
But the Bulldogs couldn’t seem to put the Vandals away.
Vandalia came back with a 13-8 third quarter run as Qwentyn Stombaugh scored five points and Andrew Casey and Lucas Bowers put in four points each.
The Bulldogs’ Waldhoff kept them close with four points.
But the final quarter was the one that counted the most. Vandalia continued on with its momentum. Stombaugh, who had 12 points coming into the final quarter, put in two baskets and two free throws for six. Brenton McCarty knocked in a three-pointer, his only points of the game. Andrew Casey added on four more points, one of those baskets tied the score at 48-48 with 50 seconds remaining on the clock.
St. Anthony coughed up the ball with 28 ticks remaining. A timeout halted play and when the Vandals came back on the court, a shot by Stombaugh, the leading scorer, fell short. But Carter Robbins, who had scored only six points in the first half and none in the third period, grabbed the rebound, threw it up at the basket and it went in for the game-winner as time expired. The Vandals had pulled out a 50-48 victory.
The Bulldogs had three players hit double figures. Lauritzen put in seven field goals for 14 points while Waldhoff hit four baskets and three free throws for 11. Jansen chipped in with four baskets and two of two at the line for 10.
Vandalia was led by Stombaugh with five baskets, one a three-pointer, and seven of 12 at the line for 18. Casey added 12, Lucas Bowers nine and Robbins eight.
St. Anthony finishes the season with a 20-11 record.
Vandalia advances to the regional championship for the first time since 2013 with a 19-14 record.
Fairfield was a 40-37 winner over Olney, Richland County, in the second game of the evening.
The Vandals will now meet Fairfield at 7 p.m. Friday for the regional championship.
Class 2A Vandalia Regional
VANDALIA (50)
Buscher 0-0 — 0, McCarty 1-0 — 3, Stombaugh 5-7 — 18, Casey 6-0 — 12, Robbins 4-0 — 8, Bowers 4-1 — 9, McDowell 0-0 — 0. TOTALS 20 FG, 8 FT.
ST. ANTHONY (48)
Verdeyen 0-0 — 0, Waldhoff 4-3 — 11, Storm 1-0 — 2, Lauritzen 7-0 — 14, Jansen 4-2 — 10, Griffith 3-0 — 7, Gannaway 0-0 — 0, Looman 2-0 — 4. TOTALS 21 FG, 5 FT.
Vandalia 10 12 13 15 — 50
St. Anthony 15 14 8 11 — 48
3-point FG — Vandalia 2 (McCarty 1, Stombaugh 1), St. Anthony 1 (Griffith 1).