Published on February 6, 2026 7:09 am
Last Updated on February 6, 2026 10:50 am
BY MILLIE LANGE
The area continues to have outstanding success in basketball.
Thursday evening, Effingham St. Anthony won over Winchester in the Class 7-2A State Boys Basketball Tournament and captured the State championship at Macon Meridian High School.
The Bullpups moved into a 6-2 opening quarter lead on Winchester. But here came the opponents came with a 12-9 second period run to pull within 15-14 at halftime.
St. Anthony got back on a scoring run with a 10-7 third quarter and then held Winchester scoreless while putting in six points in the final period for the 31-21 victory.
James Gilmore led St. Anthony player in double figures with 10 points. He finished with a total of 38 in the State Tournament.
James Dust chipped in with seven points in the contest and ended his stay at State with a total of 21 points. Ryan Wohltman added six points in the game and tallied 30 for the tournament. Nash Hoene also finished in double figures for the whole tournament with 19 points.
Other members of the team included Beckett Sams, Parker Meinhart, Colin Storm, Jude Flach, Paxton Nosbisch, Henry Bierman, Will Ludwig, Will Hamilton and Brooks Niebrugge.
St. Anthony finished with a 25-1 record.
The third place game went to Normal Epiphany over Dwight, 49-30.
Class 7-2A State Tournament
Championship
Winchester 2 12 7 0 — 21
St. Anthony 6 9 10 6 — 31
Winchester — Chapman 6, Vortman 6, Coker 4, Little 3, Metz 2
St. Anthony — Gilmore 10, Dust 7, Hoene 2, Ludwig 3, Wohltman 6, Hamilton 2, NIebrugge 1
At El Paso
Teutopolis won the Class 7-3A State championship.
Teutopolis High School edged out to a 13-12 opening quarter lead and handed Lisle a 48-43 loss to win the Class 7-3A State championship at El Paso/Gridley High School Thursday.
Lisle came back with an 8-7 second period to knot the score at 20-20 at halftime.
The excitement continued as the two teams played to a 12-12 third period for a 32-32 tie going into the final quarter.
But the Wooden Shoes decided they wanted this State championship and went on for a 16-11 final period run and a 48-43 victory.
Bryson Meyer scored 21 points on eight field goals and five of six at the line while Dylan Deters tallied 10 with three field goals from beyond the arc and a free throw. Evan Kinkelaar chipped in with nine.
Five players scored in double digits for the entire tournament. Meyer led the way with 56 points while Deters added 33, Charlie Koester 23, Matthew Kocher 14 and Kinkelaar 11.
The Shoes end the season with a 27-3 record. Other members of the team include Evan Weidner, Jack Sandschafer, Caspian Knowles, Mark Lynch, Cameron Kremer, Noah Imburgia, Camden Mette and Harrison Kreke.
The third place game was won by Clinton over LaSalle Lincoln, 42-28.
A Welcome Home Reception will be held Sunday beginning at noon at Teutopolis Junior High School for family. There will be brief remarks from Coach Smith at 12:45 p.m. and a fire truck ride at 1 p.m.
Class 7-3A State Tournament
Championship
Teutopolis 13 7 12 16 — 48
Lisle 12 8 12 11 — 43
Teutopolis — Weidner 1, Koester 7, Kocher 0, Meyer 21, Deters 10, Kinkelaar 9
Lisle — Watson 35, Melchor 3, Wiafe 3, Kwak 2