Cumberland, South Central Win Openers at St. Elmo Holiday Tourney

ST. ELMO -- Cumberland and South Central picked up opening round victories in the 56th Annual St. Elmo Holiday Boys Basketball Tournament Tuesday evening.

The tourney continues tonight with St. Elmo/Brownstown against Ramsey at 6:15 followed by Mulberry Grove taking on Okaw Valley at 7:45.

Cumberland 84, Vandalia JV 31

The score was tied at 15-15 after the opening quarter. The Pirates then went on an 18-7 second period tear and never looked back, outscoring Vandalia JV 51-9 in the second half.

McMechan tallied 23 for the winners, 15 coming in the second half. Green finished with 18, Magee 14 and Shaon 14.

In the second contest, South Central edged Beecher City/Cowden-Herrick 59-52. BCCH held a 14-8 opening quarter lead and led 26-19 at halftime.

The Cougars came roaring back with a 19-9 third period as Harmeier went on a run, scoring nine of his total 14 points. He connected on two three-pointers.

Then it was Hill's turn in the final period as he tallied 12 of his total 21 points.

BCCH was led by Rexroad with 16, Blackerby with 13 and Sandiford with 12.

At St. Elmo

CUMBERLAND (84)

Green 8-0 -- 18, Z. Wolke 0-0 -- 0, Donsbach 1-0 -- 2, Willenborg 0-0 -- 0, Magee 6-1 -- 14, Bauguss 3-0 -- 6, McMechan 10-2 -- 23, Hatfill 0-1 -- 1, M. Wolke 2-2 -- 6, Shaon 7-0 -- 14. TOTALS 37 FG, 6 FT.

VANDALIA JV (31)

Barth 2-2 -- 6, Morrison 2-2 -- 6, Dunn 2-0 -- 6, Shulman 2-0 -- 5, Wollerman 1-0 -- 2, Fergeson 0-0 -- 0, Truitt 1-0 -- 2, Lach 2-0 -- 4. TOTALS 12 FG, 4 FT.

Cumberland            15    18    24    27    --    84

Vandalia JV             15       7     4      5    --    31

3-point FG -- Cumberland 4 (Green 2, Magee 1, McMechan 1), Vandalia JV 3 (Dunn 2, Shulman 1).

Game Two

BCCH (52)

Blackerby 5-0 -- 13, Black 0-0 -- 0, Rexroad 7-2 -- 16, Arnold 0-0 -- 0, Sandiford 5-2 -- 12, Nohren 2-0 -- 4, Wachtel 0-0 -- 0, Harder 3-1 -- 7. TOTALS 22 FG, 5 FT.

SOUTH CENTRAL (59)

Harmeier 4-3 -- 14, Lotz 1-2 -- 5, Hill 9-3 -- 21, Markley 1-6 -- 8, Harpster 0-2 -- 2, Arnold 3-2 -- 8, Matheny 0-1 -- 1. TOTALS 18 FG, 19  FT.

BCCH                         14    12      9    17    --    52

South Central             8    11    19    21    --    59

3-point FG -- Beecher City/Cowden-Herrick 3 (Blackerby 3), South Central 4 (Harmeier 3, Lotz 1).