Wednesday 11-23-16 Varsity Basketball Scores

Drew Gibson's buzzer beater in overtime gave the St. Anthony Bulldogs a 68-67 win over Champaign St. Thomas More Wednesday night at the St. Anthony Turkey Tournament. The thriller followed the Effingham Hearts' 80-49 victory over Okaw Valley. Both games were heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

The Bulldogs trailed the Sabres 22-17 after the first quarter, but outpointed St. Thomas More 23-13 in the second period to lead 40-35 at intermission.

The Sabres battled back, though, outscoring the Bulldogs 14-8 to lead 49-48 after three quarters. St. Anthony came back, though, outscoring the Sabres 9-8 to force an overtime tied 57-57.

Gibson struggled through most of the second half, missing eight straight shots before finally getting a shot to drop. That, though, was the first of five straight shots he made including four straight in the overtime. Gibson's nine points and two foul shots made by Cade Walsh accounted for the Bulldogs' 11 overtime points. 

Gibson finished with 20 points on nine of 21 shooting, adding six rebounds. Adam Levitt and Jack Nuxoll, who was huge off the bench in the early part of the game, each scored 10 points. Walsh, Alex Deters and Alex Beesley each scored eight points. Brandon Runge accounted for the other four points.

Albion Francis had a huge game for St. Thomas More, hitting 13 of 20 shots to total 29 points and pulling down nine rebounds. Also big for the Sabres was Isaiah Bobo with 12 points and 12 rebounds. D.J. Lee made four threes for 12 points and Tanner Klein added 10 points.

The Bulldogs hit 48% from the field, making 29 of 61, made just seven of 18 from the line, committed 12 turnovers, grabbed 29 rebounds, and made five of 22 threes. The Sabres made 25 of 57 shots for 44%, including 11 of 30 threes, made of 10 of 15 foul shots, turned the ball over 16 times and pulled down 27 rebounds.

St. Anthony is 2-0 in the tournament, while St. Thomas More is 0-2.

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Meanwhile, the Hearts scored 80 or more points for the second straight game in improving to 2-0 in the tournament and on the season.

The Hearts put the game away early, outscoring Okaw Valley 30-7 in the first quarter. It was 47-26 at halftime, and 72-38 after three quarters.

Grant Wolfe scored 27 points for the Hearts to lead all scorers, hitting 12 of 14 shots. Landon Wolfe scored 12 points with eight rebounds and Jacob Donaldson scored 12 points including a two-hand jam. Also for Effingham: Trevor Kreke 8, Mason Hull 7, Brent Beals 6, Ryan Sandifer 3, Ryan Huelsbusch 2, Logan Smith 2, and Cole Marxman 1.

Connor Cloyd scored 18 points to pace Okaw Valley, now 0-2 in the tournament.

Effingham made 49% of its shots, 32 of 65 including six of 19 threes, and added 10 of 13 foul shots. The Hearts turned the ball over 10 times and pulled down 33 rebounds. Okaw Valley was 34% from the field, 14 of 41, including two of 16 threes. The Timberwolves made 19 of 27 from the line, committed 22 turnovers and grabbed 24 rebounds.

The stage is now set for four games at the tournament Friday, with the marquee game at 7:30pm as the Hearts take on the Bulldogs. We will have the game on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

St. Anthony Boys Turkey Tournament

Breese Central 74, Mattoon 51 FINAL

Effingham 80, Okaw Valley 49 FINAL

St. Anthony 68 Champaign St. Thomas More 67 FINAL (OT)

Mulberry Grove Boys Turkey Tournament

St. Elmo/Brownstown 78, Sandoval 25, FINAL

South Central 80, Ramsey 58, FINAL

Mount Olive 65, Mulberry Grove 42, FINAL

Cerro Gordo Boys Turkey Tournament

Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg 44, Cerro Gordo-Bement 26 FINAL

Bob Kerans Girls Tournament

Flora 64, Altamont 50, FINAL

Effingham 49, Newton 43 FINAL (Effingham led 14-10 after one quarter and 31-22 at halftime; it was 41-30 after three quarters, but Newton posted a 13-8 scoring edge to pull within six by the final buzzer; Coach Jeff Schafer said, "We got through this game; it was a battle; the kids really worked hard; we just couldn't get that knockout punch tonight; credit (Newton Coach) Brad Harris and his girls, they just kept hanging around and played hard; Carsyn (Fearday) really stepped up tonight and got us through our foul troubles"; for Effingham--Carsyn Fearday 18, Aly Armstrong 8, Miranda Fox 7, Bria Barr 6, Shelby Myers 6, Skyler Schafer 2, Natalie Carie 2; Effingham improved to 4-0 including 3-0 in the tournament)