Altamont Wins 8-2A Third Place Game, Charleston Wins 8-4A Championship

(MEMBERS OF THE ALTAMONT WILDCATS EIGHTH GRADE BASKETBALL TEAM, ROW ONE: MANAGER KYLIE OSTEEN, REMINGTON MILLER, ADRIEN FITZJARRALD, LAUREN WALKER, KALLIANA BECKER, JULIANNA BERG, MANAGERS PEYTON OSTEEN AND EMMA BOWMAN; ROW TWO: ASSISTANT COACH BROOKE OSTEEN, HEAD COACH CASIE BOWMAN, TAYLOR METTE, ELLIE McMANAWAY, BROOKE RUNGE, ABBY GOECKNER, KASSIDY PEMBERTON, MANAGER ADRIANNA HARRIS, AND ASSISTANT COACH SUE POE)

The Altamont Wildcats claimed third place honors Thursday night at the Girls 8-2A State Tournament.

Altamont defeated Bloomington Corpus Christi 27-22. The game was tied 4-4 after one quarter and Altamont a slim 14-13 halftime lead before outscoring Bloomington 10-5 in the third quarter to lead 24-18. Bloomington outscored Altamont 4-3 in the fourth quarter.

The Wildcats were led by Ellie McManaway, who scored 13 points. Also for Altamont: Abby Goeckner 7, Taylor Mette 5, and Brooke Runge 2.

Altamont finished their season with a 27-1 record. 

Winchester, the team that defeated Altamont in the semifinals, won the 8-2A state championship.

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Speaking of state champions, congratulations to Charleston, which won the 8-4A state title with a 44-37 victory over Bethalto Trimpe. 

Charleston was led by Shea Littleford, who has a number of relatives in the Effingham County area, with 33 points. She's the daughter of Jim and Karen Littleford. 

Charleston completed an undefeated season with a 22-0 record.