St. Elmo, Beecher City Pick Up Opening Round Wins at St. Elmo Holiday Tournament

ST. ELMO -- The St. Elmo Boys Holiday Basketball Tournament opened play Tuesday evening with St. Elmo and Beecher City picking up victories.

The tournament continues tonight with Altamont taking on Ramsey at 6:15 p.m. followed by Cowden-Herrick facing South Central at around 7:45 p.m.

St. Elmo 56, Mulberry Grove 32

Connor Beasley got the Eagles off in the right direction by scoring six points in the opening quarter for an 11-8 lead over Mulberry Grove. St. Elmo then had an 11-7 second period run as Levi Maxey tallied seven points.

The Eagles led 34-26 going into the final period then really put on the scoring with a 22-6 final period surge. Garrett Bartels tallied seven in that quarter while Maxey and Cole Smithson chipped in with six each.

Maxey led the way with 22 points. He was the lone player in the contest in double figures.

St. Elmo will now meet Beecher City at 7:45 p.m. Thursday in winner bracket action. Mulberry Grove drops into the consolation bracket Thursday against Brownstown at 6:15 p.m.

Beecher City 62, Brownstown 59

Edging out to a 13-9 opening quarter lead, Beecher City pushed into a 32-25 halftime lead. Brady Barnes, a 6-foot-1 junior, guided the Eagles into the lead, scoring six in the opening quarter and then scoring nine in the third period. Brownstown attempted a comeback in the second half but fell short.

Barnes finished with 21 to guide Beecher City. Also in double figures were Doug Krueger with 14 and Donnie Riley with 13.

Brownstown was led by the one-two punch of Matt Sefton and Austin Hunter with 22 points each. Jacob Behrends chipped in with 11.

Beecher City will now face St. Elmo at 7:45 p.m. Thursday in winner bracket action. Brownstown takes on Mulberry Grove at 6:15 Thursday in the consolation bracket.

St. Elmo Holiday Tournament

Game One

ST. ELMO (56)

Bartels 3-0 -- 7, Brady 1-0 -- 2, Beasley 2-1 -- 6, M. Maxey 1-2 -- 5, Wells 3-2 -- 8, L. Maxey 8-4 -- 22, Bauer 0-0 -- 0, Smithson 2-2 -- 6, Davis 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 20 FG, 11 FT.

MULBERRY GROVE (32)

Latham 2-1 -- 6, Dawson 0-0 -- 0, Miller 3-2 -- 8, Steiner 0-0 -- 0, Williamson 3-0 -- 6, Schewe 2-0 -- 4, Nelson 0-0 -- 0, Phillips 3-0 -- 6, Street 1-0 -- 2. TOTALS 14 FG, 3 FT.

St. Elmo                     11    11    12    22    --    56

Mulberry Grove            8      7    11      6    --    32

3-point FG -- St. Elmo 5 (Bartels 1, Beasley 1, M. Maxey 1, L. Maxey 2), Mulberry Grove 1 (Latham 1).

Game Two

BEECHER CITY (67)

Gardner 2-2 -- 6, Wills 0-0 -- 0, McKay 3-3 -- 9, Kenter 0-0 -- 0, Doty 1-0 -- 2, Bales 1-0 -- 2, Riley 6-0 -- 13, Krueger 5-4 -- 14, Barnes 9-3 -- 21. TOTALS 27 FG, 12 FT.

BROWNSTOWN (59)

Matthews 0-0 -- 0, M. Sefton 9-2 -- 22, Hunter 7-8 -- 22, Behrends 4-0 -- 11, Lawson 0-0 -- 0, Frailey 2-0 -- 4, Oberlink 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 22 FG, 10 FT.

Beecher City           13    19    18    17    --    67

Brownstown             9    16    17    17    --    59

3-point FG -- Beecher City 1 (Riley 1), Brownstown 5 (Behrends 3, M. Sefton 2).