Bulldogs Struggle to Regional Win Over Stubborn Sullivan Club

When you reach the postseason, a win is a win.

So said St. Anthony Bulldogs basketball coach Cody Rincker in the aftermath of the Bulldogs' struggling 48-41 win over the Sullivan Redskins in the semifinals of the 2A Boys Regional Tournament at Vandalia. The game was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

Sullivan had been beaten by the Bulldogs by 50 points the week of the St. Anthony Thanksgiving Tournament. The Redskins attempted to completely change things last night, and came close. An incredibly cold first half of shooting by St. Anthony (5 of 22 from the field), combined with a determined effort by Sullivan, left the Bulldogs trailing 12-10 after one quarter and 18-17 at halftime.

St. Anthony finally got untracked in the third quarter, outscoring the Redskins 20-10 to lead 37-28. The Bulldogs had a hot-hitting quarter with seven of nine from the field and five of six at the line. But Sullivan was still not done and the Bulldogs fell back into their cold shooting with only two of nine in the final period.

The Redskins got down by 11 to St. Anthony, but cut it to six before the Bulldogs finally got a three possession lead. The Redskins still outscored St. Anthony 13-11 in the final period. The Bulldogs picked up seven points from the gratis stripe.

Adam Levitt led St. Anthony with 14 points and clutch late foul shots put Alex Deters in double figures with 10 points.

The Bulldogs were hampered without key big man Brandon Runge, who was ill and unavailable to come off the bench. However, Wyatt Lawrence and Bryson Wall stepped up to assist Jaccob Dust off the bench and provide the needed minutes. 

St. Anthony was also without point guard Cade Walsh for much of the game when he injured an ankle in the first quarter. Walsh returned for some of the second quarter and again in the second half, finishing with four points.

Luke Ludwig played much of the game and finished with eight points. Dust scored five points, Wall four points, and Alex Beesley three points.

Caden Ellis with 15 points and Jacob White with 10 points paced the Sullivan attack. The Redskins finished their season with a 10-17 record.

St. Anthony, meanwhile, improved their record to 26-3. The Bulldogs will play for the regional championship Friday night at 7 against Shelbyville, a 62-59 winner over Vandalia in the second game Tuesday evening.

Class 2A Vandalia Regional

SULLIVAN (41)

Ellis 6-12 3-4 15, Stutzman 2-4 2-5 7, Is. Plank 1-4 0-0 3, Sowers 0-0 0-0 0, White 3-5 4-4 10, Ia. Plank 2-7 0-0 5, Kimberlinn 0-2 1-2 1. TOTALS 14-34 FG (41.1) 10-15 FT (66.6)

ST. ANTHONY (48)

Walsh 1-4 1-2 4, Deters 3-6 3-4 10, Levitt 4-11 5-5 14, Nuxoll 0-3 0-0 0, Beesley 1-4 1-2 3, Ludwig 3-6 2-3 8, Dust 1-3 3-4 5, Lawrence 0-0 0-0 0, Wall 1-1 2-2 4. TOTALS 14-38 FG (36.8) 17-22 FT (77.2)

Sullivan                  12    6    10    13    --    41

St. Anthony           10    7    20    11    --    48

3-point FG -- Sullivan 3-12 (Walsh 1-4, Deters 1-2, Levitt 1-2), Sullivan 3-13 (Stutzman 1-2, Is. Plank 1-3, Ia. Plank 1-5). Rebounds -- Sullivan 23 (Sstutzman 6, Ellis 5), St. Anthony 24 (Levitt 9, Beesley 5). Turnovers -- Sullivan 16, St. Anthony 10.