St. Anthony Advances to NTC Tourney Championship Game; North Clay and Windsor/Stew-Stras Also Post Wins

The St. Anthony Bulldogs are back in the championship game of the National Trail Conference Boys Basketball Tournament. The Bulldogs defeated the Neoga Indians, 54-26 in semifinal action Thursday night at Altamont.

Also Thursday, Windsor/Stew-Stras downed Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City 63-34 to move into first game action Friday at 6:15pm against the South Central Cougars. In the other Thursday contest, the North Clay Cardinals defeated the St. Elmo/Brownstown Eagles 64-47. All three contests were broadcast on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

ST. ANTHONY 54, NEOGA 26

This game was fairly close through three quarters before the Bulldogs blew things open in the final period. St. Anthony led Neoga 16-11 through one quarter, and were up 23-15 at halftime. St.Anthony was up 33-22 after three quarters as Neoga played a patient offensive game. The fourth quarter, though, was a different story as St. Anthony outscored Neoga 21-4 as the Indians had to get more aggressive to try to get the ball and cut the deficit.

St. Anthony was able to hold down all Neoga scorers except Trevor Roy, who finished with 18 points. Sophmore Paci McClure, such a key as he scored 20 to help win Tuesday night's game, was held by the Bulldogs' Jack Hoene to three points. Nick Titus scored the other five Neoga points.

Jaccob Dust led St. Anthony with another double-double, 17 points and 12 rebounds. Hoene scored 12 points and Aaron Webb scored 10. Also for St. Anthony: Kaden Fearday 5, Eli Moore and Logan Antrim 4 each and Kennan Walsh 2.

St. Anthony shot 54% from the field, 19 of 35, including 5 of 11 threes. The Bulldogs made 11 of 19 foul shots, turned the ball over just seven times, and grabbed 25 rebounds.

Neoga made 11 of 28 shots, 39%, including 1 of 9 threes. The Indians made three of just six foul shots, turned the ball over 15 times, eight in the fourth quarter, and pulled down just eight rebounds.

St. Anthony, now 19-3, will play for the championship Saturday at 7:30pm against the winner of Friday night's Altamont/Dieterich game. Neoga, now 15-8, will take on the loser of the Altamont/Dieterich game Saturday at 2:30pm for third place.

Here's ticket information for St. Anthony fans for the Saturday night championship game: Tickets will be sold Friday at the St. Anthony High School office from 8:30am to 2:30pm, and on Saturday from 10:30am to 12:30pm. All tickets are first come, first served both days.

WINDSOR/STEW-STRAS 63, COWDEN-HERRICK/BEECHER CITY 34

The Hatchets played a really good game throughout, shooting 58% from the field, 25 of 43, including 4 of 12 threes. They led 17-9 after one quarter, 34-21 at halftime, and 47-27 after three quarters before outscoring the Bobcats 16-7 in the final period to post the 29-point win.

The Hatchets made 8 of 11 foul shots, turned the ball over 12 times, and pulled down 26 rebounds.

The Bobcats made 15 of 50 shots, 30%, including 1 of 4 threes, made 3 of 7 foul shots, turned the ball over 21 times, and pulled down 23 rebounds.

Jordan Wittenberg led the Hatchets with 21 points, while Samuel Vonderheide scored 16 points with 13 rebounds, and Gavan Wernsing scored 12 points. Also for WSS: Austin Wittenberg 7, Riley Walden 3, and Parker Domzalski and Matt Wujick 2 each.

Daniel Lucas led the Bobcats with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Jadan Robertson scored 11 points. Also for the Bobcats: Seth Doty 5, and Dakota Gray 3.

Windsor/Stew-Stras improved to 10-13 on the season, while CHBC fell to 3-19 and is eliminated from further tournament play.

Windsor/Stew-Stras will play South Central in the 6:15pm Friday game with the winner playing North Clay Saturday for the consolation championship at 1pm, and the loser taking on St. Elmo/Brownstown for seventh place at 11:30am Saturday.

NORTH CLAY 64, ST. ELMO/BROWNSTOWN 47

The Cardinals steadily pulled away in this one, leading 16-12 after one quarter, 32-22 at halftime, and 46-35 after three periods before outscoring the Eagles 18-12 in the final quarter to win by 17 points.

North Clay made 51% of its shots, 23 of 45, including 5 of 12 threes. The Cardinals made 13 of 20 foul shots, turned the ball over just seven times, and grabbed 19 rebounds.

SEB made 21 of 51 shots, 41%, including 3 of 16 threes. The Eagles made just 1 of 5 from the line, turned the ball over 14 times, and pulled down 26 rebounds.

The Cardinals finished with four players in double figures; 21 for Ian Bailey, 20 for Tyson Jones, and 10 each for Luke Fleener and Ethan Bible. Lane Holkenbrink scored 2 points, and Collyn Ballard scored 1 point.

Jacob Baron led SEB with 14 points, while Andy Goldsborough scored 13 points with nine rebounds. Also for SEB: Gavyn Smith 8, Kaden Tish and Ean Forbus 5 each, and Bryton Pruett 2.

SEB will play in the seventh place game at 11:30am Saturday, while North Clay is in the consolation championship game at 1pm Saturday.