Bulldogs Post Win Over Tough Casey-Westfield Squad, Face Central A&M Friday for Sectional Championship

The Casey-Westfield Warriors were more than a handful Wednesday night, but the St. Anthony Bulldogs beat the Warriors on their floor for the second time in two weeks and advanced to the championship game of the Casey-Westfield Class 1A Sectional Tournament. The Bulldogs won 48-39 in a contest heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. The victory sets up a sectional championship battle with the Central A&M Raiders, who beat Altamont in a good game Tuesday night, 71-56.

The very physical contest saw both teams struggle to score. St. Anthony led 13-10 after one quarter, but the Bulldogs outscored the Warriors 7-4 in the second period to lead 20-14 at halftime.

St. Anthony was finally able to take a double-digit lead by the end of the third quarter, 34-23, but the Warriors weren't done, as they clawed back to within four points after St. Anthony moved ahead by 13 points. The Bulldogs, after being plagued by poor foul shooting much of the game, finally cashed in from the line in the final few minutes to seal the win.

Despite the rugged nature of the game, St. Anthony only committed an eyepopping three turnovers, one each in the first, third and fourth quarters.

The Bulldogs hit 42% of its shots, 18 of 43, including 3 of 6 threes. St. Anthony finished 9 of 19 from the foul line, and pulled down 19 rebounds.

Casey-Westfield hit 16 of 40 shots, 40%, including 4 of 15 threes. The Warriors made 3 of 6 foul shots, grabbed 30 rebounds, and committed 15 turnovers.

Despite first half foul troubles, St. Anthony's Jaccob Dust still posted a double-double, 17 points with 10 rebounds. Kaden Fearday was also in double figures with 10 points. Also for the Bulldogs: Jack Hoene 7, Logan Antrim and Aaron Webb 6 each, and Kennan Walsh 2.

Noah Livingston led Casey-Westfield with 12 points. Also for the Warriors: Dawson Dallape 9, Jackson Hills 8, Colin Branson 6, and Will Hosselton 4.

Casey-Westfield finished the season with a 24-8 record.

St. Anthony is now 29-3 on the campaign and will play another 29-3 team Friday at 7pm for the sectional championship as Central A&M also has that record.

We will have the Friday game on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

Tickets will be sold for the Friday game to Bulldogs fans at St. Anthony High School on Thursday between 8:30am and 3pm.

The winner Friday will advance to the Carbondale 1A Super-Sectional on Tuesday at 6pm at SIU Arena.

Class 1A Casey-Westfield Sectional

CASEY-WESTFIELD (39)

Hosselton 2-4 0-0 4, Livingston 5-13 2-4 12, Dallape 3-7 1-2 9, Patrick 0-1 0-0 0, Hills 4-8 0-0 8, Branson 2-7 0-0 6. TOTALS 16-40 FG, 3-6 FT.

ST. ANTHONY (48)

Antrim 2-9 1-6 6, Hoene 2-3 3-5 7, Dust 7-16 3-5 17, Webb 2-5 2-3 6, Fearday 4-8 0-0 10, Elder 0-1 0-0 0, Walsh 1-1 0-0 2, Walk 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS 18-43 FG, 9-19 FT.

Casey-Westfield               10    4      9    16    --    39

St. Anthony                       13    7    14    14    --    48

3-point FG -- Casey-Westfield 4 (Dallape 2, Branson 2), St. Anthony 3 (Fearday 2, Antrim 1).