Neoga Only Girls Team Remaining From Area

The Indians opened up a 16-9 early lead then continued on with slight edges over the rest of the contest for a 54-41 victory over Hume Shiloh Tri-County.

Four players connected in the open quarter for the early lead. Sydney Hakman hit a two-pointer, a three-pointer and a free throw for six points while Sydney Richards and Haylee Campbell added two baskets each and Brynn Richards a bucket.

The player leading Tri-County was Josie Armstrong with seven of her team's nine points.

The scoring slowed down in the second quarter as Neoga had an 8-5 edge for a 24-14 halftime lead. Sampson scored six of those points.

The two teams played to a 10-10 third quarter and Neoga still held that 10 point lead.

In the final quarter, Neoga connected on its free throws as Hakman hit seven of eight while Richards, Sampson and Campbell connected on one each for the 20-17 run.

Richards tallied 15 points on six of 12 from the field and three of four at the line. She also led in rebounds with 12.

Hakman added 13 points while Sampson tallied 10. Richards finished just out of double figures with nine.

Tri-County was led by the yeoman effort of Armstrong with 10 field goals for 24 points. Tri-County finished the season at 25-7.

Neoga advances to the championship game of the sectional with a 31-3 mark. The Indians will meet Tuscola at 7 p.m. Thursday for the championship.

Tuscola came out the winner over Effingham St. Anthony by a 45-41 count in the second contest.

The Bulldogs controlled the game in the first half. Anna Faber and Stacie Vonderheide hit two baskets each for four points and the Bulldogs held a 12-6 opening quarter.

St. Anthony's Nancy Ruholl missed three first quarter shots but came back strong with three of three from the field for seven points in the second period run and the Bulldogs held a 24-17 halftime lead.

But things were starting to unravel for St. Anthony. Tuscola came out with a 13-11 third quarter run and pulled within 35-32 going into the final quarter.

The Warriors then went on a 13-6 run to capture the four-point victory. Harley Woodard, who had only taken one shot through the first three quarters for Tuscola, hit three of three for six points in the final period while Ava Boyer, who had only taken two shots and hit one through the first three periods, hit a basket and two free throws for four points.

Coach Anthony Rios' club saw an outstanding season come to a close with a 27-6 record. 

Tuscola advances with a 33-1 mark to meet Neoga at 7 p.m. Thursday for the sectional title.

Class 1A Casey-Westfield Sectional

Game One

TRI-COUNTY (41)

Pellicer 0-0 -- 0, Williams 3-1 -- 7, Barry 1-0 -- 3, Armstrong 10-0 -- 24, Hales 1-2 -- 4, Ehlers 0-0 -- 0, McClain 0-3 -- 3. TOTALS 15 FG, 6 FT.

NEOGA (54)

B. Richards 3-3 -- 9, Sampson 4-1 -- 10, Hakman 2-8 -- 13, S. Richards 6-3 -- 15, Campbell 3-1 -- 7, Worman 0-0 -- 0, Osborn 0-0 --0. TOTALS 18 FG, 16 FT.

Tri-County                   9    5    10    17    --    41

Neoga                        16    8    10    20    --    54

3-point FG -- Tri-County 5 (Arrmstrong 4, Barry 1), Neoga 2 (Hakman 1, Sampson 1).

Game Two

ST. ANTHONY (41)

Ruholl 3-0 -- 7, Faber 3-1 -- 7, Vonderheide 4-2 -- 10, Fearday 2-0 -- 5, Rios 2-0 -- 4, Nuxoll 4-0 -- 8. TOTALS 18 FG, 3 FT.

TUSCOLA (45)

A. Boyer 2-2 -- 6, E. Boyer 3-7 -- 14, Woodard 3-0 -- 6,  Wilcox 0-0 -- 0, Moss 6-4 -- 16, Patterson 0-1 -- 1, Macaulay 0-0 -- 0, Thomason 1-0 -- 2. TOTALS 15 FG, 14 FT.

St. Anthony                12    12    11      6    --    41

Tuscola                        6    13    13    13    --    45

3-point FG -- St. Anthony 2 (Ruholl 1, Fearday 1), Tuscola 1 (E. Boyer 1).

Class 2A Pana Sectional

Teutopolis' season came to a close with a 59-52 loss to Pana in the Class 2A Pana Sectional Tuesday evening.

The Wooden Shoes edged out to a 15-12 opening quarter lead. Courtney Gibson tallied seven points while Kaylee Niebrugge added four in the quarter.

But the Panthers went on a 14-4 second period run and T-town could never recover.

The Panthers led 26-19 at halftime and then had a 13-8 third quarter to lead 39-27 going into the final period. Niebrugge was held to one basket in the second period but connected on three in the third quarter.

She then went on a tear in the final period with 17 of her team's 25 points and the Shoes had a 25-20 run but trailed by 12 coming into the quarter.

The Panthers kept the momentum and stepped up to hit free throws when they needed to. The Panthers were 16 of 19 at the line in that final period. Chloe Ashcraft connected on two baskets and was six of six at the line for 10 points in the quarter and finished with 22 to lead the Panthers. Anna Beyers had nine points coming into the final period then hit eight of nine at the line to finish with 17. Also in double figures was Ayda Coleman with 12.

Niebrugge finished with 12 field goals that included three trifectas and was two of two at the line for 29 points. Also in double figures was Courtney Gibson with 11 points. Emily Konkel finished just out of double figures with nine. Gibson led the Shoes in rebounds with 10 while Niebrugge had six.

In the other contest, Paris was a 41-27 winner over Robinson.

Paris and Pana will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. for the championship of the Pana Sectional.

Class 2A Pana Sectional

Game One

TEUTOPOLIS (52)

Gibson 4-3 -- 11, C. Probst 0-1 -- 1, Konkel 4-1 -- 9, Niebrugge 12-2 -- 29, Mette 0-0 -- 0, Wall 1-0 -- 2, Ruholl 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 21 FG, 7 FT.

PANA (22)

A. Beyers 4-8 -- 17, Vaughn 0-0 -- 0, Hadowsky 1-0 -- 2, Coleman 4-3 -- 12, Booker 0-0 -- 0, M. Beyers 0-0 -- 0, Alde 2-0 -- 6, Ashcraft 5-12 -- 22. TOTALS 16 FG, 23 FT.

Teutopolis               15      4      8    25    --    52

Pana                        12    14    13    20    --    59

3-point FG -- Teutopolis 3 (Niebrugge 3), Pana 4 (Alde 2, Coleman 1, A. Beyers 1).

Class 3A Centralia Sectional

In the sectional Effingham competed in but fell to Mattoon, the Green Wave saw their season end against Highland Tuesday.

Highland was a 52-28 winner in the opener.

In the second game, Mount Vernon won over East St. Louis Senior, 85-81.

Highland will met Mount Vernon Thursday at 7 p.m. for the sectional championship.