Shoes Come Back Strong To Capture Third Place At State

The Wooden Shoes trailed Taylor Ridge 11-10 after the opening quarter but, after not connecting on any three-pointers in the first game, the Shoes came back with eight in this one. Garrett Gaddis kept the Shoes in the mix in the opening quarter by knocking in two three-pointers while James Niebrugge and Caleb Siemer had a basket each.

Then the Shoes decided it was time to show what they could do. Siemer went to work with an old-fashioned three-point play, then connected on another free throw before knocking in a three-pointer for seven in the second period. Meanwhile, Brendan Niebrugge hit a regular basket and then swished two three-pointers to lead the way with eight. T-town held a six-point lead at halftime.

The Shoes took that six-point halftime lead to 13 going into the final quarter. Siemer continued to shine, hitting three baskets for six of the team's 14 as the Shoes led 42-29. Caleb Bloemer got in the act with a three-pointer and Gaddis added another three-pointer.

Taylor Ridge Rockridge came back in the final quarter with a 14-10 run behind two three-pointers by Caleb Cunico and five points by Jase Whiteman.

But the Wooden Shoes connected on its free throws while Siemer put in six more points and the celebration could begin.

Siemer tallied 21 points to lead the way. He hit eight of 13 field goals, one of one from three-point range and was four of six at the free throw line. Siemer had a double-double. Along with the 21 points came 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Also in double figures was B. Niebrugge with 10 points and seven rebounds. James Niebrugge also pulled down seven rebounds.

The Shoes shot better with 42.2 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from three-point range and 54.5 percent at the line.

The Shoes had 18 points in the paint, nine in off turns, five in second chance and three on a fastbreak. The bench contributed 12 points.

T-town hit eight three-pointers led by Gaddis with three and B. Niebrugge with two.

Rockridge was led by Jase Whiteman with 20 points and Landon Bull withi 10. Rockridge ended the season with a 28-6 record.

Teutopolis finished with the third place trophy and a 29-8 record.

Coach Chet Reeder's crew will be honored Sunday at 2 p.m. at Teutopolis High School. The players, coaches, trainer, cheerleaders, managers and statisticians will have a welcome home trip along main street. Immediately following that will be a cake and punch celebration in the Teutopolis High School cafeteria/gymnasum area.

According to Kurt Becker, next season will mark a milestone for Teutopolis High School as it observes its 100th season of boys' basketball. The inaugural season was 1924-25.

The championship game between Chicago DePaul College Prep and Bloomington Central Catholic will take place Saturday at 12:45 p.m.

Class 2A  State Tournament

Third Place Game

TAYLOR RIDGE ROCKRIDGE (43)

Cunico 3-7 0-0 8, Whiteman 8-18 1-2 20, Klemme 2-5 0-0 5, Wilson 0-3 0-0 0, Bull 4-7 2-2 10, Bohnsack 0-0 0-0 0, VanDegeest 0-0 0-0 0, Bayne 0-0 0-0 0, Leemans 0-0 0-0 0, McKay 0-0 0-0 0, Fetterer 0-0 0-0 0, Hart 0-1 0-0 0, Christy 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS 17-41 FG (41.4%), 3-4 FT (75%)

TEUTOPOLIS (52)

B. Niebrugge 4-11 0-0 10, Bloemer 2-3 0-0 5, Jo. Niebrugge 0-2 0-0 0, Ja. Niebrugge 1-6 2-4 4, Siemer 8-13 4-6 21, Gaddis 3-8 0-0 9, Roepke 1-2 0-0 3, Koester 0-0 0-1 0. TOTALS 19-45 FG (42.2%), 6-11 FT (54.5%)

Rockridge                  11    11      7    14    --    43

Teutopolis                 10    18    14    10    --    52

3-point FG -- Taylor Ridge Rockridge 6 (Whiteman 3, Cunico 2, Klemme 1), Teutopolis 8 (Gaddis 3, B. Niebrugge 2, Bloemer 1, Siemer 1, Roepke 1).