Arcola Ends St. Anthony's Boys Basketball Season

Shooting only 32 percent for the game, St. Anthony fell behind by a 13-8 opening quarter count. The Bulldogs connected on only four of 15 from the field in that first quarter. Meanwhile Arcola hit four of 10 shots, three of those from beyond the arc. And that continued as Arcola claimed a 57-52 overtime victory.

The Purple Riders shot even better in the second quarter, hitting seven of nine from the field and held a 29-20 halftime tally.

But it appeared the Bulldogs finally found the range and got back on the right track. In the third quarter, St. Anthony's Ryan Schmidt connected on three baskets and a free throw for seven points while Brady Hatton went three of four from the field for six and Collin Westendorf tallied four. The Bulldogs moved into a 37-36 lead.

Neither team shot well in the final quarter but Arcola hit well enough to send the game into overtime as the two teams were tied at 43-43.

Then in the overtime period, Arcola found the range from the gratis stripe, connecting on nine of 10 and Jackson Miller hit his fourth three-pointer of the game.

The Bulldogs struggled again from the field, hitting only one basket in seven attempts.

Four players finished in double figures for Arcola. Braden Phillips led the way with 15 points while Gerardo Alanis added 12 and Jackson Miller and Brody Phillips 12 each. The Purple Riders hit 47 percent from the field and were 87 percent at the line with 13 of 15.

St. Anthony finished with two players in double digits. Brock Fearday and Schmidt tallied 15 each. Fearday connected on five field goals and was five of five at the line. Schmidt hit six field goals and was three of four at the line 

Coach Cody Rincker's crew finshed with an outstanding 29-5 record on the season.

Arcola advances to the Effingham St. Anthony Sectional Tuesday evening to face Webber Township (Bluford) at 6 p.m. Webber Township downed Altamont 57-45 to win the Altamont Regional.

The other two teams in the sectional include Centralia Christ Our Rock Lutheran and Tuscola and those two meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday. CORL won the Edwards County Regional over Red Hill (Bridgeport) 75-44 while Tuscola captured the Casey-Westfield Regional with a 53-39 victory over the host squad.

Class 1A Bethany Okaw Valley Regional

Championship

Overtime

ARCOLA (57)

Alanis 3-6 -- 13, Phillips 4-7 -- 15, Thomas 2-0 -- 5, Miller 4-0 -- 12, Phillips 4-4 -- 12, Linstrom 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 17 FG, 17 FT.

ST. ANTHONY (52)

Link 0-0 -- 0, Westendorf 3-1 -- 9, Schmidt 6-3 -- 15, Koenig 1-0 -- 2, B. Fearday 5-5 -- 15, Hatton 4-0 -- 8, Brent 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 20 FG, 9  FT.

Arcola                   13    16    7    7    14    --    57

St. Anthony            8    12    17    6    9    --    52

3-point FG -- Arcola 6 (Miller 4, Alanis 1, Thomas 1), St. Anthony 3 (Westendorf 2, Ruholl 1).