Neoga Wins NTC Boys Basketball Tourney Opener

Neoga edged Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City, 33-29 in defensive battle.

The ninth-seeded Neoga took a 6-2 opening quarter lead behind two three-pointers, one each from Landon Titus and Luke Keller. The lone CHBC basket came from Remington Howell.

Both teams scored eight points in the second period as Neoga held a 14-10 halftime lead. Brayden Ray went on a run for the Indians, hitting four of six from the field for all eight points.

CHBC's Clive Schlanser and AJ Radloff put in two baskets each for the No. 8 seeded team.

The Bobcats came back in the third quarter with an 11-7 run to tie the score at 21-21. August Cosart connected on two baskets while Howell put in an old-fashioned three-point play with a regular basket and a free throw.

Neoga's Grady Haarman hit a three-pointer in the quarter.

But Neoga got back on track with a 12-8 final quarter for the four-point win. Titus hit another three-pointer while Luke Keller connected on a basket and was two of two at the line. Gavin Ray put in a bucket and a free throw and Cayden Hakman scored on two of two at the line for his only points in the contest when the Indians needed them.

The Bobcats finished with eight in the quarter on a basket each by Cosart and Griffin Vaughn and a basket and two free throws from Schlanser.

Neither team had a player in double figures. Leading Neoga was Keller with nine points on three field goals and two of two at the line.

CHBC was led by Schlanser with three of five field goals and two of three at the line for eight.

Neoga advances now to meet top-seeded Effingham St. Anthony today at 6:15 p.m. The second game of the evening will have fourth-seeded North Clay against fifth-seeded Windsor/Stewardson-Strasrburg.

NTC Tournament

Game One

NEOGA (33)

Hakman 0-2 -- 2, Haarman 1-0 -- 3, Titus 2-0 -- 6, B. Ray 4-0 -- 8, Keller 3-2 -- 9, Young 1-0 -- 2, G. Ray 1-1 -- 3. TOTALS 12 FG, 5 FT.

CHBC (29)

Cosart 3-0 -- 6, Vaughn 2-0 -- 4, Radloff 2-0 -- 4, Schlanser 3-2 -- 8, Lilly 1-0 -- 2, Howell 2-1 -- 5, Askins 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 13 FG, 3 FT.

Neoga                6    8      7    12    --    33

CHBC                2    8    11      8    --    29

3-point FG -- Neoga 4 (Titus 2, Keller 1, Haarman 1), Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City 0.