Bulldogs, Bombers Win Regional Crowns, Hatchets 2024-25 Season Comes To Close

Effingham St. Anthony captured the championship of the Class 1A Neoga Regional.

NEOGA -- Two National Trail Conference teams met for the championship of the Class 1A Neoga Girls High School Basketball Regional Thursday evening in a game heard on 979XFM.

Effingham St. Anthony claimed the championship over Altamont by a 55-30 count.

The Bulldogs ran out to a 15-3 opening quarter lead and led 29-13 at halftime. Nancy Ruholl got St. Anthony off in the right direction by scoring nine of the team's 15 points on three regular baskets and a three-pointer.

Altamont's three points were all from the free throw line.

In the second period, Ruholl continued on with a three-pointer and four of six at the free throw line for seven points while Ava Faber connected on a three-pointer. The Bulldogs held a 29-13 halftime lead.

St. Anthony went on a 15-6 third quarter run as Adysen Rios, Ruholl and Addie Lauritzen scored two baskets each for four points while Addi Nuxoll put in three points.

Reagan Kuenstler hit a three-pointer for Altamont in that period.

Both teams scored 11 points in the final quarter.

Ruholl finished with seven field goals, two from three-point range, and was four of six at the line for 20 points. She was the lone player in double figures. Rios and Lauritzen finished with eight each.

Along with her 20 points, Ruholl added four rebounds and four steals. Lauritzen led in rebounds with 12 and had three steals. Rios had three rebounds and three steals. Lilly Gannaway scored six points, had four assists and four steals.

Altamont was led by Kaylee Lurkins with nine points on two field goals and five of eight at the line. Kuenstler finished with seven.

"I want to congratulate seniors Kylie Osteen and Libby Reardon from Altamont for great high school careers," said St. Anthony Coach Aaron Rios. "Altamont has a great nucleus coming back next year and should be tough."

The Bulldogs move on to the Arcola Sectional Tuesday and will meet Arcola, a 58-57 winner over Tuscola for the Tuscola Regional championship, at 7:30 p.m. In the opener, Catlin Salt Fork, who won the Georgetown-Ridge Farm Regional with a 49-11 win over Heritage, and Decatur St. Teresa, a 51-38 winner over Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg for the Decatur St. Teresa Regional, will meet at 6 p.m.

The winners then advance to the sectional championship at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27.

"We hope to see a lot of red, white and blue in Arcola next Tuesday," said Coach Rios.

Class 1A Neoga Regional

Championship

ALTAMONT (30)

Pospischel 0-0 -- 0, So. Pearcy 1-0 -- 3, Nelson 0-0 -- 0, Reardon 0-0 -- 0, Roberts 0-1 -- 1, Kuenstler 2-1 -- 7, Alrich 2-1 -- 5, Higgs 0-0 -- 0, Sp. Pearcy 0-0 -- 0, Schultz 0-0 -- 0, Lurkins 2-5 -- 9, Osteen 1-0 -- 2, Sphar 1-0 -- 3. TOTALS 9 FG. 8 FT.

ST. ANTHONY (55)

Grunloh 1-0 -- 3, Gannaway 2-0 -- 4, Rios 4-0 -- 8, Denning 0-0 -- 0, Ruholl 7-4 -- 20, Nuxoll 2-1 -- 5, Faber 1-2 -- 5, Henning 0-0 -- 0, Schutlz 1-0 -- 2, Vonderheide 0-0 -- 0, Kollman 0-0 -- 0, Lauritzen 4-0 -- 8, Kolman 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 22 FG, 7 FT.

Altamont                       3    10      6    11    --    30

St. Anthony                15    14    15    11    --    55

3-point FG -- Altamont 4 (Kuenstler 2, So. Pearcy 1, Sphar 1), St. Anthony 4 (Ruholl 2, Grunloh 1, Faber 1).

Brownstown/St. Elmo captured the championship of the Class 1A South Central Regional.

At Farina

Brownstown/St. Elmo won the championship of the Class 1A South Central Regional Thursday evening.

The Bombers downed Glen Carbon Father McGivney, 46-27.

Father McGivney moved into a 7-6 opening quarter lead. BSE had a basket and a free throw from Madi Miller and three free throws from Dayana Haslett.

The Bombers then took off with an 8-8 second period run to lead 24-15 at halftime. Ramsey added a regular basket and a three-pointer while Haslett put in a three. Addie Sasse scored six and Presley Williams four.

The third quarter also went to BSE with an 8-2 edge. Williams added on two more baskets.

In the final period, Brownstown/St. Elmo finished with a 14-10 run. Miller connected on three regular baskets and two free throws for eight points while Ramsey added a three-pointer.

Miller finished with 13 points to lead the way on five field goals and three of five at the line. Also in double figures was Williams with 11.

Brownstown/St. Elmo now advances to the Raymond Lincolnwould Sectional to face either Hardin Calhoun or Nokomis at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Those two teams meet tonight for that regional championship. In the opening game Tuesday, Okawville takes on Carrollton at 6 p.m.

The winners advance to the sectional championship at 6:30 p.m Thursday, Feb. 27.

Class 1A South Central Regional

Championship

FATHER MCGIVNEY (27)

Tobin 1-1 -- 4, Giovando 0-0 -- 0, Behrmann 1-0 -- 3, Jones 1-0 -- 2, Verarsky 1-6 -- 8, B. Ellis 1-0 -- 2, Rosetto 0-0 -- 0, Oller 2-0 -- 4, P. Ellis 2-0 -- 4. TOTALS 9 FG, 7 FT.

BSE (46)

Williams 5-1 -- 11, Sasse 3-2 -- 8, Haslett 1-3 -- 6, Ramsey 3-0 -- 8, Miller 5-3 -- 13. TOTALS 17 FG, 9 FT.

Father McGivney                7      8    2    10    --    27

BSE                                      6    18    8    14    --    46

3-point FG -- Father McGivney 2 (Tobin 1, Behrmann 1), Brownstown/St. Elmo 3 (Ramsey 2, Haslett 1).

At Decatur

Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg's season came to a close at the Class 1A Decatur St. Teresa Regional Thursday evening.

The Hatchets fell to host Decatur St. Teresa, 51-38.

St. Teresa edged out to a 15-10 opening quarter lead. Kendra Hayes hit a basket and two free throws while Ellie Wittenberg connected on two baskets, both for four points.

But St. Teresa went on a 12-2 second period run to lead 27-12 at halftime. The lone basket for the Hatchets came from Wittenberg.

Windsor/Stew-Stras came back with a 12-8 third quarter run to pull within 35-24. K. Hayes scored five points while Sam Hayes also had five points, both on one regular basket and one three-pointer.

But the Hatchets couldn't overome that first half 15-point lead. Claire VonBehrens scored five in the final quarter while Wittenberg added four more.

Wittenberg led the way with 12 points on five field goals and two of two at the line. K. Hayes added 11.

St. Teresa advances to the Arcola Sectional to face Catlin Salt Fork at 6 p.m. followed by Effingham St. Anthony against Arcola at 7:30.

At Decatur

WSS (38)

Johnson 0-0 -- 0, Carey 1-1 -- 3, Mueller 0-0 -- 0, Holland 0-0 -- 0, Greuel 0-0 -- 0, K. Hayes 4-2 -- 11, K. VonBehrens 1-0 -- 2, Walker 0-0 -- 0, Wittenberg 5-2 -- 12, C. VonBehrens 1-3 -- 5, S. Hayes 2-0 -- 5. TOTALS 14 FG, 8 FT.

ST. TERESA (51)

Gardet 0-0 -- 0, Corky 3-0 -- 6, Eller 7-2 -- 17, Ratclitt 0-0 -- 0, Handyside 0-0 -- 0, Corley 7-8 -- 24, Sheehan 0-0 -- 0, Wherley 1-0 -- 2, Mayes 1-0 -- 2, Harper 0-0 -0. TOTALS 19 FG, 10 FT.

Windsor/Stew-Stras                   10      2    12    14    --    38

Dec. St. Teresa                           15    12      8    16    --    51

3-point FG -- Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg 2 (K. Hayes 1, S. Hayes 1), Decatur St. Teresa 3 (Corley 2, Eller 1).