Wooden Shoes Defeat Mt. Vernon in First-Ever Effingham/Teutopolis Christmas Tournament Game

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Published on December 27 2013 4:30 pm
Last Updated on December 27 2013 4:30 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

The Teutopolis Wooden Shoes will be the answer to the trivia question, "What was the first team to post a win in the Effingham/Teutopolis Christmas Tournament?"

The Shoes downed the Mt. Vernon Rams Friday afternoon 55-42 at J.H. Griffin Gym in Teutopolis. The game was heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com.  

The game was hard-fought and close for a majority of the contest before the Shoes pulled away in the fourth quarter.  Mt. Vernon scored the first six points of the game before the Shoes' Cody Will caught fire and scored the first 11 points for Teutopolis.  T-Town led after one quarter 12-8.  Mt. Vernon regained the edge in the second quarter, though, outscoring the Shoes 17-14 in the period to pull within one, 26-25 at halftime.

The Shoes struggled after halftime and were outpointed by Mt. Vernon 9-6 in the third quarter to trail 34-32.

The fourth quarter was the difference, though, as Teutopolis found success pounding the ball inside and controlling the boards, outscoring Mt. Vernon 23-8 in the period to come away with the 13-point victory.

The Shoes shot 39% from the field, making 18 of 46 shots and added 15 of 19 from the line, committed 14 turnovers, and grabbed 28 rebounds.  The Shoes made just four of 20 three-point tries.  Mt. Vernon made 19 of 46 shots, or 41% from the field, including three of nine on three-point tries.  Mt. Vernon made just one foul shot in three tries, turned the ball over 20 times and pulled down 22 rebounds.

Cody Will led Teutopolis with 21 points.  Also for Teutopolis: Brett Mette nine, Reed Hardiek and Bobby Wenthe eight each with all of Hardiek's points coming in the fourth quarter, Michael Drees and John Ungrund three each, Ryan Sandschafer two, and Devin Smith one.  

Braden Fitzjerrels led Mt. Vernon with 18 points while Shakari Hawkins added 14 points.

Teutopolis improved to 7-2 on the season, while Mt. Vernon slipped to 7-3.

The Wooden Shoes next play at 11am Saturday at Teutopolis vs. Mattoon.  Mt. Vernon plays Mattoon tonight at Effingham at 6pm.