Altamont Earns Berth in NTC Tournament Title Game w/Overtime Win Over Dieterich

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Published on January 31 2014 11:12 pm
Last Updated on January 31 2014 11:12 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Last Friday night, Dieterich came from behind to win over Altamont in a National Trail Conference game at Dieterich.

Last night, Altamont came from behind to win over Dieterich in a championship semifinal game at the National Trail Conference Tournament.

Altamont prevailed in overtime over Dieterich 45-41 in a game heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com.  The Indians advanced to the tournament championship game Saturday night at 7:30pm against the St. Anthony Bulldogs.  The Bulldogs got into the championship game with a Thursday night win over the Neoga Indians 49-45.

Dieterich utilized a combination of height and outside shooting to pull out to a 17-9 lead over Altamont after one quarter and led 28-19 at halftime.  The second half was a different story as the Indians were able to get some stops, outscoring the Movin Maroons in the third quarter 15-7 to pull within 35-34 after three quarters.  

The fourth quarter was a nail-biter with hardly any points scored.  Altamont outpointed Dieterich 5-4 in the period to force the four-minute overtime.  Dieterich got some great looks in the extra period but couldn't get a shot to drop.  Meanwhile, Altamont got a three-point bomb and two foul shots from Garrett Ziegler in overtime and a foul shot from Derek Jahraus to secure the win.  Dieterich got their points on two foul shots from Alex Bohnhoff in the extra frame.

Altamont held Dieterich to 13 points in the second half and overtime period.

Altamont shot just 34% from the field, making 15 of 44 shots, adding 12 of 21 from the foul line, committing 14 turnovers but grabbing 26 rebounds and making three of 13 three-point tries.

Dieterich shot 45% from the field, hitting 15 of 33, but just three of 12 after halftime.  The Movin Maroons made seven of 10 foul shots, turned the ball over 15 times and pulled down 23 rebounds while connecting on five of 12 three-point attempts.

Garrett Ziegler led Altamont with 13 points, Klaiton Wolff scored eight points, Derek Jahraus and Ryan Armstrong seven apiece, Jake Seidel and Justin McGinnis four each, and Cole Borders two points.

Tanner Traub scored 13 points to lead Dieterich, Alex Bohnhoff scored 10, Devin Aherin and Nick Feldhake six each, Travis Niemerg four, and Lance Niemerg two points.

Altamont improved to 16-2 on the season, while Dieterich slipped to 13-6.

Here's ticket information for Altamont fans:

Tickets will go on sale in the Altamont Community High School office at 11am Saturday.

A mention, too, that any remaining St. Anthony tickets will be sold from 9 to 11am Saturday in the St. Anthony High School office.

Doors for the championship game will open at 6:45pm for the 7:30pm tipoff.

   --

Meanwhile, the Beecher City Eagles moved into the consolation championship game in the opener Friday night in another close one.  The Eagles won over the Stewardson-Strasburg Comets 47-44.

Beecher City jumped out to a 14-2 lead after one quarter and led 24-15 at halftime, but saw Stew-Stras pull to within 31-28 after three quarters.  It was a 16-16 standoff in the fourth quarter to preserve the three-point Beecher City win.

Beecher City hit 13 of 42 shots from the field for 31%, but made 18 of 24 free throws.  The Eagles turned the ball over 16 times, grabbed 28 rebounds and made three of 10 three-point attempts.

Stew-Stras made 16 of 49 shots for 32%, added eight of 12 from the line, turned it over 14 times and grabbed 27 rebounds while making four of 17 three-point shots.

Beecher City's Austin Rexroad scored 19 points to lead all scorers.  Also for Beecher City: Adam Doty nine, Andrew Lagerhausen six with seven rebounds, Jackson Bales five, Jacob Kenter four and Brady Randall and Brandon Gardner two each.

Brandon Helmuth scored 16 points to lead Stew-Stras.  Also for the Comets: Mark Jones and Austin Rincker eight points each, Bryce Bugger seven, and Jason Fry five points.

Beecher City pulled back over .500 at 8-7 with the win, while Stewardson-Strasburg fell to 6-13 and is eliminated from further tournament play.

Here's the schedule Saturday for the final day of the 2014 National Trail Conference Tournament:

11:30am--seventh place game between Cowden-Herrick and South Central

1pm--consolation championshp game between St. Elmo/Brownstown and Beecher City

2:30pm--third place game between Neoga and Dieterich

7:30pm--championship game between St. Anthony and Altamont

We'll have all four games Saturday on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com including live video and audio streaming of every game.